The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-20
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from Departments.
ANGELS OF BUENA VISTA.

the Other Side in the Great Struggle 70
| National Union, but Who Yields a PEI
Tipped with Patriotic Fire-The Continu
Story of Unflagging Work-A Presi
dent Who Rises Before Daybreak TO At
tend a Corps Meeting Far Pacifi
flights.
HATS OFF, THEN.
Not from lack of appreciation of the beautiful
tribute paid by Miss Elvira Sydnor Miller, thu
truthful ''Tattler" of the Louisville Times
but solely for lack of space following Nationa
Convention and the busy holiday season. ha
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE so long withheld
from reproducing the tribute from her grace
full pen paid the Woman's Relief Corps in 18Th
National Convention assembled in that city.
The tribute follows, and will be read with 9
thrill of pride by every woman devoted to the
true work of the Woman's Relief Corps, and by
every soldier who has had the opportunity tc
familiarize himself with its important and
continuous work on behalf of the Grand
Army Of the Republic and the principles ii
proclaims. Miss Miller said:
Too much honor cannot be accorded the
Woman's Relief Corps, whose members are now
the guests of the city. The war leaves its
victims. and its path is marked by the wrecks
Of ruined homes and hearts, poverty, and sor-
| row. 1t is well to work when the battle RACES,
and the madness of enthusiasm spurs one on TO
| great deeds; but how different when the lull
| follows the storm, when all the fever and ex-
element are over, and the Nation can hardly
be aroused from its apathy to join in the work
| OF renovation.
Everybody is tired and respondent, filed
with the selfshness of sorrow which fancies its
grief is the only grief in the world-oh, there
| is nothing like trying to inspire the people
| with energy and unselfshness after the band
has ceased to play. This, however. is the work
marked out for themselves by the women of
the Relief Corps.
Like the angels of Buena Vista they watched
the battle from afar, marked the wounded and
| the dying and then, when the thunder of the
| guns was silenced and the grim struggle over,
| they went forth the field, closing the eyes
of the slain and providing shelter for the
manned and suffering.
Nay, more rs day followed day, and the
memory of the civil strife grew DINNER with
the years, when to the little children of the
new generation it mere fairy story told
around the fresides at twilight, they met to-
gether, sought out the helpless and destitute
families of the old soldiers of the country, and
put bread in their mouths and a roof over their
heads.
Year after year they have continued their
good work They have inspired others, even
the most lukewarm, with their own heavenly
zeal, and there is never day that the welfare
of the unfortunate with claim upon the heart
and purse of the people does not receive their
attention.
These soldiers wives and children are debts
of honor owed by the Nation and it is the
women of the Relief Corps who are paying
them off Hats of. then, to these, and in some
brighter country may they find a receipt in
full registered to their credit on the books of
the recording angel.
NATIONAL PRESIDENT. SPEAKS.
Five hundred plates were laid for the ban.
quet of the 2Sth ami versary of Richard Borden
Post, Fall River, held in Music Hail. National
and Department officers were among the hun
drcds of guests.
Department Commander Thayer in his Camp
fire speech said that in Fall River. as elsewhere
in the State, he found the GAR. and w re.
working together not only as friends of the
soldiers and sailors, but doing much for the
cause of patriotism. He closed with Tiny Tins
benedictoD, God bless you, every one"
Then National President Turner made one
Of her characteristic speeches. closing with
complimentary reference to Junior Vice Com
| napder Deane. After being received with
three cheers and tiger and Chautauqua
salute, she renewed the movement for the
woman's auxiliary, started in 1883 at Denver.
and which had grown to large proportions and
to great service as helper of the Posts. ave
had very little money the first year." she said,
but we established credit, and to this time
we have spent S1,3O0.O00 for the comrades.
The money we have contributed came from
work. Remember. that whenever you buy
| ticket for the Woman's Relief Corps. whatever
you pay for it, that ticket goes to some one in
need"
She addressed the Sons of Veterans as no
moro boys but men-older men than many of
their fathers were when they went to the war
and had hay fok ms, HI If
citizenship and go forward and show the world
that they are worthy of its confidence. The
Massachusetts Sons of Veterans contribute
enough money yearly to buy flags for every
man who died in Andersonville Prison. This
placed them in good standing before the public.
After referring to the very pleasant emotions
which were hers that night, she said there was
still touch of sadness in them; it came from
the thought that she had, she believed come TO
look for the last time upon the face of the
Junior Vice Commander of this Department;
yet" she added, cit is with gladness in our
hearts that We look forward to see him Senior
Vice Commander"
The Woman's Relief Corps had prominent
part in the exercises of the evening. Hattie A.
Bray reciting with much enthusiasm
FRATERNITY IN TEXAS
Louise Cluskey Department Correspondent
of Texas writes of the joint installation of
Davy Crockett Post and Corps Waco largely
attended by members Of both Orders and n
representation from Pat Cleburne Camp, Con-
federate veterans, as invited guests.
Department President Lavantia Conger con-
Quoted the installation services for the Corps in
a very impressive manner the officers present
being Mrs. Canadian, Senior Vice President;
Vera IL. Conger Secretary; Helen Conger
Treasurer; Edith Conger. Guard Mrs. l..
Smith, Conductor.
Mrs. Jennie Carnahan was elected delegate TO
Department Convention, and Mrs Emma A bell
Alternate. Cora Wilcox was Installed Presi-
dent and Dora Crow Junior Vice President at
a subsequent meeting.
A PATRIOTIC PLEA.
Lyon Corps, %, Xenia, o.. has a very active
and influential committee patriotic teach
ing, of whom Henrietta b. Smith. Charlotte
ID. Davidson, and Jennie Martin are members
Since their appointment last July they have
accomplished wonders. They have secured the
placing of a flag in every schooroom in the
city, white and colored of the public schools
and the Catholic parOchial school, also in the
schools Of the Green County Children's Home.
1t is needless to add that flags were already
in the schoolrOoms of the Ohio Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans Home, located near Xenia.
One hundred and fifty manuals of the Balch
Salute have been distributed among the teach
ers of Green County. and a circular issued to
the several Boards Of Education and Township
Trustees of Green County, of which the follow
ing is in part, the text, showing the value Of
systematized work:
Believing the aim Of all true instruction is
the formation of strong. noble characters, and
that the strongest noblest characters are those