The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-21
ABOUT THE BIG RECEPTION.
ANOTHER ENTHUSIASTIC. MEETING
HELD AT THE VAN buren,
SCHOOL.
OF THE PREPARATIONS.
Everything Is Being Pushed as Fast
as Observation-Disclosures Point
to Large Crowds.


ness, chairman of the ladies' reception
the executive committee last evening
regarding the events which are to
come off under the auspices of the
ladies. The members of the executive
committee were well pleased with the
enterprise shown by the ladies. The
big event under the patronage of the
ladies will take place Tuesday evening,
Sept. 1, in the form of a grand recep-
ton to the commander-in-chief ladies
and staff, at Summit park. A COM
modious floor will be constructed and
covered with canvas, while a marquee
canopy will roof the brilliantly illumi-
mated scene. Mrs. Newport, Mrs. Fur
ness and others of the ladies will Of
ficially receive the guests. After the
reception the guests, Of the evening
will proceed to the ladies' headquarters
at the Kittson home and after larry
ing there for awhile will move on to
the fairyland in Summit avenue Here
there will be a grand informal prone
made concert, for which four bands
will discourse music. There will also
be other features for this novel event
The executive committee has ar
ranged for the establishment Of a free
check room at Camp Mason, where the
public and the veterans may check
without cost any article which they do
not wish to carry
The contract for the construction Of
the grand reviewing stand in Smith
park has been approved, and work
will be commenced today and pushed
through to completion.
A joint meeting of the gentlemen's
and ladies' committees on accommo-
dationS for the G. A. A. encampment
was called for last evening at the Com
mercial club, but owing to a misun-
Outstanding as to the date, the at
tendance was small. The ladies' COM
m1ttee was fairly well represented. but
only few men put in an appearance
Owing to the small attendance and the
absence of reports from a majority
of the wards, the meeting was pro-
duct1ve of but little definite informa-
ton. 1t was found, however, that. al
though the work of securing quarters
for the expected visitors was progress
ing, the committees still had a great
deal of work before them and would
probably at the last moment have to
call into requiSitiOn many of the empty
buildings, which have thus far been
left out of their calculations Mrs.
&. b. Bronson, of the First ward COM
mittee, extended a general invitation
to those present to attend a flag raising
to be held at the corner of Jessamine
and Bradley streets, Monday evening
at 7:3O.
There "a a Of 10
general committee at headquarters
Tuesday night.
A meeting of the Dayton's Bluff
decoration committee was held last
evening at the Bates avenue M. E.
church. The place of meeting was
changed from the Van Buren, school
building to the church around the
corner. The object of the meeting was
to take action towards the decoration
OF the Van Buren, school building and
the erection of an arch at Sixth street
and Maria avenue, with the funds OBJ
tanned Wednesday evening at the lawn
festival at p. H. Kelly's. The net pro-
ceeds are estimated at about $3.50. A
public vote of thanks was rendered to
p. H. Kelly for his kindness in loan
ing his grounds. and was unanimously
adopted. Mrs. Emma Blackenburg
and plans were discussed for suitable
decorations. The arch will face the
city and will consist of two poles
tastefully draped with bunting, meet
ing in point above The school house
will be most elaborate. A large flag
will be hung on top. From each gable
to chimney. gay streamers will be
drawn, the round windows will have a
fan shaped arrangement of bunting
q nd oil I'll
be draped. Above the door will be a
crest surmounted by an eagle.
Information has been received at
Grand Army headquarters that Ran
som Post, of st. Louis, will have at
least $50 men in line on the day of the
parade. This post, is the largest in
the Mound City, and is noted in many
ways. Its membership includes some
of the wealthiest men in ST. Louis,
and its ranks are largely. recuited from
the professions. There are no less than
thirty judges and twice as many lawy-
ers, members of Ransom post At
previous encampments Ransom post
has cut wide SWath as entertainers.
and their headquarters at the Windsor
hotel bideS fair to be one Of the popular
places of resort among the soldier folk
who know the hospitality of the South
erners. The quintette, known as the
Ransom Post Howlers," who have
been a marked feature of the encamp-
ments that have passed into history,
will be present on this occasion also.
Gen. NewcOn1e, commander of Ransom
post is one of the WealthieSt and best
known business men in ST. Louis, while
Col. Sparklin, quartermaster, is one of
the most noted veterans, as we'll as
the youngest of the old soldiers who
hot 81 ..T-Ts,-
had a remarkable career. 1t is said
of him, and truthfully, that he served
honorably four years in the war and was
discharged before he was enlisted.
Paradoxical as the statement may
sound, it is a fact. Under the law no
nan could be enlisted as a soldier who,
was not eighteen years of age. Col.
Sparklin entered the service when he
was but thirteen, and was not quite
eighteen when he was mustered out.
In order to complete the record and give
him discharge papers it was found
necessary to place his name on the
enlistment roll actually after he had
been discharged from the service. An
other incident in his career is the fact,
of which he is very proud, that he voted
four times for Abraham Lincoln. The
young soldier voted at Baltimore and
again in the West, as did all soldiers,
and it was not necessary to visit the
polls each time the vote was recorded.
There were no Australian or other bal
lot systems in those days to interfere
with the rights of voters, and the sold
iers voted every time they came near a
polling place, or sent a proxy to cast
a ballot for them. Ransom post will
arrive in st. Paul Monday, Aug. 81,
and will be accompanied by a band of
% pieces.
In letter from A F. waIcott, of