The National tribune., 1894-06-21
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments
MEMORIAL DAY.

| Commander-in-Ch Chief Adams Speaks to the
Children-Past National President Sander,
Mourns the Passing of Her Beautiful
Daughter Bernardine - Echoes of the
Sacred Day-Comrade Fosters Great SOr'
row-Take The National Tribune-Depart-
ment Gleanings-An Along the Line.
THOUSAND CHILDREN.
Memorial week was 4 busy one for Com
| mander-in-C Chief Adams and Adj't Gen. Mech
At Chelsea the Commander-in-C Chief addressed
a thousand school children, dwelling upon the
reverence due to the flag, and making an elo
quent plea for teaching patriotism in the public
schools.
observances at Maiden, where Past National
President E. Florence Barker was at the head
of affairs. Everything was superby planned
and carried ont.
Both Commander.in-C Chief Adams and Adj't-
Gen. Mech are in full accord with the great
patriotic movement in which the W.RC. are
engaged, both through the regular channels OF
the Order and by utilization with the National
Council of Women, u. S. A. The Commander
in-Chief talks patriotism and the flag salute
wherever he goes.
Like all the founders of the W. R. c. in Massa-
chusetts, Commander-in-Chief Adams is very
proud of the great soldier auxiliary, and in q
recent letter says: l wish other Departments
of the W. R. C. could visit Massachusetts and see
how the GAR appreciates them. We have a
real lovefeast whenever we meet. Our GAR.
always have them at their meetings. We have
so much to do in the few years that remain"
PASSING OF BERNARDINE.
All day long on that sweet Memorial Day.
1894 all day long and far into the calm and
silent night they watched by the side of Ber-
nardine. Fair and beautiful Bernardine, 10
years and six months old, endowed with the
highest gifts and graces. and just stepping upon
the threshold of lovely and poble womanhOod
And as they watched her, lying SO calm and
still, dimness came over her lovely eyes, and
without a tremor on her placid features she
passed away with Memorial Day.
Until December last Bernardne Sanders,
only daughter among the three children of Mr..
James #. and Mrs. Sue A. Pike Sanders, Past
National President Womans Relief Corps, was
a child of unusual strength and vigor of body
and mind. About Christmas it was observed
that she was losing flesh and becoming very
weak
But Bernardine made no complaint. She was
in the Normal High School, and kept up with
her classes, always excelling in her studies. In
February it became apparent she was really i'll,
and upon consulting physicians it was found
that she had an alarming attack of diabetes,
an" "do ioSihS iiohl oHo pouuu w pouuu anu
a half daily.
She was put upon rigid diet which seemed
to arrest the disease, and as late as May 81
Mrs. Sanders, in a letter to the writer, said
We think now we are going to bring her
out all right. Sometimes she almost rebels at
the diet. but her good common sense buoys her
up and she keeps on. She is going to school right
along and doing well. She is real bright and
reading Cesar now. How we watch her every
move"
In just nine days from the writing of Mrs.
Sanders's letter dear Bernardne was at rest.
Bernardne was natural writer, and when
she was but -, and her mother was National
President, W.RC., The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
was indebted TO her for Headquarters notes.
She was fond of music, flowers, and poetry.
The funeral was at the Unitarian Church.
The Relief Corps. the Eastern Star, the Board
of Managers of the McLain County Industrial
Home, of which Mrs. Sanders is President; the
Normal School, and Bernardine's Sunday school
class were in attendance The pallbearers also
were members of the Sunday school. The East
ern Star had lined the grave with flowers, and
the High School boys and girls covered it with
roses aud lilies.