The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-03
The H.li4ays In s.r ussp,sal.

Inc dizziness and We1ns0mon0ss of
hospital life have boon enliYensd and
cheered during the last few days in way
Of which the friends Ct our disabled sol
diers, we fancy, viii be interested to hear.
At Christmas, though Santa Claus did
not como down the chimney 10 fll the
stockings on the soldiers bed-post. yet
willing hands loaded the tables for him
with good cheer. The Leighton House
Hospital bad its grand repast that day
and in halls adorned for the occasion,
overshadowed by the flag for which some
Of them had fought and bled, the men
honored their feast, which the heavy rain
forbade their outside friends the privilege
of participating or bebolding.
The other hospital buildings welcomed
the opening Of the new year by an un-
usual dining. In the College Hospital,
the men sat down quietly to New Years
table. wishing that New Year might come
often.
In the Simpson House, Just opened as
a hospital, the fine dining hall was. with
wonderful celebrity and much taste, deco
rated for the festival. On the home like
table, where neat white crockery super
seeded tin, was sumptuous array of meats
Il
and daintics. Tue dinner was enlivened
BY a patriotic speech from DR.. Harris,
whose eloquence was kindled by the idea
that now our nation is indeed free. A
recitation Of the "Star Spangled Banner, .
aud some patriotic songs, followed. In
the evening, the hall was Illuminated,
and the men gave three times three
hearty cheers in honor of the Proclama-
ton, and the com pany dispersed.
In the Main Street Hospital was a dis
| play, gladdening not merely to the dis
abled soldiers, but 10 all who love to set
him cared for and made happy. In Tho
long halls which stretch across tina: large
edihce, one above another, were spreal
three tables, in the aggregate perhap.
four hundred feet long, aud as the specta
tor walked aloug each Of these halls
amidst fancy pictures, and portraits, ant
attlescenes, and profusion of banners
beside tables displaying SO much tast.
and culinary skill, and lberal,ty of pro
vision, he seemed transferred to fairy
land, and the hospital appeared to hay.
passed from the hands Of Mars and Escu
lapius under the sway OF Ceres and tn,
Graces. The array Of substantials ant
of dalnties might have graced royal ban
quet. At each table was an invited cler
gyman, who craved blessing on til,
feast. After oysters, and turkey, ant
pastries, and cake, and ETC., had been dull,
honored by the guests, beautiful cake
bearing on its snowy covering the nam'
of the Surgeon in charge. was presentet
to DR.. Taylor in behalf of the employee
: of the Hospital and as token of lhei
regad. in few words, by the Chaplain
Tais repast, of which the materials wer
nearly all prepared in the hospital, reflect
great credit upon the taste and culinar
skill Of the matron and other ladies Q
the establishment and the arrangement
and labors Of the Steward, and If his as
sistant, and of their assoc late employees
have given to our soldiers New Year j
a Hospital, which will be talked over b
, camp-ires and by hearth-stones, and RI
membcred when our war shall have end
{ ed, and its hospitals shall have bee
closed.