Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-03-23
G. A, R. BANQUET.
A Sumptous Repast and Very
Enjoyable Time Generally
is Had by All.
Toasts and Speeches Offered
up, Long to be Remembered
and Treasured.
THE GRAND ARMY BANQUET.
An Occasion That VIII Long be Mem ora bic
for the People of Miles CITY,

for the People OF Miles City,
The lateuess OF the hour at which
festivities were concluded uad pTesl
OF other matter pr vented more lhaI
u passing notice IN yesterdays issu,
Of the banquet gwen by U. >. Gran
Post, No. IA, Ut Miles City to visiting
del gales 10 tue annual encampmeu
OnMonday evening a the Macqueer
house, but though twenIy-four noun
late, in the case of such pheuOme
nally successful and excellent euter
iainntnt, ID Is certainly better lat
than never ito review briefly in DE
tail AN occas on which will long be
remembered 10y those fortunate enougi
to be present"
After the usual supper hour at th'
Macqueen, the spacious dining room
Was speedily arranged for the accom-
mOdatou OF the baoqueters, who in
the interval oi waiting thronged TIA,
Office OF the hUtle .discussii g IN groups
the various events of the day ,begulled
at intervals ty the martial strains oI
the Filth Infantry band. At about II
O'Clock "mess call" was sounded aud
the dools of The dining room thrown
open. The tables were set for two
hundred aud fifty guests and nearly
every seat WAS occupied, there oeing
in addition TO The Grand Army boys. u
number of officers from FoIt Keogh,
and merchants and citizens from
town. But little time was lost before
the sssemLlage got TO work on TIA,
substantial part of the programme
aud the best part OF an hour was con
sumed in daspatching provender via
the slms ntsry canal. AT about mid
night Cap. Romeyn as master of cere'
monies arose and 10 n few we'll chosen
words. called upon the retiring anC
incoming department commander
Tor spt eches;unforIuna,ely both gentle
men, the one with honors enjoyed snc
The other with honors recently confer.
red, were overcome by their emotions
and not in tie mood for talking, eact
however made out to express theiI
high appreciation of the occasion, and
then followed an incident so wholly
unexpected by the person most imme-
diately concerned that his mental and
nervous discontinue was complete,
This was the presentation OF rich
and co,tly Grand Army badge to Ella
&c. Waters, the retiring commander
by the posts at Glendive, Miles City
Billings and Livingston. The preseu
tation speech was made by Capt
Romeyn and as is usual on such oC
cssions the preparatory remarks wer
ralhe ambiguous;C Commander Water
who sat at the left OF the speaker, Wa
for few moments unconscious Of th
nature Of the address, but a. the beaut
ful emblem was brought TO view an
the speaker became more pointed Il
his address the manly countensnce c
the recipient became suffused wit
the hot blood from his swelling hear
aud the twitchIng Of his facial muscle
showed how completely he has sui
prsed and un'nerved by this evidenC
of the high esteem In which bis com
rades held him. AT the conclusion ,
Capt. Romeyn's address, Conrad
Waters ruse and after vain attemp
to gather himself. said In vote
chocking with emotion. "If | bsye
friend in this assemblage, / beg ,
him TO rise and thank my conrad.
for this inestimable gift.n Ii was a
he could say but il carried such hear
felt recognition with 1t that as he too
his seat the air was rent with al
plause.
After these pleasing preliminari,
came the regular order of toasts, Il
first being "0ur Country. one aud il
diyisiable; may the good in its pa
prove but a Ereshsdowing Of its Il
ture," To this Comrade 4. J Galbrait
was called upon to respond, and IL h
auditors live to be an hundred yea
old they may never again listen |
such mastery handling of this sui
ject; gifted by nature with sill the q
tributes Of n flushed orator aud full
the throat with the sublimity Of b
theme the grand old msn played o
the hearl-strings OF his auditors with
master hand, aud sounded To the ech
h. glorious sentiment Of patriotism I
every listner's heart, No word ,
. oensure or reproscb TO the Old Soul
e'oiped his llps; no recogniIiop Of III
valor of the Union VETERANS that WI
MT coupled with an equal need I
p slse for the Confederstes; while o
. the alter OF the New South, rising lin