The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-14

speaking q re Emporia nesnion.
EmporIs Sc an elegant city. and par
iieuiarly s'.cityhed" In tie appear
snee. It's business streets are clean.
wide. and wei built up with large
biocxs-oflner three than two stored
The number Of elegant residences r.
large. But business is very dull.
The residents do not see any very
bright future. Laboring men and
mechanics are leaving the pIaoe IN
numbers--a bad sign. 1--we remem
Der correctly We saw bot two or three
new buildings under construction
while We were there.
Mr. &. @. Ebling. the guartsrmas
Ter Of the salina Post, was energetic
and efficient in providing quarters for
our boys a the camp ground.
There never was such q dusty time
witnessed by the veterans e. they ez-
perienced ct the Reunion. By some
inexeusable blnnder the camp was
pitched In an old cat and eorn-aeld-
the ground being lowered with dust TO
she depth OF several inches even before
veteran had pluced his foot within the
limits Of the camp. Our readers can
we'll imagine what clouds OF dust
were raised when the great concourse
% people were tramping here aud
there. and the Kansas breezes were
doing there best TO make everyone
uncomfortable. Another serious OBJ
lection to the grounds was their Inn
msnsity. From the street car line Il
was q long walk before the grand
avenue Of the camp was reached and
when inside it was like days march
10 go from one side OF the camp to the
other. The boys looked lovingly and
affeetiOnately towards the neighbOr-
ing Park, with tie fine shade and blue
grass, and wondered why the Em-
pOria people did not give them the
freedom Of that desirable region.
However. the EmpOFlans had provided
an abundance Of tents, barracks,
straw. wood and water, and the eat
ing establishments upon the grounds
were without number. The deeora-
ton Of public, business and private
buildings was superb. It far sur
passed anything Of the kind we had
seen at previous State reunions. Mai.
Hoods residence grounds were e.
pecially attractive, with the miniature
camp, the streamers, mammoth 9. A.
R. badges, flags, etc.
The arch with its numerous gas
lights and colOred globes was mag
nificent.
The street cans were not only
crowded always, but the buses,
hacks, etc. It was q brilliant harvest
for the common eaFriers.n
There was much grumbling over
the admission fee that was charged on
Thursday q part OF the day, but sub
sequently abandoned. The Vets.
were Of the opinion that the expenses
Of the eneamDment should have been
raised by the EmpOrians In some
other way. Their feelings were
aroused 10 the highest pitch when q
charge was exacted for seats In the
amphitheatre during Commander
Fairehlld's address. When the COM
mand was given to charge upon the
seats, It was done with a hearty good
feeling, which" rugged" the COMMITTEES
very seriously.
II was 3 general remark that there
was a sad lacking Of any system dur
ing the reunion. Speaking after the |
manner Ofslangy men, There was no |
head or tail 10 the thing.n
There were some who believed the |
EmpOria people had not bestowed |
their gifts upon the encampment |
quite rs munifieently az the Due d. |
Aumale has recently upon France, but
q larger portion were charitable
enough to believe that that city had
done her very best-and that ls all /
that could be expected. We are OF
the latter class-belIeving that II she
fell short Of her duty in any respect.
Il was In her attempting in the first
instance to entertain 30 large q crowd.
AS the Salina boys were tramping
wearily about the Wide-extended
grounds the conclusion was come 70
that Oak Dale Park would be q de-
lIghtful place for the eneampment, &c
the camp would be confined within
such small limits ~ 10 make Il COM
pact, close to the city, and easily
traversed.
Il Is sisted that Bismarck will make
a most liberal offer for next years
encampment.
Fred A. Smith, Of Salina, was
elected President Of the Pennsylvania
Association.
A Mr.. Put, who ls q veteran and
who revelsd In the dust Of the grand
encampment at Empsria, was the
hero Of q nocturnal adventure when
fOraging for poultry. It ls unneces-
sary to detail In full the particulars Of
his celebrated exploit. Time will not
permit and space is lacking. Suffice
It to say, he came back TO camp fires
coed after 4he best Of patterns, and was
&c gorgeous q looking forager as ever
accompanied Sherman 10 the sea.
The Kansas soldiers were more nu-
merOus than they had been 1t any
previous encampment.
AS the years 60 by the veterans feel
less and less inclined to indulge Ia pa
rade and "fuss and feather show"
There was q remarkable absence Of
shoulderstrapped, gold-lseed uni
formed gentlemen. with scarfs as
broad and gaudy as the baldric Of an
earl. 1t Is well. The soldier much |
prefers to take It easy in simple
clothes by the camp Dire, converting /
with comrades abUut other days.
The sham fight wss a failure as Ell