| Show YE OLDE FOLKES A Pleasant Day Enjoyed by Thorn at Provo The Old Folks Excursion train pulled out of the Utah Central depot de-pot yesterday morning at 780 with eleven cars loaded with a lot of jolly old folks bound for Scotts Grove lrovo One car had been kept free from occupants to allow for the picking up of pass ngers en route The work of catching ont o the ancient I pleasure seekers who were waiting at different points on the road increased in-creased the labors of the committee and helped to develop their mus cJe Mr W H Foster and his merry choristers were present and at an early 1uur l commenced to enliven the train with their melodies That their cheering strains were appreciated by the old folks was clearly manifest ana the music was of such an order that we pity anyone any-one who could not enjoy it The indefatigable Win Eddington was flying around with lemonade and other refreshments for the comfort of the old people who were delighted with tie attenton bestowed be-stowed upon tneio At all the little stations along the line a little knot of people could be seen and from the party some old face or faces appeared shining with delight at those who were doing them honor Scores of people were unable to go with the excursion on account of the fact that the attention necessary to ensure comfort to the extremely old prevented much thought being given to other classes who would really have been welcome We refer re-fer particularly to the juveniles in the iegion of 60 years The venerable vener-able Bishop Hunter was one of the party and as his cheerful chatty conversation was occasionally heard all his old friends and admirers who are legion leaned forward to catch the familiar sounds The run through the country between be-tween Salt Lake City and Provo was delightful Everything in nature na-ture looked so charming and as the pleasant breezes wafted through the cars the temperature was delightful lightful in the extreme Fruits cakes lemonade and all the enjoyable attendants of a picnic pic-nic around as if the committee com-mittee were possessed of an unlimited unlim-ited bank accounts and the endeavors endeav-ors of all the aids were unlimited to increase the comfort of the aged The magnetism of the smiling Savage was strong enough to thrill everybody on the train but he had powerful relays in Naylor Binder and the other rustlers who never allowed the interest lag Passing through the several cars in regular order the serenaders enlivened en-livened the excursionists to the exact ex-act conviviality necessary to tin thorough enjoyment of the trip About 600 Old Folks went on the excursion and a rough estimate shewed thr aggregate years of their Jives to bo about 43000 years Just think of almost three times the duration of Christianity represented repre-sented in a group of old folk There Were in the party over 90 Bishop Edward Hunter 00 years and 1 month H Wilding Seventeenth Ward Elizabeth Thomas 91 Twentyfirst Ward Mary Bishop 95 Tenth Ward Between 80 and Si there were over fifty old ladies and gen lemen and they were among tli3 merriest and liveliest on the tram There were nearly400 whose ages varied from 70 b 79 Those under 70 were so much below par in the scale of longevity that their importance im-portance seemed very limited At Pleasant Grove there were quite an army of old folks and they were all comfortably stated in places reserved for them During the late fire C R Savage lost his barometer bu he managed the weather with his usual adroitness adroit-ness The Provo Band welcomed the excursionists and made every one to realize that the labor of love was to be continued by the generous Provoites On account of an excessive exces-sive shower of cotton from the Cottonwood Cot-tonwood trees in Scotts Grove other arrangements had been made than those first contemplated Every team in Provo seem to have impressed im-pressed into service and all stood ready to aid and in a short time all were transported to the grove and grounds belonging to Daniel Graves and although the change had not been thought of until 4 oclock on the previous day quite comfortable surroundings had been provided and She shade was ample The grounds are admirably adapted for pleasure parties but of course to make everything thoroughly successful more time is necessary After an ample lunch and the devouring of an immense amount of picnic the committee arranged avery a-very large number of prizes the gifts of the meichants and others of Salt Lake City In the meantime the bands were playing merrily and the people were chatting about times and circumstances entirely antedating the memory of the writer such dates as 1830 and even we were about to say 1730 were spoken of as we youngsters talk of the last circus or the balloon ascension ascen-sion But after all who regrets being be-ing born late Father Wilding who will be 100 years old on November litb was brought to the stand and being the oldest was for the time the lion of the hour President David John opened with prayer Mr Jensen of the committee poke a short time in Danish explaining ex-plaining to his country people the object of the gathering President Woodruff made a few 1 appropriate remarks which were well received Bishop Edward Hunter was introduced intro-duced and spoke to his ancient compatriots com-patriots who listened to every word with much interest His remarks were full of the kindliest of sympathy sympa-thy He paid high tribute to the committee particularly to Messrs Savage and Goddard Mr Savage called foij all who were over 90 years of age There were Marv Bishop 95 years Elizabeth Eliza-beth Thomas 95 William Hines 98 Bishop Hunter 90 All were pra sented with suitable prizes as mementos me-mentos of the occasion Mr T A Lyne made a few remarks re-marks and then gave All the worlds a stage in magnificent style and with a vigor altogether beyond what might have been expected from a man of such advanced age He remarked that the scene reminded re-minded him of a scene in William Tell and then gave us Ye crags and peaks with splendid effect Mr andMrsMerkley were introduced intro-duced as living in married life nearly 50 years They were presented pre-sented with a silver teapot A breastpin was presented to Miss Hannah Goddard for having the longest nursed a sick parent Shoes tea silverware and articles of wearing apparel of almost every character were presented to the aged ones to remind them of the occasion in future days The oldest lady from Pleasant Grove 85 years of age was given a nice clock A line arm chair was presented to Roger Farrow the oldest man in Provo 88 years old The oldest lady in Provo Mrs Elizabeth Vincent was given a nice arm chair An arm chair was also presented to Mrs Hester Tugdale 84 years old So many things were given to so many people that the HERALD turned into a programme would not enumerate them Prizes were offered for old ladies over 70 who had drawn handcarts across the plains Christina Andersen Ander-sen Catherine Wilson Mrs Rogers Margeret Parrish Betty Lowe Mary Jones and Mrs Loder Old gentlemen over 70 who drew handcarts hand-carts across the plains James Albion Al-bion Jonathan Woatenholm and B J Beer Some of these old people are now nearly 80 years of age Five old gentlemen over 80 were voted on as the handsomest man The prize was given to John B Lewis 86 years old Then the homeliest man was voted forhis name we forget Six old ladies over SO were voted for as to which was the handsomest A prize was givento each The prizes were nosegays Thomas Colborn S6 years old of Zims Camp was presented with a fine memento The oldest resident Skandiuavian Frenchman Scotchman aud those I of other nationalities were prej sent i with prizes A Hawaiian SMomouo Nui was I also remembered Mrs Sirah Aim Scott was given a nice dress patter as a token of I good will for the purposed used of grove Prizes of almost every character I were given away to the old people I of Provo with a liberality betokening betoken-ing unlimited supplies After the ceremonies at the grove were over j the teams were soon again in read i ness and everybody was conveyed to the depot and in a short time the old folks were again seated on thecars which are to oarry them homeward The Provo people vied J with each other in aiding the com I I miltee and the liberal miner m which they extended Such assistance i ance as was needed proved their true generosity i Every one seemed happy ant while some were thoroughly tired they were well repaid by the pleasure they experienced The i i weather was vry pleasant not in J ir r any sense excessively hot and the country odors arising from the new mown hay the sweAt clover and the many cheering and refreshing aromas arising fri > m the rich verdure ver-dure around were such as to make i I one forget tile disagreeable incidents t in lifes voyage and say It is good to be here I The services of the Provo Brass I Band and the Second Ward Martial I Band were highly appreciated as well as the many courtesies extended i ex-tended by the people of Proyo and i for these the old folks in a body l desire to return their sincere thanks j To Father Daniel Graves for the use of his grove everybody extends heartfelt prase j Thereturn trip was very piris ant and the old folks all felt sure I that they would sleep all the better i for their rural trip |
