The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-09-14


providing the royal feast So lavishIy spread
Tor this occasion. we speak from personal
knowledge, ana can produce the certificates
OF AT least 500 good ard rcliabl, men AMI wo-
men who will testify Ia the truthfuincss oi
the assertion. Too much praise cannot lee
accorded The gcncruus-hcartcd people for the
elegant spread, which was certainly one of
the most interesting items ON the programme,
and ore which was most hugely enjoyed Is
all.
After supplying the inner man To- Il ful!-
ness that pen cannot describe, Il scrirs Of
short speeches, interviewer with vocal aii.l
instrumental music, occupied the time until
the hour for departure arrived. just before
the speeches, however, Il rowing band a; four
or five Winncbago Indians made their APP
pearancc, and after exhibiting themselves
IL the crowd II few minutes, pursued their
journey. Capt. Dane made Il few impromptu
remarks, which were well received, ami ii-
troduccd Col. Thomas of Wilkn Post tn re-
spond IL the toast, "Grand Army of the Re |
public" This body is IN organization of old
soldiers, which was from the year IaGI 10
sG5 in completing lis membership. Its pur- |
pose was to protect the rights and advance |
the interests OF old soldiers to practice !
charity and teach loyalty to the country and
the old flag. According ~ statistics tn, re
are upwards of 10000 members al this Grand |
Army. But old veterans are rapidly growing !
less, and those who remain to plorify the |
names of the dead heroes gone before are |
becoming gray and bald; aye in many in !
stances feeble and pccvish. The Grand Army |
of the Republic is not Al political organization |
in amy sense. Ii is simply II body oi cld
soldiers banded together Ia look after needy |
anu distressed comrades and the widows and
orphans of Gcad soldiers. The speaker refer |
red briefly t. the timc-hoHp custom % dcc-
Grating the graves on the Goth OF Mas of
those who died that their country Nigh: yGVe,
and impressed upon his hearers the great
importance Of recording the name and spot |
of every such that the evergreen sprip ana
fragrant flower might annually he placed
upon their graves, a. Il mark Of respect and
love for their herCism.
The choir, M the conclusion of Mr.. Thomas !
remarks, sang the old familiar song John
Browns body lies mOuldering in the grave |
the assembly joining in the chorus.
Mr.. James Cannon, commander of Wilkin |
Post, was called upon to say something of the
Past" MIR. Cannon knows just how to feed
Il crowd of old soldiers and make mcrriment
for everybody. He was commanded to tall |
in the ranks in go and now nc had been cont
manGed to "fall in" in 'S3. At the former
period he had Il good head of hair; now il was !
said he was getting bald. This was an in
stance of the past" II" had good word |
for the ladies, of course, for il is well known |
that Mr.. Cannon Is II great admircr of the |
fair sex, and in justice to his good looks and
fair frame ii Is only justice to say TINT The |
ladies quite generally smile upon him be- |!
witchingly. The speaker thanked Durkcc |
Post on behalf Of Wilkin Post, for the |
grand time afforded, and concluded with the |
hope that these re unions would be kept up. |
They were eathcIi ngs where old soldiers could
come together and grasp each others hand in
earnest, honest, open friendship, which the
long army service had so thoroughly welded
that naught but death could sever.
Mr.. J. A. Henry, of the GAINESVILLE Ar"n,
was introduced and the topic assigned him
was upon the Future" Mr.. Henry was not
Il so,dier, out in the words OF Commander
Dane. his father wa. and was one OF the true
blue. Mr. II. reverted briefly TO the aniinosl-
~ that had existed and TO some degree was
still entertained by many between the North
AMI South. but this antagonstIc feeling is
gradually dying out. and in the near future
il would be numbered with the things that
were but are not.
The choir here sang "Bravc Boys Il sclcc-
ton that Is full of patriotism and enthusiasm.
School Superintendent Rodgers was called
to pay tribute To the ''Dcad Comrades" ana
he did Il In u most touching manner. 1t 70
hut meet, said the speaker, that we pause for
a moment amid these festivities ana revert
tn the memories of those dead comrades.
Words are weak to express our feeling for
them. Language Is inadequate 10 express
the honor and debt of gratitude due them for
| their heroism. Their noble and gallant
| deeds will never pass from memory. But
while all honor Is due IL the dead, we like.
| Wise owe to our living heroes debt Of .srati
| tudc, which we can never pay. This fact is
visible on every hand and AT every step. Con-
slider the material interests AMI rapid pro-
prcss this country is making ANA Il faint con-
ccption or our obligation to the brave soldier
who sacrificed all may bc gained. Mr.. Rodg-
crs remarks were quite extended, and
very interesting.
Mr.. Ira B. Reynolds was assigned to the top
| broad and one suggestive Of extended re-
marks. Mr.. Reynolds reelected that when ne
saw n band of these little fellows following
in the order of the veterans marching 10 the
grounds, that the country was safe. Every
young American is young soldier. He only
had to look ut his father once in n while to
get the step, while in many instances il
took his father months To learn To change
step. Mr.. X. paid a high compliment tn the |
boys of our country, and his remarks were
well received
Mr.. &. q. TORY, being ladies man was Sc
iectcd, very properly. to say something OF
sour Ladies'" He referred to the great good |
women did during the trying siege of the |
rebellion, and justly complimented them for
their invaluable services. Many were the |
instances when the presence OF lady i'm hos |
pital was as the visitation of an angel. In |
war or in pcacc,a wOman's sphere can he filled
only by woman.
"Our glorious country by Mr. Horace Cum
minis was one of the most interesting speech
| es OF the occasion. He painted i'm glowing
language the grandeur or this vast domain,
stretching out as II sea of picturesque scenery
| far beyond the power of artists pencil to
sketch. His portraiture was simply grand to
hear, and made everyone present feel more
than ever proud of his inheritance.
Mr.. Coon was assigned Il subject that prob
ably no other man in the company could
have so completely carried out. 1t was the
hummer" 1.-The Army hummer" says
Coon; ''why. we're all bammers to-day. The
army hummer was everywhere, was nowhere.
Like Sinbad, the sailor, nc was the last one
~ report, but never reported" Coon suited