Evening star., 1949-07-03
By John CIoeett Proctor

street. where they were met b,
carriages furnished by Crosby S
Noyes to convey them to Altor
farm. Mr.. Noyes' country estat.
in Montgomery County.
Met at Noyes Home
With Mr.. Noyes the custom OF
entertaining the association on
July 4 continued almost up to the
time Of his death, February 2l
1908.
On July 4, 1905, Mr.. and Mrs.
Noyes and family met the guests
upon their arrival. and after all
had paid their respects to the
hosts took seats under the maple
grove in front Of the house.
After the business meeting had
concluded A. H. Ragan called
for the host. c. S. Noyes. As
Mr.. Noyes advanced Mr.. Ragan
addressed him as follows:
Mr.. Noyes, the association as
sembled here on this, the most
important anniversary day in our
national history, wishes to tender
to you q token If its esteem as a
member and officer. a citizen and
the head of the oldest publication
in the District Of Columbia, hav-
ing passed the half century mile
stone of its existence December
is, 1902. And may it reach its
century mark, full of the same
energy. truth and influence that
characterizes it's course today.
The Post is next in age and then
the Times, mighty trio. the
citadels defending popular rights,
a tribute as great as that Of old
Rome; the defense of right
against might, the weak against
the strong.
I'VE had in contemplation the
idea Of presenting you with a
news plant, but that would be
as you and your COM
pany already possess one Of the
finest in the country. You have
you at this beautiful home
ail the necessities and luxuries
man can desire. Now q loving cup
enters into contemplation, but we
regarded it as an innovation and
on what we think ap-
and At.
Now, sir, we beg Of you to ac-
cept in the name Of the Associa-
ton of the Oldest Inhabitants this
stick or cane, and with it our hope
that 1t may be very many years
before you may be required to
lean heavily upon it as q physical
Had Musical Program
This token Of esteem was a great
to Mr.. Noyes. and he re-
sponded feelingly, thanking the
for its generosity and
thoughtfulness. and bidding them
all welcome, thrice welcome, to
Alton, where he hoped they would
spend a very happy day. The
regular program was then taken
up and rendered in the following
order:
Song. America" by the audi
ence; reading Of the Declaration
Of independence. by Allison Nailor,
jr.: song, Star Spangled Banner" "
by Mrs. Thomas C. Noyes. Mrs.
Noyes was in splendid voice and
to 4 vigorous call for
an encore by singing Annie
In Commissioner Macfarland's
.emarks he referred to John
Adams prophecy in which he
said In part: "'1 am not apt to
believe" said John Adams on In
dependence Day, after his argu-
ment and ehquence had induced
the Continental Congress to adopt
the Declaration Of Independence,
that it will be celebrated by sue
ceeding generations as the great
anniversary festival. 1t ought to
be commemorated as the day Of
deliverance, by solemn acts OF
devotion to God Almighty. 1t
ought to be solemnized with pomp,
and parade, with shows, games,
sports. bells, bonfires and illumi-
from one end Of this con-
tinent to the other, from this
time forward forevermore. At
both ends Of the social scale there
are many native-born Americans
who never celebrate independence
Day, and some Of them laugh at
those who do. Fortunately, the
lapse of 129 years has not blunted
the edge Of Adams advice to most
Of us. We feel that we cannot
view independence Day with in
difference. We owe 1t to ourselves
Is well as to our country to keep
fresh the memory Of the mighty
past, to recall gratefully the deeds
If the fathers and the providence
If God, and to take for the fu-
Happy Days