The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-22
A GLORIOUS TIME.
The Emporia Encampment of The q.
A. R.-The Stars and Stripes
Flying Everywhere-Em-
poria in Holiday
Attire.

Washington has bid good bye to the
veterans of the political field. Emporia
has bid good bye to the veterans OF
the battle field.
What a contrast! One composed OF
men who have never met their foe only
in the halls of congress and on the po-
litical stage, and whose only weapons
were those of oratory.
The other composed Of men who had
faced the enemy at Antietem, Atlanta,
Vicksburg and hundreds of other
places, not with the weapons of Orato.
nv but with the cannon and the mus
ket.
Emporia had made every preparation
possible to give the old soldiers a
hearty welcome. at the south end Of
Commercial street an arch had been
erected. The prevailing color was red
set off with white and blue, and on
either side was an obelisk of red, white
and blue. At the north end was one
similar in construction. Japanese Ian
terms were hung from each, and at
night were lighted.
BY Tuesday evening the Stars and
Stripes were flying from nearly every
house and public building, and wound
around in festoons till the fronts of the
business houses were covered like the
trees in June. All teams and vehicles
OF every description were dressed in
proportion. Such was the appearance
of Emporia on Tuesday. Quite num-
Der of G. A. r. men arrived on Mon.
days train, but the majority came in
Tuesday.
AS fast as the people belonging to
the different organizations arrived
they were assigned to their respective
places. The city had expected large
crowd and had made preparations &C.
cordingly which proved afterwards
none too great, for by the time the
Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons
of Veterans had arrived, besides the
other visitors the city was about full.
Tuesday night was set for the first
public meeting, in the Whitley Opera
House. The day was fine except q
few clouds in the morning, which
broke away before noon letting the
sun shine with all its splendor. All
nature seemed to bid the old veterans
happy welcome. Fully an hour be
fore time large crowd congregated
around the doors of the opera house,
and while they were waiting the VAL
ley Center band discoursed some very
good music. At 7:30 the doors were
opened and in an hour the house was
filled to overlooking, Another meet
ing was announced to take place in
the Rink for those who could not get
in the opera house. The building was
decorated in red, white and blue. Flags
were hung in all parts Of the house.
The portraits of Lincoln, Grant, Sher-
man, Sheridan, Logan, Garfield and
Harrison were hung to the side and in
vi thC StoSSs Ac thS ptStoiC VI
General Grant looked down upon
those old veterans, had it been real,
would ne have recognized the men
who, quarter of century ago, stood
in the first blush of their manhood,
waiting for his command? They had
changed; where once had hung those
curly locks of boyhood, now hang the
gray hairs of old age; where was once
a full and biushing cheek, now the
sunken and white face of our fathers;
where was once the firm and elastic
tread, now the trembling and crippled
form of him mho had tasted the battles
rage. These are the men that assem-
bIed once more to talk over past times.
About o'clock the Emporia band
marched upon the stage and gave a
very fine piece of music. After the
band had finished, and the audience
was waiting for the opening of the
programme, that grand and inspiring
song, Marching Through Georgia"
was started, and the whole house
Joined in. The band came back again,
and one member stepped forward and
blew the assembly call which was APP
plauded loudly by the old soldiers.
Mayor Weaver then opened the meet
ing with a few remarks and then in
troduced Judge Buck, who delivered
the address of welcome. 1t was an
eloduent speech. and if We had space
we would gladly give it place here.
We will Only give q few extracts.
After eulogizing the G. A. r. and the
cause for which they fought, he said,
"Mute be the lips that would utter
treason; stilled forever the heart that
would conceive it; palsied be the hand
that shall ever again lay its unhallow ed
grasp upon that sacred emblem of
truth and equality or wrest one star
srou that glorious constellation. but
may they all bloom III immortal glory,
aud the names of Washington, Lin
coin, Grant, Garfield, and Harrison
blaze i'm that constellation center like a
burning sum- And speaking little
LONGER ne closed with the following
poetry:
ssWhen the days Of earth are ended and the
When the reign of time is ended and eternity
begun,
CHI MA "a