The Dickinson press., 1914-10-17

FOUR HOURS AT FESTIVE
BOARD TALKING OVER PIO-
NEER DAYS.
It would be hard to imagine a
more enjoyable affair than the old
timers banquet and smoker given
Monday night at the st. Charles
cafe. Those whose names appeared
on the invitations sent out to 90
people, were: r. H. Johnson, Frank
Lish, l.. A. Simpson, 0. K. Meyer, y.
B. Frankenberg and y. w.. Mcken-
zie.
There was a very hearty response
and everybody who possibly could
presented himself at the hotel a. little
before $3.50 o'clock when the doors
to the banquet room were thrown
open. Old timers to the number OF
81 took places at the tables. The
first suggestion was to "look pleas
amt" while A. j. Osborn photographed
The eroup. An explosion and a daz-
zling flash of light and the picture
After the pictures a five-course
dinner was served in the most ap-
nroyed manner. Everything was
frst-class, as would be expected with
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed. Fisher in charge.
Everybody was in the best Of spirits
and enjoyed everything, that came
onto the tables.
While the cigars were being passed
Senator L. A. Simpson arose and an
nounced that the meeting was en-
tirely informal and that no program
had been arranged but that he took
the liberty of selecting DR.. V. H.
Stickney as toastmaster of the even
ING. The applause which followed in
dicated that Mr.. Simpson had antici-
pated the wishes of all present.
DR.. Stickney, who has been resi-
dent of Dickinson for over 81 year,
is a master-hand at after-dlnner
speeches. His fund of wit and sar-
casm is ever ready, and he was equal
to every emergency on this occasion.
By way of starting the ball rolling,
DIR. Stickney said he was delighted to
be with the old timers at such a gath
ering. He did not think we fully
realize how favored we are in hav-
ing our footsteps directed this way.
At the time of our coming we were
living, as it were, on the fringe OF
civilization. The frontier called not
logards but men who could boast OF
sterling qualities and real manhood.
This was Gods country, fresh from
the hands of the Maker. Here col
lege men came in touch with outlaws
and all that was asked was that each
should acquit himself as a man.
This was beautiful country in
those good old days. We all glory in
it. Our recollections fondly linger.
We were in our youth-early man.
hood-unrestrained. Manliness was
respected. Laws were sometimes
laxly enforced, hence it stood every
one in hand to see that justice was
meted out. Some cases were settled
out of court and little was spoken.
Revolvers and cartridges were in
evidence but no lawyers.
Senator L. A. Simpson, who came
to the city October 18th, 1889, was
called upon by the POSTMASTER. He
remarked that the gathering just
happened. The date of October 18th
commentaries the anniversary date
of the discovery of America by Co.
lumbus.
Mr.. Simpson did not think there
was a man in the gathering who
really expected to make Dickinson his
permanent home when he came here
25 wears ago. But there was some
thing fascinating about the country
and we stayed and are now mighty
glad we. did. He referred TO some
of the early scenes at the ola Vallard
hotel in which c. H. Kinefelter ana
Sam Adams were principal actors, a
theatrical company taking trlght ana
leaving quickly. In those days there
were a few poker games and some
other things that we do not hear OF
in these times. The speaker be-
lieved that L. A. Davis, Welton Nc
Donald and G. S. Langdon We're In
business here rs years ago and they
were still toAbe found among the
business men Of the city.
. In closing Mr.. Simpson said it had
p;ven him extreme pleasure to meet
with the familiar old faces OF 70
years ago and he hoped that all
would be spared for another quarter
postmaster Lish thought we had all
done nightly we'll out here.
D. W. Mckenzie recalled some Of
the first work he did in Dickinson
on a cellar at the place now owned
by Walt Northrop. He fired on an
engine for time and in 1883 his
engine went through bridge and he
was laid up for seven months.
r. H. johnson touched a popular
+ chord in his remarks. He said: Il
knew you all rs years ago. You
were Younger and greener. You
looked good to me then, but you look
hetter fo me now. You have i'm
L nroyed. We have learned to respect
one one another. All that can wish is