Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-07
NOTES AMONG THE GRAYs.

Epoch Of Brilliant Prosper ity-The Company's Flattering Com dition-Reviving the Grays' Dra- matic Assoc1atton-Tar9et Shooting The Grays' Coming Grand Cele-
 bration.
 The Grays were never in better shape than at the present time in all the compa- ny's long historical record. The company has times of depression and it has palmy days, such days, for instance, as when General Sloat, General Bradley and Colonel Hendrick were commanders of the company to go no further back in the records than tho '60's. To-day the company has full ranks and fine material and is in splendid condition, thanks to the spirit and work of Captain Brown, backed by the company, which is thoroughly imbued with his spirit, and by the veteran Grsys, who are always to be relied upon in their loyalty to the old command. The company numbers sixty-eight men, full ranks, and at the last meeting, Wednesday night, sixty-six were present, while at the next previous meeting sixty were mustered. The Grays have been greatly recruited of late from picked material, and dead wood has been weeded out to make room for new selected men who can give full attention to drill and other martial duties. By dead wood up or whose business duties dictated to them the necessity of retiring as soon as they could be discharged.
 The drills are very largely attended and, I Illustrating the interest and esprit du corps ! prevailing, is the fact that at the soicita- ton of the new recruits Lieutenant Ray holds has consented and gives an extra Saturday night drill for their benefit. An other matter, and one of special interest, | is the project on foot for the revival of the Grays' Dramatic association: The old or ganization is we'll remembered for the very brilliant and successful entertainments 1t gave. It's entertainments made big hit in town and drew large audiences. There is equally good material now among the actives for a new dramatic association, and | if necessary some of the old stock among ! the Vets can be drawn upon, but it will | not probably be needed to any extent. At the last meeting of the Grays steps were | taken for the appointment of committee to start the ball rolling in this matter.
 Of course the object of starting | not all for glory, as one of the principal | objective points in view is funds. Ut if | we'll remembered how successful the enter | tainments given by the Grays' old dramat- | ic association were in raising mnch-needed l funds for company purposes, and this fact has been borne in mind, as funds, and g generous supply, will be needed for the l coming grand celebration of the Grays seventy fifth anniversary next September | an occasion which will surely require ar extra supply of the 'sinews of war; te carry it out to brilliant issue and on ths scale which the occasion will demand
 Hence tho revival of the old association The committee will consider the question and inquire and report, and from present
 indications the association will doubtless
 be heard from in due time.
 The Grays had target shoot at the
 armory last night for souvenir, put ul for the occasion by ex-Inspector of Targe
 Practice Allen, who is, by the way, al honorary member of the Grays, so voted
 in compliment to him as an official ant
 gentleman and for his unfailing courtesy
 Lieut.. Mcdonald and Sergeant Clarenc
 B. Dana, superintend all the rife practic'
 of the company and rife practice is hat
 every Friday night.
 The prize, valuable clock, was won b,
 E. L. Isbell who made score of 27. C.R l Lewis and Clarence Damn were second ant l third in the contest.
 Later in the evening Lieutenant Sears o
 the Machine Gun platoon gave the member
 of his company instructions in rifle shoot
 ing at the range.
 l All the commissioned and non-commis
 stoned officers of the Grays were photo
 graphed in group lately by ex-Lieut
 Bowman, and similar group picture wa
 made of all the sergeants who are: Guar
 termaster Sergeant Walter Blakslee, Isl
 sergeant, Charles J. McCabe, 2nd SCI
 geant, Charles Smith, 3d, Alfred Husted
 4th, Charles D. Nicoll, and 9th, Clarenc
 B. Damn. The pictures, whic
 are very fine, will be added to the comps
 ny's admirable collections. Another mat
 ter of interest is the collection of picture
 of all past officers of the command as fa
 as it is possible to obtain them, which ha
 been made largely through the untirin
 zeal and efforts of the company's historian
 Corporal McCann.
 The collection is very gratifying one an
 is much prized by the company. It woul
 be most gratifying thing to all the Grays
 actives and veterans, if picture of th Grays' first captain, Sophos Staples, coul
 be brought to light. All efforts to find c
 hear of a picture of Captain Staples hay
 thus far been fruitless Under him th
 Grays were first organized, away back i 1816