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Show OLD FOLKS' DAY. Thursday was old folks' day. and witnessed a goodly gathering of the early settlers of Dixie. A keen wind I as blowing from the west, filling the ( ni'-' with dust, and rendering it unpleasant unpleas-ant generally; this prevented many of the older people from attending, among them being Father Hardy who is in his 9oth year, and Lorenzo Clark, a Mormon Mor-mon battallion veteran of 93 summers. The tabernacle basement was selected as the best place to hold the party in, as it is easily kept warm and afforded plenty of room. 12 o'clock noon was the hour set for the gathering, and long before and after that time buggies bug-gies were kept on the run bringing the old folks in; as they arrived kind and loving hands attended to them and made them feel comfortable. Grizzled vel crans and silver-haired matrons talked talk-ed together of the old times and struggles strug-gles until about 2 o'clock, when President Presi-dent David H. Cannon addressed the assemblage, He said among other things: "I am very much pleased to meet with the old folks; it seems like old times to see the veterans together again, men and women that have made the country wi.at it is; it was 37 years ago the 3rd of the present month since the first settlers set-tlers arrived in this valley. I see a greater number present of those who had known the Prophet Joseph Smith stand up." 24 stood up, but this number num-ber was afterwards increased to 27. "It was the desire of the First Presidency Presid-ency of the Church that these old folks' parties be held semi-annually; Bishop Andrus has inaugurated the first in St. George, I hope to see other bishops follow; fol-low; these parties breed fraternal feelings feel-ings among those who have borne the brunt of hardships, and are getting ready to -leave their work. I pray the Lord to bless all those present, and also those who have been instrumental in aiding to make a success of this party, both by their helps and means." A move was then- made to the east room, which had been fitted up as a dining hall. All those wearing a red badge, which designated that they ,X.-re over SO years of age, were the first-seated; first-seated; then followed those wearing-blue wearing-blue badges, showing that their ages w-ere between 75 and 80 years; all between be-tween 60 and 75 years of age followed and were seated, then came the widows and missionaries wives. After all were seated a Divine blessing was invoked by Elder James G. Bleak, and an attack commenced upon the various delicacies spread before them; a grand showing was made of the good things for the inner in-ner man, and to see how the venerable people enjoyed that meal was a sight to be remembered wiW .pleasure. After dinner, President Daniel D. McArthur addressed the gathering. He spoke of the early trials and hardships hard-ships of the Latter-day Saints, and how difficult it had been to obtain a footing in this country; now every man could sit under his own vine and fig tree, and they should appreciate these blessings; he knew the Prophet Joseph Smith, and had eaten at the same table with him: he had been through the trials and sufferings of the Saints in Nauvoo and Missouri; he blessed the people present and hoped they would enjoy themselves. The following inpromptu program, Continued on 4 th page. J OLD FOLK'S DAY. Continued from 1st page. was rendered, being interspersed with dancing: Address, Bishop Andrus. Recitation, "A handsomer man than me," John T. Woodbury. Song, "Upper California-" S. L. Adams. An article, composed for the occasion by C. L. Walker, a local poet, was read by James C Bleak. Song, by S. L. Adams. Song, "Light beyond the veil," Francis Crier. Song, "Annie Laurie," Sister Croft. Song, "Midnight fire alarm," John Eardley. Quartette, "Lightly tread." Stepdance, Francis Crier. Song, "We've come to the mountain dell," Sister Hector McQuarrie. Song, "Joseph the seer," Charles Smith. An old time jig was danced in which several took part. . All present joined in singing "O my Father." Duet, "Flowers of the wild-wood," Sister Mary L. Kemp and S. L. Adams. James G, Bleak sang "O my Father" in Spanish. Trio, "Gin a body meet a body," Bro. and Sister Eardley and Sister Beacham. Duet, "Will you walk with me anywhere?" any-where?" John Eardley and Mrs. Beacham. Dancing was then resumed Until nearly 0 p. in., when all joined in singing sing-ing "Hard times come, again no more." " Benediction was pronounced by President Pres-ident David H. Cannon, after which all left for their homes just as the Tabernacle Taber-nacle clock was striking 9 o'clock. NOTES. Francis Crier enjoyed himself immensely. im-mensely. "Will you walk with my anywhere" was a great hit. Quite a number of the old folks possess pos-sess fine voices, and know how to use them. William Nelson and Sons furnished : the music free, and their playing was excellent. Dancing did not seem to make the veterans weary afoot; they have plenty of go in them yet. The Stake Presidency and Bishopric were all present and did their utmost to make all feel good. Carriages and buggies were waiting to take the guests home when they felt disposed to leave. To see John Eardley "cut the pigeon wing'' showed what the old folks can do when they get started. "O my Father," and "Hard tinies come again no more," were sang in a whole-souled rammer delightful to hear. Brother John Pyrom, our venerable postmaster; was the oldest member of the sterner sex preseut, he being- in his 84th year, The old people expressed themselves as having had a real goexl time. The semi-annual recurrence will be pleas-urably pleas-urably anticipated. The deportment of some of the old dancers would have made some of the young bands green with envy could they have seen them. , The widow of the late Bishop William Wil-liam Snow vas the oldest lady present, she lacking one month of being SO years old. The venerable lady danced with the best of them, and was very sprightly considering her age and weight: The committee did themselves proud: nothing that kindness could suggest for the care and comfort of the aged was neglected. The committee was as follows' Messrs. R. G, McQuarrie, Brigham Jarvis. and Alma Nelson. I Mrs. M. G. Whitehead, Mrs. Laura ' Andrus. and Miss Zaidee Walker. |