The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-09-19
Soldier Day Celebration Fine
Success

1850 A1NN ~A1Ie O~RSNA0~A 49, WAH = "
down 10 the history of SomerviIle as
one of its very brightest and hsppiest
days. Il was the occasion of the Wei.
come rendered by Citizens of Fayette
county to her boys who had served 10
the recent world war and had returned
to their homes and families, and splen-
didly did the county do the job of ex-
tending q hearty welcome to her sons.
Committees had been busy thruout
the comfy for two or three weeks and
the splendid success of the entertain
ment is the best possible evidence that
they did their work well.
People began to gather early Thurs
day morning and continued to come un-
til there was gathering of people es.
timated at 1900 to 5000 with about
25O of the honor guests of the day, the
boys recently discharged.
The entertainment was held about
the public square which had been cut
off from vehicle traffic by closing each
street a half block from the squai e
thus leaving the square entirely
to the people, and it was taxed
to its capacity thruout the day to at
comodate the thousands that gathered
here. The exercises began when Capt.
Jas. D. Rhea lined mp his men in uni
form at the high school grounds and
formed line of parade which was
joined by the Bov Scouts bearing q
banner on which were five gold
stars representing the FIVE fatal
tiles from this county in the recent war,
two in action and three from disease,
and with the soldiers and Scout. in the
line were the ladies' of the Red Cross
and a number OF Confederate Veterans
under command of Capt. H. c. Moormsr
who lead them in the sixties. The pa.
rade patsed down South Main street to
the square and several times paraded
around the square viewed by thousands
and halted IN front of the speakers
stand erected for the occasion about
the flag pole just south of the court
house.
Hon. C. W. Crawford. Mayor, was
introduced by Capt. Maddox and well
coined the returned soldiers back to
their homes aud to the city. his adress
being particularly fitting the occasion.
Capt. E. Stitt Matthews of Oakland
responded in acceptance Of the Mayor e
welcome address, and Gov. A. H. Rot.
erts followed in an address of more thi n
an hour which was listened to with
much interest and was interrupted with
frequent applause.
The speaking over about p M, the
people were invited to the tables ar
ranged about the court house grounds
where was an ample supply of barbe-
cued meats. with other things in abun-
dance for feeding the immense gather
ing.
Not in many year, if ever before,
has Somerville seen such crowd OF
people, and few times or towns have
ever seen such spirit of good fellow
ship thruout the day. Nearly one hun
dred carcasses of barbecued meats were
consumed. together with an assortment
OF cakes. pies. salads. ETC.. as would ex'
cite the appetite of the most veritabt
epicure and in abundance to satisfy.
In the afternoon the event of attract
ion was at the dsncelpavillion construct
ed on the southwest corner of the
square, where number of the dancers
of former days engaged in an old tim'
square dance. the occasion proving ons
of the hsppiest events of the day
Splendid music was furnished by 1
brass band from Memphis and the dsn
cling and music we're much enjoyed
One couple on tue floor in the squar,
dance had dsnced together forty yesr'
ago and buth declared they could move
Just n lightly as then. No event ol
ths day sas more enjoyed.
Again after supper dancing at tbs
pavilion was enjoyed Till midnight. 4
large number of visitors to the tcwr
remaining for the evening, and after
that hour they repaired to Lipsky opsrs
house where dancing continued until II
was literally true that ''they danced 81
night till broad daylight and went
home with the girls in the morning."
An army sirplane from Park Fielt
made visit 10 the afternoon and cir
eled the city. doing numerous stunts t.
the very great pleasure Of thtse gath
cred here.
The whole day passed 90 pleasant,
- could family reunion with not I
frowu or IN unkind word heard. u
roudyism. no drunkenness. nothing GU
Of order to break the pleasure Of ;hs
occasion. So happy vas the day To-
SomeryiIle and her people that man,
suegessisns have already been made
ssat tie celebration Be made IN snnua
affair and the suggestion meets with
unanimous endorsement evsry time Il