Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-27
GERMANS CELEBRATE.
They Observe Thanksgiving Day in
True Patriotic Style.
CARNEGIE HALL WELL CROWDED.
Eloquent Speeches in the German and the
English Languages.
CONCLUDED WITH AN ORGAN RECITAL

The German celebration of Thanksgiving
Day was held in Carnegie Hall, Allegheny,
last night. The hall was filled and the at
fair was thoroughly German-American and
patriotic. The programme was largely
musical The exercises were conducted by
John Baumberger The committee in charge
of the affair consisted of John Baumberger,
John Gerlach, John f. Joos, Charles F.
Ludwick, Gustave Pannier, B. Neidhard
and j. F. Burgin.
The programme opened with an organ
solo by City Organist H. B. Eker. He was
followed with a soprano solo by Miss Bertha
Valentine. After Miss Valentine had re.
sponded to an encore, an organ recital was
givel by Mr.. Eker, followed by tenor solo
by Prof Louis Adler.
A short address of welcome, in German,
was then made by John Baumberger. He
gave brief history of the origin of Thanks,
giving Day, crediting it to the Germans who
came to this country in the Concord in 1858,
and who observed the day in accordance
with German customs. In conclusion, he
e1horted the Germans in this, their new
country, never to forget the place of their
birth or their mother tongue, and to teach
their children the German language.
A trio, composed of Miss Valentine,
Louis Adler and j. S. Hansaid, came next
An address of welcome was then made in
English by City Attorney George Elphin-
stone. After expressing bis pleasure at
being present, he said: "We have met to-
night to celebrate one of the most important
events in the history of this State and nation
There landed in this country 20S years ago
the heralds of German immigration. Penn
sylvania was then a beautiful wilderness
Wild beasts roamed through its forests and
the wigwams of the Indian dotted its hills
and valleys. Then the red man, with spear
and arrow sought the swift deer in the
mountains, glided in his birch canoe over
the crystal waters or in the somber twilight
wooed his dusky mate.
Statesmen and Soldiers.
''These German immigrants we're citizens
of no mean country. They came from
land of statesmen and soldiers, artists and
sculptors, theologians and philosophers,
musicians and poets, merchants ana me-
chanics. The German emigrants were
honest, industrious and economical, and
their descendants were like unto them.
Their names adorn the history Of their new
fatherland.
Continuing. he said that a distinctive
feature of German character is a love for
home The first effort of German emf
grant is to purchase home and every eff
fort is turned in that direction. The result
is that larger proportion of Germans than
of anv oiher race own their own houses.
This has been an unmixed blessing to our
common country The home circle lies at
the foundation of good government and the
L
characteristic is their obedience to law and
respect for those in authority. They are a
patriotic people. In the late war they were
first in the field and the last to leave it. On
everv battlefield they poured out their
blood, in every hospital were the German
wounded, on every field of carnage lay the
German dead.
Their New Fatherland.
In conclusion he said: "While you still
love to sing Die Wacht Am Rhein, with
equal fervor you Join in the Star Spangled
Banner On this Thanksgiving Day we
will not forget what the German people
have done and suffered for our beloved
lard. This is your new fatherland; the
fairest land beneath the sun. It's history is
a golden age in human progress; its future
is big with promise"
A recitation 'eWhy He Didn't Sell the
Farm" was given by Miss Carrie Baum
berger
The concluding address was made by John
f. Joos. He gave q resume of the history
of this country, and the part taken in it by
the Germans. He referred to the founding
of Germantown over 200 years ago, and COM
pared their struggles and hardships with
the prosperous condition of the Germans
and the country to-day.
An organ recital by Organist Eker fin
ished the exercises.