Success At Whitmore

SUCCESS AT WHITMORE

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Good Speeches by Senators Monaghan and Ward.

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A Fine Musical Program, a Good Crowd, a Great Dinner, a Happy Time and No Accidents to Mar the Pleasures.

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In spite of the counter attractions for the Fourth of July, there was a large crowd at Whitmore Lake to celebrate at a grand picnic under the auspices of St. Thomas' church of this city. The celebration passed off without a hitch or a break and it is to be hoped will result largely to the financial benefit of the church. It was a ideal day. There was a fair breeze on the lake for sailing yet the day was warm enough to make ice cream and soft drinks in demand. The ladies furnished an elegant dinner and the orthodox chickens of the vintage,of 98-9, promised by Fr. Goldrick were not lacking. Everyone was having a good time, although the dancing platform did not meet with its usual success. The regular caller William Walsh was on hand and certainly did the jollying act perfection, but first they lost their piano player, then after that was fixed, a violin string broke and after one dance they were obliged to stop for the regular program. They got to going again after the program and danced a few successful numbers, but the platform as soon deserted. It's a pity too, that these old fashioned dances seem to be going out of fashion. The ice cream tables seemed to be doing a good business and a generous supply of delicious cake was furnished with each dish of cream. The lemonade and pop stand was doing a tremendous business all day. Dinner and supper were served in a large tent or series of tents the sight of which from a distance suggested a circus day. Pat Sculiy was ticket seller and caller and he had satchels full of money. The sight of a large American flag floating bravely out in the air some distance up without any visible means of support and rising higher and higher, the stars being; always uppermost created astonishment until directly overhead of the observer and a long distance from the flag was seen the kite which was carrying it up. It was a pretty conceit. Every face was a happy one. Everybody was enjoying himself or herself. The Ann Arbor trains were all loaded with passengers and it took three trains at night to haul the people home again besides many who came by wagon road. Many people were obliged to stand in the cars. The reporter saw no chances sold and no games of chance. There seemed to be an entire absence of the usual money making devices. At 3 o'clock the St. Thomas orchestra composed of girls and boys, some of them quite small in stature, opened the program with an orchestral selection which was well rendered. Fr. Goldrick presided in his usual hearty and witty manner and his very appearance before he opened his lips put the audience in the best of humor. Fr. Goldrick has a warm place in the hearts of the people who know him. He introduced Senator George Monaghan, who had a county named after his ancestors in Ireland and came from Corktown, Detroit. Senator Monaghan spoke on "American Citizenship. " He has a good voice and pleasing manner, a ready flow of words, fine diction and is an eloquent speaker. He said on looking back at our history we have much to be proud of. It has been said that we cannot have men characteristically American, that in the United States the mixture of the races is still a mixture. On the contrary conditions here have given birth to a people distinctively new. He praised the constitution and said the American citizen is energetic, ambitious and self reliant equally distant form anarchy and barbarism. We know as a matter of history that there is loyalty in every true American heart. Americans have been leaders in every phase of human progress, the first nation to throw the burden of government upon the governed. When other nations oppressed their subjects, we bade all people welcome. He next spoke of the division by differences of creeds and said the man who antagonizes a man because of his nationality or creed is not a true American. Protestants and Catholics have joined-hands in valiantly fighting the battles of our country. He spoke of the distrust with which the patriotism of Catholics had been looked upon in some quarters, and the injustice of the stigma. The Catholic as such can go no farther than to recognize the divine command to "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar 's and unto God the things that are God's. " He knows that his faith prescribes no political principles. He instanced a long roll of Catholic American patriots and advised the answering of puny bigots with the scathing scorn of silence.

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SUCCESS AT WHITMORE

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Miss Frances Caspary was introduced by Fr. Goldrick as the prima donna of Washtenaw county, and she well sustained her reputation in the solo which followed. Senator Charles A. Ward was introduced as one who had resurrected himself from the lake and a call was made and answered for three cheers for him for the work he had done for the university. Senator Ward made a good sound, solid, patriotic Fourth of July speech. After paying a tribute to Monaghan and a glowing one to Denny Donahue, the Cuban hero, who was unavoidably absent, and a tribute to the constitution, he thought it was the duty of the day to consider how that constitution could be best extended along the lines laid down to meet the new conditions arising. The American citizens' motto should be upward and onward to maintain the liberties our forefathers obtained for us. He spoke of the good accomplished by the Spanish-American war in the reunion of the north and south. He concluded by saying that on this day it was humiliating to him to know that American soldiers were shooting down an alien people for fighting for what our forefathers fought.

Dr. Spitzley sang a solo in good voice and was encored responding with a German solo, the words of which were German to most of his auditors, although one man asked if it was Latin. Then City Clerk James E. Harkins was introduced and sang a coon song in his inimitable style and for an encore another coon song. The audience were not satisfied and tried to call him back for a third song. The St. Thomas orchestra played well and Mr. Theo. Backus gave a saxophone solo. Some sharp repartee was indulged in by Rev. Frs. Kelly and Goldrick which greatly delighted the audience. At 6 o'clock the second part of the program was given consisting of a concert of the Y. M. C. A. Band who gave seven or eight selections with spirit and in good style. The people then separated about the rounds and many stayed for the evenings entertainment. The whole affair was an extremely successful one. In other words the picnic was a very enjoyable one.