San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-26
voLKsFEsT vICToRs REWARDED.
Col. Belknap Presents the Medals and
Gives the Boys Some Good Advice.

Col. Belknap Presents the Medals and
Gives the Boys Some Good Advice.
On Saturday evening, Col. Belknap, many
of the fair admirers of the BeIknaps,an some
of our prominent citizens, attended the Bel
KNAPP armory for the purpose of taking part
in the presentation of the Belknap silver med
ais to the victorious NOlksfcst team.
In rising to make the presentation, Col Bel
knsp, who was received with hOn0rs and
cheers, said: "SinCC the NOlkSiCSt in October,
1885, il has been my desire to present each
member of your team with silver medal but
| was compelled to await such time as found
mS self in New York to give proper attention
to the matter. While there in June last
placed my ORDER and tonight have the pleas
urc to see my wish gratiiied, to place these
medals upon your breasts. trust you will re-
ceive them with equal pleasure that | take in
presenting them, in graceful remembrance of
hours and days of hard labor, patient toll and
of their good result. In presenting these med
ais, | but follow custom in vogue for ages,
that of rewarding the victOrs. This is now the
second medal you have won, and | trust that
you will win others. Before saying good
night and while | have the opportunity, /
want to say few words and to ask that you
will listen and heed them, for they are spoken
in earnestness for your present and future
good, for, as you grow older you will
learn, that little things carelessly done oftimes
lead to sad and serious endings. In the north,
/ am sorry to say, in our colleges and uni
Nersltles strllGS, contests ana dInleIlC games
have retrogated from their original purpose,
and are now little less than mObs, whose prom
inent features are gambling and betting, and
upon whom the better classes of society cry
shame" May l ask that you will not, by
word or action, encourage such pernicious and
degrading practice. 1t is bad for your elders
to show such an example, but you must not
follow il. Let your young, manly pride your
convictions of right, rebel and rcpulse tend
encies of this nature. Through honest efforts,
upright actions and perfect morality you can
and will retain the good will and afectionate
regard of friends and good citizens, and at the
same time you will maintain the health and
efficiency of your organization. You may eN-
pect to wane, to fall back from the top
rounds of the ladder of military fame" when
you do not practice "on duty" the same strict
discipline yOu voluntarily assume lin ranks"
Should you ever fail in any of your under
takings let ii be known that il was because
others were more perfect, not because you
became careless and lukewarm i'm your drill,
Overbearing and OvercOntident, or that you in
dnlged IN Doastlng ana set-praise, Tor
all these hurt immensely. | ask moth
ing more agreeable better indeed to me
than all victOresl than to be assured
that your conduct i'm the future, wherever
you 20, may Ice the same as at BampaSSaS-
that of modest, quiet and digniticd young gen
tCmCn, always exercising with pride and firm
ness those two grand s9dierly qualifications.
Patience and fOrbeaTanCc. You have shown
to yourselves and others. what pluck. perSe-
ycrance and determination can do, yOu have
learned how victory is acquired, how medals
ART won, Ndll Nbu " SHOW lidl you can
wear them well, with charity to those who con
quer and with grace and dignity to yourself.
10 SO, my young friends. and your friends
will follow your footsteps wherever you 60
giving you hearty encouragement, honest
sympathy and never ending affection. As for
me- shall he content to know you wear your
medals well. You all know that IL II were
possible would accompany you to Galveston.
but cannot forget that my old comrades have
delegated me to represent them at their en-
equipment in san Francisco on August 4th,
and must be there. But let me tell you that
| shall look for good work from you As |
look into your determined faces tonight, I
feel rs did at LampaSsuS, that the lBclknap
boys will not bring up the rear, but will be-
somewhere among the top rounds of the lad
der ! hope you will bc on the top Good
night boys, and luck go with you. Cheers
The medals being placed upon the breast of
the victorious team Capt. ROte replied thank
ing Col. BClknap for the great interest he had
taken in the company, for the assistance he
had always generously given, and for his good
and timely advice. He hoped that when they
returned from Galveston they would have
done honor To the COlOnel's name, but he
might rest assured that they would do their
duty.
Three cheers and tiger were then given
for Col. Belknap and the visitors then with
drew.
The medals are very pretty and original in
design ON the clasp is engraved san AntO-
MO-" then suspended from red ribbon Is n
"triangular medal" with turned corners, IN
the face of which are cross guns. They are IN
scribed in blue enamel, "Belknap Rifles"
"NOksfest lSSi," and IN the rear is the IT.
cipients name.