Southern Illinois Record

              The Southern Ilunois Record
A  (lOod  New«papcr  is a  Power  in   the  Home.  Sehool.  State  and   Nation
VOLUME 3
FLOR.V. ILINOIS. THURSDAY. JUNK  'A. lJ)ir>
NO. 36
MR. AND MRS. JAWES B. SMITH, OF CLAY CITY,
ARE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THEIR FRIENDS
HARTER-STANFORD HIGH SCHOOL
CLOSES A MOST SDCCESSFDL TERM
All who know (Jeneral and Mrs. James H. Suiitli of Clay City ijnd have been llie recipients of the hos¬ pitality of tlieir home will bear wit¬ ness that a visit to their liome Is a real pleasure and an occasion that will be remembered. Tlieir friends are legion in Clay City, their home town. In every town and community of Clay county and our entire state. Time has dell kiiully witli them and now In the declining years of a long and useful life, they enjoy good health and their home is a place where a welcome always awaits the coming of their unnumbered friends. It was about one year ago that a few of liie friends of Mr. and Mrs. Smith planned to celebr.ite the anniversary of Mr. ^Smltll, but the time past without doing so, until Krlday last when Mr. and Mrs. li. .M. .Maxey, .Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Jones, Doctor J. M. Hovles and Randolph Smith of Klora accompanied by General Krank S. Dii-kson of Springlield tilled their baskets and in accordance with previous arraiige- nieiits met Ilugli Mills and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. /,. Gill, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Hopkins, Mr. and Mrs .Vivli Ilunley, Rev. and .Mrs. C. C. Cullison, .Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Rubins, Mr. and .Mrs. (i. D. Coggan, Mr. mid Mr.s. K. .M. Ciiallln, .Mr. and .Mrs. il. K. Visk¬ niskkl, Mrs. K. R. Going, and daugh¬ ter Miss Lillie. .Mr. and Mrs. Tliomas Viskniskkl. .Mrs. Mary Hotliwell and daugliter Lucy, Mr. and .Mrs. 11. L. C.lbbs. Mr. and Mrs. William Uldgely and   Mr.   and   .Mrs.  C.   D.   Dulf    as¬
sembled al the home of General and Mrs. Smith and with the assistance of Mrs. Smith took possession of the home and proceeded to spread^a ban¬ quet that was everytiilni; liiat could be desired.
IJcfore this was done John Z. Gill and Iiarry Visnlskki had captured the General, and Mr. Visnlskki upon tlie pretense of showing him tlie high water took him outof town, or started to do so, but tlie rain commenced to decend in torrents so the prisoner was taken to a barn and there held in durance until the proper time ar¬ rived to have lilm appear at his home for the big suprise that had been planned, and it was a surprise, as all could see, wlien the General stepped into the room and was given a cordial greeting his speedi lied bul he did manage I i say •well" then after a pause iie said •wtll" "well" and liien gave each one a hearty haiidsiiake and welcome and after that, notwith¬ standing tiie gliHiiii and rain without all was happiness and sunshine witli¬ in the liospltal home of .Mr. and Mrs. Smitli.
A few years ago the Illinois Legis¬ lature appointed a special committee to investigate the Southern Illinois penitentiary, wlieiiCJeneral Smith was warden, along with other state insti- lulions. Tills couiniitlee went to .Menard, and ask the General the fol¬ lowing (|uestion, iiow old are you'. The (Juestlon was never answered but the Kdltor of this pap