Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-10-25
g. "A. r. CAMP FIRE.
A Large Attendance was
Present and Listened to
Several Entert., in
ing Speeches.
Capt. Van SAINT, E. 3. Wood
and j. *. Merit, Made
Short Addresses that
were Highly APP
Dreciated.

|
II Overlooking last Saturday evening
by Old soldiers and theii friends. the
occasion being the camp fire given
by Workman Post, and which was
attended by several prominent G. A.
II. men from different parts Of the
stnte.
The evenings program was opened
bv singing that old familiar song
Rally Round the Flag which is
always sung with II full chorus
whenever there are old soldiers and
American citizens present. After the
song. II. $. clyde, who was presiding.
introduced Capt. :. r. Van SAINT. OF
Winon.,. past commander Of the de-
partment OF Minnesota. Capt. Van
SAINT proved an interesting and en-
tertninin. speaker and held the
undivided attention OF the large All
.lience throughout. lie eulOgized the
old soldiers in the highest terms, not
only for the vulOr shown and the
sufferings endured during the war,
but for the charitable treatment Of
their vanquisled foes. He also paid
II high tribute 10 the Woman & Relief
corps. for the great work Of charity
they have done since their organlza-
ton. and for their valuable work
during the war, as wives, mothers
and sisters of those engaged in the
bloody conflict in the nations cause.
His remarks were also interspersed
| with humorous sayings and funny
anecdotes.
T.. Is. wood, of Long Prairie, was
the next speaker introduced. and as
he il at present holding the office OF
Junior vice commander of the de-
part.nent of Minnesota, his remarks
were directed CHIEFLY to the future
work OF the G. A. r. He urged the
old soldiers to stand by their Organ-
ization aud keep UP thefraternal and
charitable work. Of their order. He
also gave al interesting description
uf the recent Grand Army encnmp-
ment at Louisville. as did also Mr..
Van SAINT. and spoke very highly OF
che treatment accorded the old
Federal soldiers in that Southern
city. His remarks were we'll received
and literally applauded by his
hearers.
After Mr.. Wood had finished his
remarks the double quartette, which
was somewhat late, through a mis-
understanding, sang a patriotic &c
lection, and made up for lost time In
the excellent music given during the
rest Of the evening
The third and last speaker intro
duced was J. K. Mertz, of MinneapO-
lis. assistant adjutant general Of the
Grand Army. Mr.. Mertz was|a'highly
entertaining speaker, and his great
fund OF wit and humorous anecdotes
kept his listeners in a roar of laugh
ter. He quoted statistics of the
Grand Army charity work including
assistance given to old soldiers and
their widows and orphans. and to
those of the OLD soldiers whose pen.
sions had been cut off, which
amounted to several millions OF
dollars. He also stated that while
thu old soldiers were treated with
great respect in the South, there was
still feeling among the young men
of thatlsection, particularly LOuisia-
ma, and the far south. that the lost
cause,' their fathers cause, was
just one, and the old feeling is far
from being entirely eradicated. Mr..
Mertz is an excellent speaker and
capable of interesting the most select
audiences.
After the speeches a large number
of those present partOok of the camp
fire supper. consisting of baked beans,
black coffee, bareback, ETC., and it
was greatly enjoyed by all. The
small fee of ten cents was charged,
and although the camp fire was given
more for the social than pecuniary
benefits, u neat little sum was re-
allied for the relief fund. After the
supper the double quartette sang
"America,' and every one present
agreed that it was not only one Of
the greatest g. a. r. events ever held
in this section but was also one of
the greatest treats to which the
public has been admitted in this city
for some time. -.