The National tribune., 1895-01-10

lilies. which, at other times had been spent in
| drink. IL
This was the object of the L. U. V. o., and
| they have their reward in many homes made
bright for the Christmas tide
| AFTER THIRrylYEARs.
! DEAR TRIBUNE: Cast your patriotism Tor
| your country and flag. After many days IL
| will return to gladden. your heart and make
you feel that Fraternity means something.
So once wrote.
On Dec. IL / received q most happy and
agreeable surprise from; Mrs. I. J. Thorp,
| President of ]. B. Mathews Corps, II, Forest
Grove, Ore, who is q subscriber to HE Ma
| TIoNAL TRIBUNE and careful reader OF the
| W.R.C Department..
That you and your readers may ENJOY my
surprise i will take you with me into the past
| when patriotism was a genuine reality. was
stationed at Suffolk, Va, 1868, on the stan Oh
Gen. Robert S. Foster, my regiment, 18th Ind,
being in his brigade.
During our stay in Suffolk several officers
sent for their wives. Several boarded next
door to our Headquarters, among them Col; L.
| ]. Thorn and his wife, of the l30th N. Y. Mrs.
Thorp was frequent visitor to Headquarters
to meet Mrs. Gen. Foster, and we became well
acquainted. =,
After the siege of Suffolk there was general
reorganization of the troops, and many ordered
away never to meet again. Col. Ihorp was
brevetted Brigadier- General and ordered to an
other department While he and his estimable
| wife were not forgotten, they were lost sight
of, and not until several years ago did we meet
again; then accidentally met Gen. Thorp, who
was visiting my brother, Gen. Foster.
! Mrs. Thorp have never met since the siege
of Suffolk, aud now, after 80 years, have letter
in which she shows that she is still serving her
country and as loyal to the Stars and Stripes as
she was in the sixties.
In her letter she says: ~ often see your
name mentioned in The NATIONAL TR1BUNE,
and note with pleasure the interest you nave
| taken in patriotism and the Flag Salute, ana
also in the beautiful banner decorations at De-
troit and elsewhere.
II am happy to report to you that we nave
adopted the Flag Salute in our public schools,
and also have pledge from our County super
intendent of Schools that he will have every
school in Washington County open each morn
ing with the Salute. the Relief Corps OF the
town furnishing the flags for each school.
There is a fine college here, and intend to
ask them TO adopt some kind of salute"
Gen. Thorp is Principal Of the High School,
and was brave and gallant officer, and with
his patriotic vile will elevate the standard OF
American citizenship. Mrs. Thorp knows
what it is to battle and die for the Old nag, LOT
the reason she was living witness to the scenes
| of war.
God bless their memory, and smoothe the
path that leads to the bivOusc on the other
shore. Fraternally,
Wallace Foster indianapolis, Ind.
OHIO ORPHANS CHRISTMAS.
The Grand Army, Relief Corps, aud Sons OF
Veterans united this year, as heretofore, In
giving the over geo children at the Soldiers
and Sailors Orphans Home Christmas long
| to be remembered
Special Christmas services began in the chapel
Sunday afternoon, and Monday evening the
cantata Santa Claus is Coming" was given
by a chldren's chorus, under the direction oil
Miss Collins, teacher Of music; Cora Day
Young Matron-in- Chief, accompanies.
Christmas morning, according to custom, was
usbered in by the choir singing Christmas
carols in the halls of the Administration Build
ing and in the great dining-room. as the Chi i
dren were marching in. The Home Band
played during the march 10 and from the haii.
The dinner was a veritable feast; 200 turkeys,
three barrels of cranberries, oysters sweet
potatoes, nuts, fruits, and just a ton OF candy
having been provided.
The pifts of the GA. r., WRC. and s. of ",
consisting chiefly of books for the older pupils
and toys and games for the younger, were dis
tributed in the cottages.
Among 40 official guests present, enjoying
their share of the Christmas dinner, were De-
partrnent Commander Z. e. Mutt. Department
President Sarah ID. Winars, and DIVISION Com
mander Don C.-Cable. Sons of Veterans.
Gen. C. L. Young, Superintendent, and Mrs
Young were congratulated upon their admir-.
able arrangement for the childrens' festivities
and the entertainment of their hosts of guests
MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS HOME.
Past Department Commander George s.
Evans, Secretary of the Massachusetts, Soldiers
Home, kindly furnished a copy of the 18th
annual report. These reports are always oil
the greatest interest, in consideration OF the
| important work of the loyal women OF the old
Comrnonweath-the Ladies' Aid Association
and Woman's Relief Corps-in founding and
supporting that excellent institution.
In presenting his report to the Trustees, the
President John G. B. Adams Past Commander
in-Chief, GAR. says:
II cannot close this brief report without ex-
pressing thanks. which / am sure you will
heartily indorse. to cur Ladies' Aid Association
for their ever faithful assistance. Their pres
| ence in the hospital brings joy and sunshine TO
the sick veteran and many blessings that 60
up to Heaven for them from the lips of the
"old boys" whose march Of life is nearly ended,
but whose last days are made happy and peace
full by their thoughtful, womanly care. The
Woman's Relief Corps have cared for the
rooms assigned them, and have furnished others
in the hospital; they have also entertained
the men in the Home frequently, aud in your
name / thank them"
Total number cared for last year, GAO; average
nresent. 1853: death-rol 43. Captain and Mrs
commended, and Surgeon Roscoe f. Brown,
concerning he employment of woman nurses,
saws: Il believe We have seen great benefit
from the same, and shall see more"
CALLED UP HIGHER.
DEAR TRIBUNE: The Department of New
Jersey mourns one of its most efficient workers
and Aaron Wilkes Corps, z has transferred q
member to our home beyond the skies"
: Amanda A. j. Covert died at Huntington,
Pa. Dec. IL. She served as Department Secre-
tary with Department President Mary g.
Lauring in 1888: was Department Inspector
several years; Delegate at large to National
Convention three or four times, and at the
time of her death was serving as member oil
the Executive Board.
She was a charter member OF Aaron Wilke:
, Corps z, and truly it may be said None
knew her but to love her" She was heart and
soul in her work, and all duties were faith
t fully performed.
A set of resolutions have been sent by thu
{ Corps to the Borrowing mother and sister, and
during her Illness the Corps remembered he
with fruit and flowers, and sent floral EN-
a blcm when she died marked W.R.C No. T.
, Dear sisters, let us all see to it that wheI
the general roll is called up yOnder the GRAND
Conductor may answer "present" for US all.
Active, earnest, loyal, trne,
3 Always willing work 10 do:
Jesus called her to the skies,
Christ has opened Paradise.
0 Rosabelle Casner, Press Correspondent, As
1 bury Park, N. j.
HAPPY SURPRISE.