They Meet After Twenty Years

New York, 1895

The Strange Reunion of Two Brothers and a Sister.

There was an interesting family reunion at Southampton a few days ago. Katie, Benjamin and Thomas Bade were born in Brooklyn. Thomas was the youngest of the family, and was only three years old when his parents died. Katie went to live with an aunt in East Marion, where she remained until five years ago, when she went to Southampton.

Benjamin lived with his uncle at Water Mills and Thomas took up his residence with relatives at Southold. A few days ago Thomas went to visit his sister. Charles Wilkerson saw him, and asked him if he had a brother named Benjamin.

"I have," said Thomas, "but have not seen him for the last twenty years."

Wilkerson told him to call on Benjamin, who lives across the way from his sister.

The two men proved to be brothers, and then only did Benjamin learn that Katie was his sister. He had lived in the same village with her and passed her many times in the street without even suspecting their relationship.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Jan. 25, 1895, p. 12.

The Reunion Is Over

From the Leon, Iowa, area, date unknown, circa 1900

It Was the Best and Most Successful Reunion Ever Held — People Were All Well Satisfied

The big reunion which has been looked forward to for months closed Saturday night, and it is not stretching it when we say that it was the biggest and best reunion we have ever held in this city. It looked rather gloomy when the reunion opened on Tuesday of last week with a cold rain but when the sun came out Wednesday morning everybody took heart, although the weather was a little too cold, and for the remaining four days there was a big attendance. On Thursday and Friday Mr. Roe Caster had to open up his meadow to teams, as hundreds could not find any place to hitch on the grounds, notwithstanding there were just the same number of hitchracks as last year, so this shows conclusively that on these days the crowds were larger than on any previous year.

The speakers during the reunion were the best we ever had, Judge W. E. Miller, of Bedford, delivering a fine address on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday the speaker was Judge S. F. Prouty, of Des Moines, one of the most prominent men of the state. He was met at the depot by Clerk S. W. Kehler with his fine team and carriage, and a delegation of prominent citizens, headed by County Auditor Gill, and escorted up town to dinner. He spoke at the reunion grounds in the afternoon and the crowd was the largest and most attentive at any of the speeches, and his address seemed to please every man and woman in the vast audience. On Friday Col. M. L. Temple, of Osceola, was greeted with a large audience and his address was well received. The last speech of the reunion was made by Mayor V. R. McGinnis, and notwithstanding it was the closing day he was greeted with a big audience who had the pleasure of hearing Mr. McGinnis at his best, and there is no better speaker in the whole state on an occasion like this than Mayor McGinnis.

Excellent music was furnished throughout the reunion by the Garden Grove band, and a better band, or one more liberal with their music was never in this city. The boys are fine gentlemen and gave the very best of satisfaction, both to the public and the committee. It is one of the best bands in this part of the state. The Big Four Quartet from Humeston were also here the entire time, and these gentlemen were heartily endorsed by everybody. They were always ready to sing and there was no end to their repertoire of song, classical or rag time. In the evening they appeared as black face singers and their rag time music never grew old, the crowds always being eager for more. The committee made no mistake when they secured the Big Four Quartet.

The free attractions were the best ever put on by any reunion in southern Iowa, including Clark & Stonebraker in double trapeze, revolving ladders, tumbling and barrel jumping and they are artists in these lines. Zareli, the silver gymnast also made good with his tramp comedy contortions and slack wire walking and unicycle riding, juggling, and hand balancing and posing. He is a good one. There were also a number of other free attraction, including numerous boxing and wrestling matches, and there was something going on at one of the three stands all the time, so that it kept the people busy trying to see it all.

Friday was 111th Alaska day, and these jolly boys had a big special program offering numerous cash prizes for contests and sports of various kinds. The pie eating contests for men was won by Will Akes, who devoured something less than a dozen pies, John Vanpelt being a close second. In the boys pie eating contest Frank Cartwright won first prize and Paul Kenter the second money. Howard Eals of this city proved a wonder when it came to stowing away the most watermelon and he easily distanced all his competitors, but hasn't cared for melon since. There were six good wrestling matches during the day at which cash prizes were offered and they were all for blood, the winners being as follows:

1st — Clyde Pryor won from Floyd Powers.
2d — Steve Akes won from John Powers.
3d — Fred Young won from Clyde Pickering.
4th — Wm. Akes won from Perry Reynolds.
5th — Floyd Powers won from Forest Davenport.
6th — Guy Whitecar won from Jasper Jennings.

In the boxing contests Art Cowden won from Jap Carr, the latter taking a header into the lake from the platform to avoid his opponent. This match was followed by a hot one between Clyde Marvin and Carl Reynolds which the judges called a draw.

Fred Jay, the Davis City high diver, made a pretty dive from a fifty foot ladder into the lake, and as the result of a challenge between J. R. Bowsher and Charlie Akes, Bowsher made a fine high dive, going into the water like a lobster.

Meeting of the Czar and Czarevna

1878

The Czarevna of Russia had not seen the Czarewitch, her husband, for eight months when she surprised him lately by meeting him unexpectedly at Dunaburg.

She arrives first — a bright young lady, resembling her sister, the Princess of Wales, but looking rather stronger. An onlooker gives an animated description of the scene: Though courteous to all, the Czarevna is evidently nervously impatient for the arrival of her husband.

She has not much longer to wait; all at once the shouting outside begins, her face becomes radiant, and, wrapping herself in the magnificent rotonde of blue fox fur, she hurries to the platform, amid renewed hurrahs and clamorous cries of joy. Her eyes are eagerly fixed on the two red globes of the approaching engine — there is a shrill whistle, much puffing of steam and the train rolls slowly into the station.

The Czarewitch, little guessing the surprise in store for him, descends saluting as he passes the long file of soldiers drawn up on the platform. Suddenly he sees her; then all else is forgotten — the station, the soldiers, the crowd of people — and the wife is in her husband's arms, held in a long embrace. Then, like a roar of thunder, louder than the last, burst forth deafening shouts, mixing up with the national hymn.

Ellis High School Alumni Day

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May Seventeenth -- Alumni Day.

Alumni Day for the Ellis High school has been set for May 17th. If you are a graduate of Ellis High school celebrate with us and become a boy or a girl again for a short half day.

At 1 o'clock we will meet at the old school, sing a few songs and get together once again. At 2 we go to the ball ground where we will try to show the present High school boys that the boys of yesterday can play ball better, run better and jump better than they can. Girls, be there to root and help us win.

In the evening we meet at the Opera house for an evening of enjoyment. Besides other specialties, the "Class of 1909" will present a farce, entitled "A Midsummer Madness." The Alumni orchestra will render "The Tune the Old Cat Died On" and other time-worn selections. Initiation of graduates will take place and there will be dancing.

Last of all there will be a banquet at the Ellis House. We expect this to be the most enjoyable event of the day and know every one will be there to do his part. There will be toasts and responses from the classes.

Please let the secretary, Miss Verna Martin, know whether you intend to come. If not possible to come send some word as we wish to make this meeting as representative of all classes as possible.

The Ellis High School Alumni association was formed last May for the purpose of bringing the gradu[ates back together.]

--The Ellis Review-Headlight, Ellis, Kansas, May 5, 1911, page 1.