Surprise
Party.
On Wednesday afternoon, 22
May 1901, one of those pleasant gathering, which are called surprise
parties, took place at the home of Mr. A. R. Ewing, near Boston.
It was the occasion of Mr.
Ewing's 50th birthday, and as he had spent the greater part of these
50 years in the Township of Townsend, and in the place where he now
lives, it was thought just and proper to honor him in this way, thus
showing him the respect and esteem the people have for him; and this
was thought proper to be done while Mr. Ewing was with us and
engaged in a public capacity for the good of the public at large.
It was about 30 years ago
that Mr. Ewing came to the carriage works of Mr. Wm. Lutes, at
Lutesville, and began to learn the trade of painting and carriage
trimming.
Some five years later, he
married Miss Agnes Slaght, the eldest daughter of David Slaght, and
settled on the place where he now lives.
During the time Mr. Ewing
has been in Townsend he has taken an active interest in the
advancement of the agricultural and civic interest of the Township,
having acted as director, Sec-Treas. and President for some time in
the Townsend Agricultural Society and has been one of the
Councillors of the Township since January 1897.
In this, as in every other
capacity of honor and trust, Mr. Ewing has given his time and energy
with will and force, and whatever was undertaken was well done.
The esteem in which Mr.
Ewing is held was manifested at this surprise party as some 85 of
his neighbors and friends met and gave him a real old fashioned
surprise. And it was indeed a genuine surprise as Mr. Ewing was very
busy working in his shop when the teams from the east and west drove
up to his residence and gave him the first salute of the surprise.
After the party had
assembled, two large tables were set up and were tastefully spread
by the ladies with all the good things the ladies in this township
can provide.
After the inner man had been
fully satisfied, the Rev. S. G. Harris took the chair and called on
the following to respond to the toasts given them:
Messrs. S. Cunningham, George F. Brown,
John R. Taylor, James Dunlop,
J. R. Wilson, and Rev. W. Mason.
Other toasts were on the
programme, but owing to the lateness of the afternoon they were
dispensed with. The party broke up with the feeling that it had been
a perfect success and had resulted in good to all connected
therewith.
