Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-09-05
THE FAIR GROUNDS
Alive With Ex-Soldiers
and Martial Music.

The annual encampment of the
Otero County veteran Association
opened at the fair grounds, Rocky
Ford, Saturday morning last.
There was an excellent attendance
of the veterans who wore the blue,
with sprinkling of those who
wore tho gray. After the opening
PRAYER by Rev. j. Greear, pastor
of the Baptist church, an address
of welcome was delivered by SEN
ator Swink. A.. f. Thompson of
La Junta responded on behalf of
the cx-Union soldiers, who was
followed by L. M. Campbell, an
ex-Confederate, who told an anus
ing possum story.
The program of the morning
was enlivened by music of the
most appropriate kind-the fife
and drum, in the hands Of g. G..
Baker and Did
you ever watch soldier while
martial music was being played /?
You will see his knees begin to
straighten, his chest begin to
heave a little harder, his wrinkled
face will put on another and differ
ent expression, his lungs expand
and raise, and n new life come into
him at those familiar sounds and
strains, and he feels like he could
start off right then in spite of his
infrmities and make creditable
march with his comrades. If he
is Of q sentimental temperament
he will doubtless find difficulty in
restraining the waterworks in his
eyes from overfowing, Can we
blame him?
After bountiful supper the
veterans assembled in the ampi-
theater where "reminiscences of the
war were indulged in by j. r.
Russell, Rev. s.. j.. Greear, M.
Badger, I. DENIES, A. F. Thomp-
son and Jesse Patterson.
SUNDAYS SERVICES.
AT 11:sO Sunday morning the
commodius ampitheater was
crowded to take part in the relig-
ious services. All the churches
in the city cancelled their regular
appointments for the morning and
united in this service. After sing
ing ''All Hail the Power of Jusus'
name," prayer was offered by Rev.
H. M. Mayo, pastor of the M. E.
church. Rev. Warren Mayo, pas
tor Of the Presbyterian church
read the scripture lesson. Rev.
W. E. Collett, pastor of the M. E.
church, La Junta, then delivered
a sermon of a very high grade of
excellence. 1t was eminently
adapted to the occasion and de-
livered with a forcefulness and
earnestness which greatly i'm
pressed the large compensation. In
the opening sentences the spirit of
the gathering was commended-a
joint reunion of those who wore
the blue and gray-indicating a
forgetfulness Of the bitterness of
the past. He was glad to see the
charity shown by this assembling
of former foes in social enjoyment.
It is not an exhibition Of nation
al vanity to say that the United
States is the greatest nation on the
globe. 1t has an important place
in the history of Divine Provi-
dences. The secret of National
prosperity and perpetuity is faith
fulness to tho principles of the
Bible-principles which have to
do with our highest good in all the
relations of life. Ali of Gods
laws are for our welfare. The
downfall Of the nations of the past
have resulted from a violation of
the laws of righteousness. The
great expanse of our dominions
and tho boundless natural wealth
of our nation were eloquently pre-
sented. The mountain ranges are
immense vaults whose time-locks
are set SO that their enormous
treasure may be unlocked when
required to meet the needs of the
world Our nation is not only
great in material resources but in
great minds and souls, and in all
lines Of intellectual activity, in
vention and discovery we stand
shoulder to shoulder with the
hoary nations of the old world.
The future of our country depends
on the righteousness of the men
and women of tho nrtion. Our
rulers should be not only great
mentally, but morally, socially and
spiritually. This is Gods great
pattern nation, model held up
for the admiration of the world,
and we cannot afford to make mis-
takes. The fragrant vices of the
day were referred to-the oppres-
sion of the poor, Sabbath desecra-
ton, gambling, drunkenness and
impurity. Ii we live rightly it