The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-07

by the ladies OF the y. A. II. II look
place In the Mcclure house parlorS. and
the hours OF receiving were from ;
O'Clock yesterday afternoon until mid
night
II was brilliant social function, the
hoStesses doing themselves proud in
their efforts to entertain the throngs
that Grequented the reception. Many
distinguished veterans lent their pres
ence, and the scene at all times was
striking In It's brlllancy. Music, songs
and addresses formed part OF the INTEL
lectuRl menu, and In the rooms Rdioln-
ing thenlain parlOr. cake, Ices, and lenl-
onRde were served. There was not
moment when the Gayety Jagged, and
the recipients OF last nights hospitality
Of the Ladies' OF the @. A. II. will carry
10 their homes many delightful mems
uries OF the anRir
Tho parlors were beautifully decoru-
ted with tiny flags and bunting. further
embellished by the tasteful distribution
Of towering palms, and fitting combina.
lion OF roses and carnations IN pink and
white. The decorations were the work
Of Mrs. Howard Thompson. OF the Nc
Lure, and her tasty handlwork was
much admired.
uuder the illuminations AZ night the
uniforms and GlittcrinS badges har-
monlEed with the profuse display OF the
national colors. The evening concert
was artistic and enjoyable. The Y, NJ
C. A. mandolin club at intervals dis
coursed pleasing programme Of popH-
lar and classical selections, and Prof. ].
PinlEus rendered several plano solos.
The only vocal music was that given
by Mrs Nellie Sweeney Palmer The
Ladies' OF the C. A. r. paid this talented
vocalist a very pretty compliment. 500
letting her services on account OF her
being the daughter OF the late
Col. Al. Sweeney. whose pa
triotic stand as Mayor OF Wheel
inG in the early sixties is so
well known. and which were so nicely
recognized In the last national encamp-
ment Of the C. A. r. at Minneapolis.
Mrs.. Palmer outshoue herself In answer
TO this tribute, favOring the assemblage
with several solos. She was accom-
pRnIed by Mrs. Charles o. Roemer.
The address OF welcome In behalf OF
the Ladies' Of the G.. A. r. was delivered
by Hon. W. II. c, Curtis, whose orator..
cSI ability is so well known as TO need
no further commentator. He spoke OF
the qualifications for membership OF
this patriotic Woman'S order. the OBJ
ieets. and It's general principles. He
closed with a brilliant pernration,
GulogizinS the devoted band in blue.
whose deeds were none the less lus>
trous than the deeds OF the
legions OF Caesar. the armies of
Alexander the Great. or the
famed Imperial Guard OF Napoleon. His
address reused the patriotic sentiment
Of all present, and the veterans In front
Of him were deeply moved
General ]. W. NJ Appleton. adjutRnt
general Of the National Guard OF West
Virginia, and a distinguished weRreT OF
the G. a. R button received latter
ing reception, when called upon 10
make an address. He spoke as follows
Some Of the stump speakers in our
last campaign. had habit of beginning
their long winded talks with the rela-
tons OF Incidents in Roman history.
probably this classic precedent Is one to
be followed. SO / viii mention here.
that Il is said that in the year $50 before
Christ chaSm was opened In the For
iim OF old Rome, in that greAt public
square In the great city. and that the
sOothSayers or wise men OF the city. de-
elarlS that 1t would be closed by the
sacrince OF Rome's greatest treasure.
The people were at loss to interpret the
oracle. when Marcus CuTtius, noble
YOU'LL Akepkt1u ApEhAIN anu uGNlALGA
that the state possessed no nObler thing
no greater treasure than brave citizen
in arms. ard clad in his armor, with his
good sword In his hand. he mounted his
Steed ard urged his horse 10 leap into
the chasm. and Il closed over him. My
listers and brothers. thus II was with
our beloved country In the years from
1861 to 1866. after Christ.
"Our country was rent open by wide
q terrible chasni, and to close II, re-
quired the sacrifice of the best Of the
youth Of both North and South. Before
me, l see those, who in their early man
hood, pressed forward as Curtius did,
a willing sacrifice for our FatheTland.
We, whose fate Il was to be spared the
completeness of the sacrifice but whose
steps led us to the brink, where we
could look down into the dizzy awful
depth that yawned below us, We offered
ourselves for the sacrifice. but were
mercIfully spared. Spared to do all we
could in our after lives, to Obliterate as
far as may be the traces OF the great
gulf which had been between one part
OF our people and the other. Let no one
think that the fact that the chasm, for
q time. separated one part OF our PEG.
pie from the other part Obliterated form
our minds that we were by Gods will
one people. and that We were and are
10 continue one people. The chRsm OF
Curtius claimed but one victim, ours.
thousands upon thousands Of the best
Of the sons OF the North and the South.
Those that came forward from their
Southern homes to give their lives for
what they esteemed right, met death az
cheerfully and bravely as our comrades
that We saw go down before our eyes.
THE endurance. the courage. and un.
- 49,. -
America was manifested in the highest
degree by our brothers. who were once
arFayed against US. and We honor them
for theiE virtues. Brave fighters in a
bad cause!
Happily we are now reunited, all
again gathered under one Fathers root,
one nag above US. and no divided Rlle-
gIence TO estrnnEe our hearts. There
has never been much bitterness between
the true soldiers, We learned TO respect
each other. under the whitening blasts
OF thebattlefeld, and the intercourse
between veterans OF the North and
South is brotherly and delightful at the
present time This iF decorous and
right. We comrades served under that
nag that is emblemntical Of equal rights
for all, and no division Of this Nation.
In this we were privileged. Now In our
age. our hearts are as true ia our cOun-
try as they were in our youth and early
manhood. The consciousness Of having
borne arms for the Nation is proud
thing To look back upon.
AS our ranks become more broken,
az our old bodies grow weaker. the
remembrance OF duty well done Is q
comfort to each survivor, but the print
I'd record Of your services and your
herolsm should be completed by our
state, SO that any man that has had the