The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25

Of a hospital, that when the soft hand Of a
| lady was felt ON his parched brow 1t felt as
if an angel Of God had been sent to his couch
as ministering angel. Applause. Iheard
the name Of old Mother Bickerdyke. know
| her well. have seen her with my own eyes
helping wounded soldiers from the field
| when shot and shell were raining around her.
And when | speak Of her / speak OF her as
| typifying the woman who helped the soldier
| In the war. Tall and muscular, she would
take wounded boy in her arms and carry
him to the hospital. Why ladies and gentle
men, can speak from experience. l was
| once sufferer on q battlefield and long af-
terwaTds; and every morn could feel as If
| q silver cord was twined around a eapstan in
| the regions of glory and reached TO my heart
where it was anchored by the hand OF woman.
| (Cheersl Why gentlemen, their hands are
so connected with the hand OF divinity that
| man without them would be barbarian.
And to the Grand Army let me say, let the
time never come when you viii contemplate
the separation of the Relief Corps from
the Grand Army. Man is cruel, or II not
cruel he is rough, but woman Is gentle;
and as the poor old soldier goes tottering
down the road Of life to meet death, nothing
can cheer him on as can the ministratiOns Of
woman in charity. So does the widow Of the
soldier who has gone before need the con-
sOling influence that woman alone can give.
And l thank God, as a member OF the
Grand Army, that he has brought to the
front this auxiliary. And to you ladies, for
myself speak, feel the obligation so strong
for your true and intelligent work that
have not in my heart to express my gratitude
Applause Ladies and gentlemen, it would
be trespassing upon your time to continue
longer, and / thank you for the attention
with which you have listened TO me.
[Cheersl
General Logan sat down and the president
proceeded to present to the audience one
whom she described as the woman who has
gone side by side with General Logan. The
perfect woman, nobly planned, born to COM
fort and command.
The audience waved hats, fans and para
soils and cheered Justify as Mrs Logan, step
ping forward few PAGES, smiled with the
grace of a younger lady. the dignity Of an
older one, and the modesty OF perfect one,
and took her seat while the audience clapped
their hands and stamped their feet again.
General and Mrs. Logan then left the hall
with the cheers of the audience
Annie Wittemyer, an old army nurse, and
the present chaplain Of the National Relief
Corps entertained the audience with nara
tiveS of the war which were laughable and
pathetic to such an extent that the old nurse
rather surpassed the other speakers OF the
evening as an entertainer; and when she
finished, some one by the door waved para
sol and shouted ''Three cheers for the grand
old nurse" and they were given.
Corporal Tanner of New York, who left
both legs on aSOuthern battle field, respond
ed to the sentiment Woman Of the War"
1t was the most stirring speech Of the even
ing and many of the old veterans shed tears
about as often as they applauded, and that
was pretty often.
Past Commander Robert B. Beath Of Phil
adelphia, was glad to speak in praise Of the
women in their efforts to alleviate the suffer
ings and poverty of the veterans.
Commander Brown of Ohio, said that the
''0hio idea" had attained its fullest fruition
in the persons Kate b. sherwood Of
the relief corps Of his own state.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield Owen re
recited the poem Twenty Years Ago"
tlonal Encampment. 1t was heartily appre-
ciated by the audience.
Miss Hall of Boston sang again, and the
well pleased hearers turned their attention
to Past President Mrs. f. Florence Barker Of
Maiden, Mass, who spoke in memory Of the
women who staid at home, and especially OF
the maidens who gave their lovers to die for
their country; and closed with little ad-
dress to Past Commander Van DervoOrt, who
came forward as the one honorary member
of the Woman's Relief Corps to receive a
gold badge from the Corps for his efforts
while Commander to give life to their order.
Comrade Van Dervoort thanked the Corps
for the badge with eulogy on their asso-
citation, and an appeal that the G. A. r
should secure a pension for Old Mother
Bickerdyke, to whom the General had re-
ferred, and who is in want in her old age.
He finished and Mrs. Reed of John Brown
C0lored Corps, of Chicago led in singing
"Old John Brown" while the audience rose
to their feet and joined in an immense
GLORY Hallelujah." "They hung him for
traitor, themselves a traitor crew. was
greeted by fervent amen from veteran Of
the line, and the people went home at Is
minutes past IL with hatred to all traitors
and unbounded good will for the Grand
Army and the WOman's Relief Corps.