The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-11-02

unuer lneS6 favorable CIRCUMSTANCES VIC VIII
embalm them one after another in the col
umns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and
leave the old soldiers to furnish the airs
and continue these remarks to their children
on the influence of music upon army life.
G. A. L. Day in Philadelphia.
The magnificent spectacle of nearly seven
thousand men of the Grand Army of the
Republic in line in the streets of Philadel-
phia last Friday was a sight long to be
remembered by the half million people
who witnessed it. If there was one copper
head in the throng of spectators which lined
the streets from end to end of the five miles
line of march his sentiments were unex-
pressed by word, look or gesture. AS the
tattered flags, tenderly furled around the
stats, were borne by, the cheers that rent
the air from thousands Of Threats and the
hats and handkerchief waving above the
excited throng told in unmistabable Ian
guage the hold that the men who bore them
through the carnage of long and bloody
war to final victory, have upon the hearts OF
the people. In silent eloquence they told
their story of the battlefield, mutely they
recalled the memories of hundred fields,
where, borne by strong hands, they had been
followed by brave hearts into the thickest of
the fight
Men and women who stood upon the side
walks Or sat upon temporary platforms
chatting pleasantly while the military
parade was passing, rose to their feet and
shouted themselves hoarse as the Grand
Army appeared in sight bearing those
sacred relics Of the war.
The visiting members were royalty enter
tanned by the Grand Army Posts through
out the city. The writer, unable to accept
but one of the many invitations for Thurs
day night with which he was honored, ac-
cepted one to be present at a banquet given
by Post 2 in honor of their guests the lib
belts Veteran Corps, of Troy, New York.
The magnificent hall of Post was
crowded at an early hour by members and
visitors, whence they adjourned to Mnnner-
Choir Hall, at which place the feast was pre-
pared. The ratiOns were superior in quality
and better prepared than we had IN the
army, and there was more room for choice
in the number of beverages, although the
list embraced coffee, "ccmmissary," and
water.
Major Charles w. Smith, the genial past
commander, presided at the banquet, and
amid the popping of champagne c0rks called
out the wit of the assembled veterans in
toasts TO the guests of the evening, each of
whom were presented with q beautiful SOU
venir in the form of silver plated canteen,
four inces in diameter, bearing on one side
in raised letters on q brass plate the inscrip-
ton of post 2, Philadelphia" and on the
reverse the monogram of the Tibbetts
Veteran Corps.
In response to the address of welcome
Colonel Egolf, who had lost one arm in
Dixie, referred to the Reunion as Glove
feast in which " Experiences were always
in order but apt to be tiresome. Then the
band played Sherman's March to the Sea.
Quite number of Twentieth Corps men
were present, and in this instance the pOpu-
lar air was appropriate; but it is n notice
able fact that at Army Reunions, wherever
held, when the members want something
inspiring in the way of music they invari-
ably go west" for it,
Ofcourse, William Penn was not forgotten
in the festivities and Comrade 0. C. Bosby-
shell, in responding to a toast to that ancient
worthy, said that in his loyalty to king
country, and principle, William Penn was a
true man and worthy of membership in the
G. A. r..
General Vandervoort put in an appearance
at this stage of the proceedings and on being
introduced was received with three cheers
and a tiger by the assembled comrades. The
speech of the COMMANDMENTS. Chief was brief,
but pointed and eloquent He said Post .
of Philadelphia was the first Grand Army
Post he ever visited and he felt then the
desire, which never had left him, to carry
the news to the Great West Of the principles
embodied in the grand organization which
he now had the honor to command. He
left it simple private in the ranks; lie
returned tonight Commander in Chief Of
the Grand Army of the Republic. He
said: "By the 1st of January next there
will be Posts of the G. A. r. in all the States
and Territories in the Union except Missis-
sippi and Alabama, but there is one in Homo
lulu, Sandwich Islands, and one is about to
be established in Shanghai, China, to make
up for them" AS an illustration of the
growth Of membership he said: "The great
est addition to our ranks that has ever been
made in single year is $4,000. Since the
23d Of June of this year % 600 new members
have been added to the Grand Army"