Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-12-31

The long looked for G. A. r., camp
fire took place at the skating rink on
Tuesday night and was the largest and
most successful one yet held. As early
as SIX O'Clock the people began to assem-
bic and by the time the supper hour
arrived, s o clock, the rink was crowded
by . happy, chattering throng, who had
come from all directions in town aud
country % enjoy a jolly evening with the
old soldier boys. The Webster Band
wal there and discoursed some of their
finest music both before aud after supper
and It Was the general comment that
their music Was decidedly tine-indeed
the frequent encores they received from
the people, eonclusiyely proved their
hish appreciation of the elegant selection
and execution Of the pieces rendered.
Att O'Clock supper was announced
And such a supper! What's the use in
trying TO describe tit was a q. A. X.
supper, n Of those kind where every
body contributes substantial and rich
pastury such as are fit to tempt the appe-
tits of the Gods. Three long tables, each
containing so people, were fed and still
an abundance was left on which this
company could lunch, during the remain
der of the evening.
After supper, the exercises at the stand
were opened with a few appropriate re-
marks from the Ajut. Of the Post, Mr..
Ed. G. Warner, after which the President
Of the evening, Hon. L. Huntington, in
troduced Capt. Van Etten who addressed
the large audience assembled and held
thoin s~pell-bound for over an hour. From
the very start he gained the ear Of the
people and held it to the close OF iis
speech. His ~panegyric on the three
great generals of the war, Sherman, Sher-
idsn and Grant, we're perfect jems Of
eloquence and the rendition of the poem
"Sheridan's Ride" was decidedly power
full and effective. The Captain is an
eloquent, forcibls and impressive speaker
some OF the passages In his address
were absolutely sublime in their deep
and touching pathos. His exhorlium
on the missing" reported after every
battle Of the war, was a piece of word
painting that we never heard excelled
by even the wonderfully versatile Inger-
soil.
When the Captain sat down amid the
enthusiastic thunder of applause from
his audience. Comrade Dickinson sprang
to his feet and moved the thanks of
Croker Post 10 him for the able address
and it was given with q hearty enthusi-
ssm worthy of the mastery effort.
The Band then gave a rattling piece Of
music that set the bodies Of the whole
audience to swaying to its sweet aud mu
sical rythem. II was q dandy and was
greeted al its close by loud applause and
hearty appreciation from every person In
the house.
Then came the song Marching through
Geargia," by Messrs. Turner and Brown,
in the chorus of which the audience
joined in a grand roar of harmony.
The hall was then cleared for the ter
psichorean exercises, which were opened
by a grand march, played by the full
band. After which the dance
ced and the people chased the glowing
hours till the morning light warned them
that the duties Of another day would
soon Claim their attention.
Never in the history Of the city was
there such a large crowd assembled
where everyone seemed 10 fully realize
the full meaning OF Jolly, lively time.
1t is universally voted the grand success
Of the season, and will be long remem
bered by those participating, for its
hearty s~ociability and good cheer.
We regret that time aud space will
not admit Of a more particular notice Of
the many good features of this entertain
men:. Suffice it that Mr. G. l.. Chapman
is deserving Of the highest praise for his
indefstigable work in getting il up and
his assistants Mr., McEliery, West, Hun
tIugton and others. whose names We did
not get. Mrs. Huntington and Mrs.
Chapman took the lead on the part Of
Of the ladies and contributed decidedly
to the grand success achieved.
The next camp fire will be a regular
old fashioned n without any ct cetsras
and will take place perhaps the latter
part Of January OF February.
In this connection we rise to remark
that we are proud Of Dur band and il
e%ficiency-i ii was an important feature OF
this camp fire; and we are happy to say.
oil our citizens heartily concur in all We
have x1id of them