The herald., 1897-03-24
RIVERSIDE

RIVERSIDE, March 23-(Regular
Correspondence.) Last night was great
night in Riverside for the Grand Army
OF the Republic and the Woman'S Re-
lief corps, the occasion being the recep-
ton of Commander-in -in-Chief T. S. Clark
son, which has been I'M the course of
preparation for the past three weeks.
The program, which was eXcellently
arranged and appropriate for the event.
was carried out to the letter. For many
days the curious and the critics have
been bothering themselves as to just
what was being done by the several
committees and how it was done. Few
could find out for a certainty just what
was going on in the way of the county
reception. Not that those having mat
ters in charge sought to evade in
quiries, but were simply going about
their business, and from the smooth
ness with which the arrangements were
carried out from the time OF the arrival
of Gen. Clarkson at the GleSwood yes
terday until the close of the responses
to toastS at the banquet after midnight
last night, it was proven that perfect
work had been performed coming out as
perfectly as well planned and executed
campaign. The members of the Grand
Army post here and the Woman's Re-
lief corps and the officers and teachers
of the public schools deserve much
praise for the magnificent success of the
effort.
Fully 1000 people attended the recep-
tion at the Loring opera house in the
fore part of the evening. The building
was beautifully decorated with the ma
tional colors and potted plants. Raised
seats were arranged on the rear of the
platform. which were occupied by men,
bersl of the G.. A. r., not Only of River
side, but from other towns of the county.
There were about 300 of the gray-haired
veterans and members of Company M
in uniform. mmedia tely in front of them
were graded platforms for the school
children, who were to sing, with an
elevation I'M the center upon which the
little Goddess of Liberty and her guard
of honor were to stand during the flag
presenta ton The raised platform was
beautifully festooned with flags.
Taken as whole, the decorations, the
galleries filed with beautifully dressed
school children and the main body of the
house filled with the hundreds OF the
guests and, the Relief corps and the
stage banked with the old soldiers and
the military company and the Whole
| building brilliantly lighted with elec-
tricityi presented a scene long to be re-
membered by those present.
c. NJ Dexter, commander of River
side post, introduced Rev. G. A. Cleve-
land, who opened the exercises with
prayer. The male quartette, composed
of Fred Worsley, II. w. Hawes, p. s.
Castleman and H. II. Hays, rendered a
patriotic selection. Commander Dex-
ter, in a few we'll chosen remarks, then
introduced Gen. Clarkson.
| The general received, a grand ovation
Among other things he referred pleasing
| ly to the past two weeks, which>he had
just spent in, passing through the south
and over many of the battle-fields of
the rebellion. He said he had not re-
ceivedl any warmer receptions from the
members of the Grand army in the
north than he received on many occa-
sionS in the southland. They received
him with open arms and apparently
warm hearts, vieing with each other to
make his visits pleasant. He then paid
beautiful tribute to the self-sacrific-
irg patriotism of the women during the
war. He said they were grander patriots
than those of us who went to the front.
History had never recorded more pure
devotion to the cause of liberty. He
said the Grand Army of the Republic
was now a peace organization. Its