The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-25
G. A. r. Open Meeting.

open meeting, Wednesday evening, which
was attended by large number of members
and friends, who filed the extra seats which
had been provided in the hail.
After being called to order by commander
Herman Frieseke, prayer was offered by the
Rev. Henry King. Then in the absence of
Beehler's orchestra, which had been expect
ed to furnish music for the occasion, Mr..
Frieseke called upon little Miss Maud
Wimple who recited poem very prettily.
The address of the evening was delivered
by Judge Smith. and while the modesty of
the Judge forbade him making long speech,
the one he did give, showed thought and an
approximation of the significance of the his
tory OF the last half century. Among the
thoughts brought out by Mr.. Smith was the
condition of the country fifty years ago.
AT that time the Mississippi river practical
ly formed the western boundary of the
United States, as there were but four states
and part of Louisiana west of it. There
was also another line dividing the country.
known as Mason and Dixon's line. Mr..
Smiths home was near Oberlin, Ohio, and
he remembered distinctly the exciting times
in the fifties when events were coming to
the terrible crisis. He remembered the ex-
citement produced by the John Brown raid
The history of the last fifty years is yet
to- be written. Gibbon, Macauley and Gizot
wrote hundreds of years after the events
had happened of which they wrote and it
will probably be only in the years to come,
perhaps many years in the future, that the
great history of this period will he written.
Caesars immortal sixth legion was re-
cruited from patrcian ranks, but the ranks
of the boys in blue in the sixties were filled
with men from every calling i'm life.
Though they were brave when they enlisted
they soon found that individual bravery
could not alone make up for lack of drill
and discipline. History will tell what won
ders were wrought by the combination of
courage and discipline when the latter had
become general.
Another point dwelt upon by Mr.. Smith
in conclusion, was the power which this
great army held at the close of the war.
Rome's victorious armies sold the throne of
the empire on their return, but no thought
even entered the minds OF either officers or
soldiers, in spite of their enormous power,
of using their strength for any such revolu-
tionary schemes or for personal gain. In
fact their only thought was to get back into
civil life as soon as possible.
G. Q. Duff then spoke for few minutes
in his usual fun provoking way, but when
Rev. Henry King was called upon to get up
and make speech, he got even with them
in the following words, which reused hearty
laughter:
You've had speech from Comrade Smith,
And then came Comrade Duff,
And now my friends, think you have
Had just about enough.
Comrade Chas. Lapham was then pre-
began to tell of his experience in the home
of planters family in Arkansas in the
years before the war. He was not sixteen
years old at the time, but was engaged as a
| bOuChCl anu OOmpdbiOh III thO PidhtCl .
children. Some of the scenes of which he
was witness at that time, made lasting
impressions on him and he told in very
vivid way Of his feelings when he first saw a
slave beaten-and it was woman at that
The audience was greatly interested in his
remarks, but Duff's singers arriving at this
point, Mr.. Lapham stopped. as they had
had no music up to this time.
Songs by Duff's quartet, the Messrs, Duff,
Wickham, Sparling and Mcintosh aud a
solo, "The Windmill" by Mr.. Mcintosh
furnished an abundance of music for the
remainder of the evening.
Recitations were also given by the Misses
Van Varr and Jennie Vredenburg. Miss
Wimple and Miss Vredenburg gave several
reci.ations.
The affair was quite informal throughout
and was very pleasant. In fact it would be
hard matter for the members of Quacken-
bush Post and the ladies of the w. r G. to
meet On such an occasion without making
success of the meeting.