The daily gazette., 1882-05-09
sMYTH POST CAMP FIRE.

An Excellent Musical and Literary Pro-
gramme In the Opera House Last Might
stirring Speeches and Presentation Of
COlors.
The stage of the Opera House was taste
fully set last evening with pretty camp
scene. Four tents were nesting In q grove
of trees, the camp fire and mess Kettle hang
ing from the crOss-stick occupied O position
| In front, the soldiers sat around In groups
and sentries continued their monotonous
tramp up and down. The private boxes
were decorated with flags and on either side
of the stage was placed a cannon, muzzle
outward. The house was filled and the
audience was apparently delighted with the
programme, to judge from the continued
encores demanded, fact which tended to
prolong the entertainment until after IL
| o'clock.
Professor Ellinger at O'Clock announced
the opening of the exercises by giving the
bugle call, when the City Cornet Band gave
a selection. A chorus of four males and
four females sang "Come with the Gipsy
Bride" from the opera of the Bohemian
Girl" T. o. Cooper recited the painter of
Seville," and Ada Jones, bright little miss
from Camden, N. j., sang, with unusual
force and feeling for child, "0od Save Our
President" as encores giving "Man You
Don't Meet Every Day" and "Over the
Garden Wall"
Guard relief was then illustrated by the
firing party of the Post, and male chorus
sang Little Mountain Church. Miss
Laura A. Bigger recited with feeling, acting
| the spirit of the selection as she did so,
Searching for the Slain" Little Frank
Thompson recited "Our Boys In Blue" and
after the singing Of the mixed chorus, Of
List ~ the Trumpet" Post Department
Commander A. Wilson Norris Of Philadel-
| III t..A.a T.. e..
| tardiness, but thought II better to be In q
| fight at tine end than not at all. There was
no sight so refreshing to him as 70 look into
the faces of men cleaning with the memo
ries of the war; no sound was so welcome to
his ear US the voices of those who mingled
with him In the army. II had been asked of
what good the reunions of old soldiers were.
All would he In accord, he added, when he
said that if they serve no other end they
tend to awaken lot of kindly sympathies
and recall the day when side by side they
were fighting for the Union; the recollections
that made them feel better as citizens aud
made them remember the part they
took In putting down the rebellion. The
men who took part In such a struggle could
never do mean or dishonorable act. What
institution is so priceless and durable as that
bequeathed TO us by the war. 1t was often
said the soldiers were too exacting and
expected too much Of their country, but the
welcome given them last night showed that
the people of Wilmington had in their hearts
a warm recollection Of the soldiers' service.
"Have they not, " he went on "some title to
your respect and gratitude In return for
their pr vations and the blood given In the
war! III soldiers will never ask of citizens
more than they deserve as citizens. They
will not come before the public as mendi-
cants for charity. lfmen say they would
barter their honor away in politics, or any
other trade, tell them they lie. Not one
man in the ~, 900 members Of the g. A. r.
In Pennsylvania had ever bartered away his
honor and he ought to know, having taken
an active part in politics in the Keystone
State for years. The order had but one
object, and that he declared was "Fraternity
to one another, charity TO the widow and
orphan, and loyalty to the government.
Miss Bigger, at the conclusion of the
address, sang in he piquant manner, Abt's
"Brd Song" "The Lady Auctioneer," and
"Was it Fair Z" The tattoo taps, grand
rounds by the firing party and music by the
band finished the first part.
Post Department Commander, w. 8.
McNair, opened the second part by present
ing, In a neat speech TO the Post an excellent
crayon portrait of General I. A. emyth, the
gift of j. Paul Brown. The frame was con-
tributed by the ladies Of the Auxiliary Corps.
Post Commander Keables ae4epled the por-
trait gracefully on the part of the Post.
G. ID. Rhoads provoked much merriment
by his character, aged negro sPecialties, and
Prof 8. T. Ford read with decided effect,
'sHow Ruby Played" and "Rrother Wat
kins' Farewell Sermon" Little Ada Jones
in long train dress, sang, lawfully Awful, y
and dressed as tony young man, gave
"Lardy Dah," and another selection Of .
different tenor.
After guard relief, the curtain fell to rise
again on tablcau formed by detail of tht
members of the Post In a semi-circle
each bearing a handsome silk corps flag and
one with Post guilon ON each end, In thu
centre were seated Miss Helen x. Nostrand
Mrs. Bricks, Mrs N. Garrigan, Mrs. II. ID
Entriken, Miss Anna Brown and Mrs. Jamei
| ii. Wrightington, a committee Of the Aux
, iliary Corps. Immediately in their rear stood
Jacob B. Slifer Andrew j. Thompson ant
Mr.. Hart with the National Post and thu
State cOlors respectively.
Past Department Commander Tanner o
, Brooklyn, N. Y, was introduced and afteI
stating that he had been admonished b
''irc the boys up" said that If 1t took mor'
, to fire them up than had already been givel
the blood of Delaware had grown colde
than of yore. He then proceeded to "fir
, the boys up" and In stunning address,p pre-
) sented IN behalf of the Ladies' Auxiliar.
: Corps, three flags, to the Post-a Unite'
States flag, State flag and white flag
!, bearing the colors and emblem Of the Order
|, | Commander Keables received the gifts In
!, wellturned speech Of thanks.
! The entertainment concluded with the fol
!, lowing: "Flag of the Free" sung by Mis-
! Bigger; an original poem, 1.-THE Brandywin
: by Moonlight" read by D. L. Osmond
II "Archie Dean, read by Miss Bigger, an
). singing ''Good Night" by the chorus.
. Clarence Shank was the piano accompanif
and had charge of the excellent choru