Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-25

ing address. lie introduced Col. Robert
Mitchell Floyd, who made short
address.
Col. Floyd told the children that the
occasion was ono they could look back
to for years. In the history OF the
United States this is the first time the
children of the public &c he gls have ever
presented anything to the navy. Con-
tinuing, he referred to tho magni ticent
idea OF presenting Bible and congrat-
nlated the children on the step they
had taken.
He spoke about five minutes, but
there was 20 much enthusiasm among
the children that he could scarcely be
heard, even by those on the stage. He
was cheered to the echo when he had
finished his address and introduced
John Aspin Kienle, who, On behalf of
the school children presented the Bible.
John Aspin Kienle, who presented
the Bible, on behalf of the school chill
dren, in his presentation address, spoke
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Captain Todd, officers of
the Wilmington and friends: There were IN
the public schools last year l026l boys ana
girls and in their behalf ! give you cordial
welcome to the city, such welcome as can
only come from ten Thousand healthy, indie.
pendent American children. We know that
ii is a great honor for Uncle Sam to name
gunboat for the City of Wilmington, and
since we represent about one-seventh of the
population we thought that we were entitled
10 take prominent part in the programme
of to-day. Some one sand, 'The children are
to have side-show all to themselves"
hope gentlemen, before we are through that
YOU will think that the side-show has eclipse.di
The circus You will probably be very well
acquainted with lis before you leave the
Christiana river, and | believe that our
enthusiasm ut least will win your friend
shin. You, Captain Todd. represent the
strong arm of the nation. We represent the
weak and dependent, and we look to you
for protection. We expect you TO uphold
The honor of our country, whose future
denends tpon CiOd and the children. Love
for ones native land strengthens not only
individual, hut national character, ana gives
birth to the civic pride, which leads 10
demonstrations like this to-day. have the
honor to ask you to accept from the children
this Holy Bible, "a book that nobody ever
outErows and which widens and deepen5
with our years" 1t is whole. hearted
token of our good will, and we hone it will
ALWAYS serve to remind you OF the boys and
girls in your native land who are following
the career OF the Wilmington with patriotic
interest wherever she may float. With such
n chart YOU cannot fail to steer The rudder
straight and command the empire OF the
sea.
Commander Todd accepted the gift
for the gunboat in neat speech. lie
said he saw in the gift that the donors
had considered the welfare of the peo-
plo on the hoat not only now, but for
all time. He said next to godliness
comes good citizenship, and those who
love the Bible must become gomi citi'
zens. AH We go round the world, he
continued. and take out our Bible We
will ever remember the donors, the
school children i Wilmington, fol-
whom the ship canned.
At the conc! dsion of his address he
was given three rousing cheers.
President baird. on bebalf OF the
pupils at No. % School, at East Lake,
presented two standard volumes for tht
gunboat library, which were received
by Commander Todd, after which the
commander pinned a pretty badge upor
n Ethel Allen, aged 0 years, a pupil al
q No. 10 School, in the Eleventh ward.
The exercises closed with genera
cheering by the children. after which
they sang "America," and Bishop
Coleman pror ,unced the henediction.
After the asso..ihlage bad been dis
missed many of the little ones mad'
their way TO the stage and there took
look at the Bible and shook hands will
the officers
Che presentation ceremony was pre-
ceded by short street parade.
1921 o'clock the Delaware Colleg
Cadets, under command OF Lieut.