Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-08-20

S"N S'" " 'h''ii JF'ihCJ ""o
largely due to his careful and con-
siderate guidance, had purchased,
while in New York, a beautiful
water service of solid silver, gold
decorations and skillfully engraved,
and here presented it to him through
Col. Chas. King. Col. King spoke
as follows:
"GoU. Rusk: In a few short hours
our pilgrimage will have ended and
the members of the Wisconsin del
egation who, under your guidance,
have visited the distant east, will
return to their accustomed duties.
Thanks to your thoughtful care and
skilled leadership our journey, our
brief stay in New York and our
parting tribute to the greatest soldier
the nation has ever known, have all
been unmarried by the faintest mis-
hap, and now on the eve of separa
ton my comrades of the staff have
delegated to me the duty of express
ing to you their deep appreciation of
your efforts. | cannot refrain from an
allusion to the harmony which has
pervaded the entire party. l cannot
express the pride feel in being one
of representation from our honor
ed state. Not by empty resolution
or address, but by the dignity and
decorum of every stage of our Jour
ney do we manifest our grief for the
infinite loss the nation has sustained
our reverence for the memory of
him who has so lately been sum
moned from life to immortality.
"ln the last few days many an
old friendship has been cemented
and many new tie formed. We
return to our homes with memories
of an enjoyment that has been tenn
pered only by the sanctity and sor-
row of the purpose of our going.
Each bears with him the evident
appreciation of your imparting
courtesy; each carries TO his home
some souvenir of a journey that no
one of US can ever forget, and while
all our duties have beer rendered
pleasant by the unyarying good will
of my associates, the pleasantest
duty yet is that which now deyolves
upon me at their behest.
"In memory of this occasion at
once so solemn and so sweet-we,
whose privilege it is to serve upon
your staff, have had prepared this |
souvenir whose acceptance we ask |
of you, and we pray that for many
a happy year to come it may be to
you and the loving circle at your
not only q momento of a
bright and beautiful journey, but an
unfailing token of the loyalty and
in which we hold you, our
commander, our comrade and our
friend"
Gov. Rusk, who was greatly over
come by this surprise, kindly thank
ed his staff, bestowing praise upon
them for the manly conduct and
gentlemanly bearing while they had
been with him, The Grand Army
boys, who cherish a more tender
spot for Gov. Rusk than does any
other part of the commonwealth,
Immediately came forward and pre-
sented the governor with a COM
mander's badge which symbolizes
one of solid gold and star of dia-
monds, which is now being made
for the governor to wear. The pre-
sentation was made by Post Com
mander Philip Cheek, of Baraboo,
who spoke of the loyalty of the
Grand Army of the Republic toward
Gov. Rusk Mr.. Cheek said: "When
the time comes for you to be laid
away like the great fallen hero,
whose obsequies we have been OBJ
serving, it is the wish of every
Grand Army boy that this badge
may rest on your bosom, which has
heayed so many sighs of anguish
on account Of the suirerings and
deaths of the noble boys in blue"
Gov. Rusk, again surprised, feel
ingly thanked the "boys" for their
kindly appreciation of him and said
that when the time for him to be
laid at rest it was only soldier hands
that he wished should do so.
This was one of the most happy
features Of the journey and when
Chicago was reached the hearty
farewell haudshakesindicated friend
ships formed which would not be
dissolved by the lapse of years.