Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-01-30
Joseph Selling er-Haf a Century Young.

" I
Last Saturday, January 18th, was
the both birthday of Joseph Selinger,
one of Iron County's most popular
citizens and successful farmers. On
said date, Mrs. Selinger suggested
that they celebrate the event while
both are still young, but Joe, who gets
o pleasure out of work than most
any man said-''too busy. Wait till /
reach the century mark. l am half a
hundred, but l am not half dead.
When | get 100 we will have a regu-
lar John Gilpin of a celebration" But
Mrs. Selinger, like John Gilpin's
spouse, had her way when she sug-
gested that the celebration might be
had on Sunday, the day following the
birthday. Anything to please the
wife," said Mr.. Selinger. (He has
been married six years longer than
Cooper's hero who celebrated the an
~niversary of his ''twice ten tedious
years.") But the young people on Up
per and Lower Crane Pond believe in
running on schedule time and Satur-
day night about 1880 P. M, while mine
host was listening to his good wife
talk of the preparation she had made
for the celebration of his 5Oth birth
day, and after Joe's shoes had been
HEARTH" half a hundred guests began
rolling in at the door to the great sur
prise OF the folks who had planned
the ''big time" for the next day. But
you cannot catch Joe and his good
wife so off guard that they do not
know how to entertain. Their way
is just to say, "Come in, folks!" and,
when in, snake yourselves at home"
(Joe would never make one MOI any
greater number wait till he had got
back into his shoes.) "Come right
in" And they did. And they stayed
till almost Sunday. Song and laugh
ter filled the good old home till nearly
midnight.
The next day was Sunday. The
day set for the celebration, and on
which. to use Joe's expression, they
were to shave aomething a little ex-
ira" And they did! More than sew
enty guests, ranging in ages from the
proverbial three score and ten to two
months-the friends kept coming! All
the way from Ironton to Lower Crane
Pond and beyond! Your writer was
taken yer several miles of road Il
would say rough only for respect for
the veteran road overseer) by Will
liam Selinger, who declared in the
outset that his Ford would be more
effective in shaking US up than all the
evangelists of earth. You know how
Bill drives. We had a doctor with us.
Occasionally we pushed over a muddy
place. We hoped we would make it
in time for dinner. We were already
familiar with Mrs. Selinger's cooking.
We landed in good time. How we
did enjoy that dinner! Seemed like
they had a monopoly of all the good
things to eat. The more we ate the
more there was to eat. The table
was loaded. Even the doctor ate
more than he would advise one to
eat.
Dinner over, we went to the porch
and viewed the cattle, sheep, and
hogs on the hills, and the sunshine on
the green fields of wheat, while others
enjoyed the splendid music in the par
lor. Not content with looking over
the broad acres, we walked over the
fields, noted the splendid up-keep of
the farm and the thrifty condition of
the live stock.
We returned to the house and there
was more music and more to eat. We
talked with our guests and soon the
sun resting on the hilltop indicated
that it was time to return. The Honk-
honk of the Ford was heard and we
said "Good-bye!" and wished our
host and hostess many more birth
days.
Mr.. and Mrs. Selinger have six
children-four girls and two boys.
All but one are at home on the farm
the place where Mr.. Selinger and wife
moved soon after they were married.
Observing this happy farm home, l
tried to think who it was that said,
t'The farmer is natures nobleman,
who has heaven for a canopy, and
the earth for a throne"
A GUEST.