The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-23
WASHINGT0N'S BIRTHDAY.
THE ClzY STRONGLY SHOWS ITS
 PATRIOTISM.

PATRIOTISM.
 The Exercises at the Hyperion-Addresscs
 by Herbert E Benton and Rev. Mr. Poteat
 Other Numbers on the Program-!Tha
 Theater Crowded, Mayor HcndricIS Pres
 sided-BeautifuI Decorations Exercises
 at the High school-At Other Schools.
 The glory of the Father of Our Coun-
 try was celebrated yesterday afternoon at the Hyperion with all due cereno-
 mics. A half hour before the exercises
 were to begin the theater was filled with patriotic citizens, their wives and chill
 dren, and large numbers were turned
 away from the door so as to avoid the
 tremendous crush usual on such occa- Isions Tickets had been Issued and only holders of these were admitted. The ex-
 ercises were under the auspices of the
 veteran and patriotic societies of the
 city. The decorations of the theater
 were extremely neat and appropriate,
 bunting and flags being draped in pro- l fusion from the boxes and cornices At
 the rear of the stage huge flag was l looped up, and in each corner at the back of the stage stood Grand Army men holding standing of national col~ ora
 On the stage were those who tooK part in the exercises, Mayor Hendrick, the chairman, the speakers and a, cho- ] rus of 150 voices selected from the jun- for and senior classes of the High | school
 The secretary of the general commit tee William c. Der. Dickinson, called the meeting to order and presented Mayor Hendrick as chairman. The mayor made few appropriate introduce tory remarks, and was followed by solo, Red, White and Blue" sung by Miss Emile M. Neebe, H. H. S. '95, while the chorus joined in, led by Pros lessor Benjamin Jepson and accompa- nied by Charles R. Fowler on the, piano. Miss Neebe was presented with d beau- tiful bouquet
 Rev. J. E. TwitchelI then invoked di- vine blessing on our country and thos8 gathered to honor her founder.
 The entire audience then joined in singing song entitled 'eWashington's Birthday" written by George Rowland, to the tune of America
 After this Hon. Herbert E. Benton de- livered an address on ''The Lessons of the Day" MT Benton tendersd his thanks for the honor of being asked to address the assemb1age, and said that if he could have his way no national anniversary. of any kind should pass without some appropriate celebration in every city, town and hamlet of the country It has been said that Ameri- can people have been mercenary Pessi- mists have predicted that greed would finally destroy the intellectual life and patriotic spirit of the people, that with this destruction would come an end to hope for the perpetuity of the repub- lie; but it seems, seeing the enthu- siasm and patriotic prideof the people who take part in national celebrations. no one can believe this dire prophecy and all will have renewed faith in the glorious future of our country.
 The history of no other of the worlds people contains so much food for pat riotic reflection as that of our owns Every generation has it's duties, and while the duties which face the citizens of to-day may not demand such sacri- fees as our fathers so willingly renders ed they are not lacking in the vital im- portance to the welfare and perpetuity of the republic, What better prepara- tion for the right performance of the duties incumbent upon us as citizens of to-day can we have than by reflecting upon the lessons which the observance of Washin gton's birthday naturally suggests.
 One lesson is that which may be drawn from the character of the man to honor whom the celebration is held. His record presents an example which should be followed by every true Aren1- ican No man can be a true patriot who fails in the performance of his duties as a citizen.
 If it is true, as is asserted sometimes, that we are suffering a marked decline in political morality, boding' i'll for the future of our country, the fault is not so much with those who are faith less in office as it is with the people who neglect to do their duties as citizens. The citizen who fails to do his duty at the primary has no right to complain of any political evils from which he may suffer.
 There is one thing which we should sver remember-that the first, surest md strongest defense against any and LII dangers that may threaten our nd- .ionl life and prosperity is the cultiva- ion of the national idea. A solo, The Birthday of Washing .on," was then delightfully."- sung by Mrs. s. S. Thompson from an old manu- script over fifty years old, which had been found by Mrs. Newcomb in her Miss Gertrude Sanford vas the accompanist.
 The number brought forth great ap- ,lause and an encore, to which Mrs. Thompson responded by singing again he last verse of the same song. Both Irs. Thompson and Miss Sanford re- eived several beautiful boquets. The ong was sung at the request of Mary 5lap Wooster Chapter of the Daughters if the Revolution.
 The HiIlhouse High school chorus hen sang An Austrian Hymn" after which ''Parson" Isbell recited selec- ion, "E Pluribus Unum," and encore, 0 which he responded by reciting Keenans Charge at Characteristic"