The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-07-06
A PLEASANT AFFAIR.
Company F Accorded a Banquet by
Wllkin Post.

The reception and banquet given Sat-
urday evening to Company L by Wilkin
Post, G. A. r., was one ofthose pleasant
occasions which occur all too infrequent-
ly; it was one of those occasions which
bind together the hearts of the old vet
Grams of the civil strife and those of the
citizen soldiery Of the younger genera
ton with ties of the strongest sympathy
and friendship. The affair passed off to
the entire satisfaction of all .concerned.
WilkIn Post and Company F assembled
at their respective halls and at about
$50 o'clock marched to Bars hall
where they found tables covered with
refreshments awaiting them. A num-
Der of the ex-members of the company
were also present and enjoyed the occa-
sion as much as the rest. The hall had
been handsomely decorated with flags
and bunting and presented tasty APP
pearance. A score of comely daughters
of veterans were in attendance as wait
ers and added greatly to the enjoyment
of the occasion. Ice cream, strawber-
ries, cake, coffee, pickles and sand
witches soon disappeared before the
charge of the assembled warriors, old
and young.
On entering the hail Capt. Cannon,
who acted as master of ceremonies DUR
ing the evening, and made good one,
too, welcomed the militia IN a few words
and bid all attack the viands After the
attack had been successfully consumated,
Gen. K. M. Pope gave the formal adj
dress of welcome, in which he urged the
militia to cultivate high ideal, both in
military and civil life. The reason Will
kin Post thought SO much of Company
was because of its high hopes of the
company's future. During his address,
which, like all that succeeded, was high
ly applauded, the Germania band en-
tered the hall-and was set to work on
the refreshments, or such of them as
had survived the previous assault.
Capt. ID. f. McGraw responded to the
toast, Company +, Minnesota National
Guard" and in short speech reviewed
the history of the company from the
time it was organized six years ago with
siXty-two charter members until the
present time. Col. Mead and Capts.
Burgess and Washburn had each served
a time at the helm with success before
speaker had been called upon to assume
the responsibility. The latter and Lieut..
Pay were the only ones of the original
members left. He closed by thanking
Wilkin Post for its hearty welcome to |
the company on its return from camp
the evening previous.
A male quartet composed of Messrs. |
Washburh, Schroeder, Williams and
Bromley, with Miss Nellie Burt as ac-
companlst, rendered eve old boys" in |
very pleasant manner.
Judge M. j. Severance was the next
raooa-IaI a. L.
'The Grand Army of the Republic. He |
urged its benefit as school of patriot
ism. No man could keep his eyes con-
tinually on the American flag but he |
must love his country as mother loves |
her child. AS long as human passions |
exist and man is ambitious, exlgencies |
may arise that will test the strength of |
the nation, and therefore the spirit of |
patriotism must be kept alive. In fifty |
years POO, 000, 900 of people will be roam
UNCOVER this.country and then every prin- |
ciple of free government should perme
ate the whole people to preserve the |
country. 1t is worse than folly for any
member of the G. A. r. to look with |
disdain upon these young soldiers, who |
are following the same school that the
G. A. r. did.
The quartet sang Marching through
Georgia"
Capt. ]. L. Washburn spoke in re-
Spouse to the toast, "The boys, old and
young" There was every reason why
bound together by the strongest ties.
They all believe in the same. The
The young boys can fight if called upon
and can eat with the best of the old |
boys. The young boys are not play day
soldiers by any means, as the past shows
and some present know.
The quartet again appeared and sang
"Firmly stand" in the same effective
manner as before, and the Germania
band played selection in its artistic
style.
Rev. r. NJ. Carter, chaplain of Wllkin
Post, was called upon and made few
pleasant remarks. Mr.. j. l.. Washburn
then proposed toast, "Our ministering
angels here to-night-the daughters of
the veterans of the Grand Army of the
Republic and called for three cheers
for the ladies, which were gwen with
emphasis and followed by applause.
The quartet sang Soldiers Farewell"
and again, in response to request for
volunteer music, "Tenting on the old
camp ground"
Capt. Cannon in few appropriate
words thanked the young ladies who
had so kindly rendered their services on
the occasion.
Three cheers were given for the G. A.
R., three for the ladies', and three for
Company +, past and present. The vo-
cal power shown by the assemblage was
wonderful.
This closed the exercises of red let
ter evening in the history of Company
f and the three organizations present
to their respective headquar-
tiers and were dismissed.