The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-01
VAR HEROES ON THE STAGE
,,rpIOTIC DEMONSTRATION AT
THE CASINO YESTERDAY.

s.iors, Families Protective Association.
A. entertainment was given at the Casino
yesterday afternoon in aid OF the Soldiers and
o Sahara Families Protective Association. The
nO.smme was arranged by Mrs. William
p.lley and Gen. WagerS wayne presided. inc
cadence was one OF the largest ever In the
s.N"tso and the entertainment netted about
si sSo The musical part was furnished by
lawrence Wood. pianist; Miss Ethel Irene
a,owart. soprano Miss Louie Wood, viollnist;
caon0e Beldan and W. II. Robinson. baritones.
Mics Iucile Nelson was the elocutionist and
Josenh Pizzarello was the accompanied.
n had been advertised that Major-Gen.
vheeler. Major-Gen. Skater and the Hon.
etewart L. Woodford would speak. but Gen.
shofter was detained at Montauk Point by Ill
mess. Col. Roosevelt. who had also been In
v,ted 10 speak, told the MANAGEMENT that he
VAS not at all certain that he could be present,
and requested that he be not advertised as one
NJ the speakers. The Colonel was able to get
N the theatre. however, after the entertain
mani began and he took Gen. Skaters place
, on the programme.
Cen Swayne was introduced as presiding
officer by Major John Byrne. President OF the
association. Gen. Swayne made a short speech
and then presented Gen. Wheeler. who wore
the fatigue uullOTm VI u AhC
little cavalry officer OF Skaters army must
have been pleased at the reception accorded
10 him. There was much applause for a few
moments, then the entire audience arose and
eheered the veteran OF two wars for several min
utes. Gen. Wbeeler's theme was woman's work
and woman's sacrifice in time OF war. THE
men who have fought the nations battles on
hnd and sea, said he, have come TO be spoken
Of as the men behind the guns 1t is a good
thing to have men behind the guns sometimes.
and In fact we couldn't very we'll do without
them. But l tell you, my friends. this nation Is
quite as much indebted to the women OF the
land, who are ever and always behind the men
who are behind the guns.
1T Ia not light work or easy work or untry-
Ing work that q soldier has to do in the field.
aud he must be ever ready to give his life II
the call comes. His life. however, is essentially
alie OF action. and 1t Is not without excite
ment. When he marched AVA to the war he
left up yonder. In the cottage on tho mountain,
awife or a mother or q sister or a sweetheart.
When the country called these women put
the guns in the hands Of their soldier boys
and bravely sent them away. After the good
bys we're said. there was nothing for these wo-
men to do but to go back and wait. wait. wait.
The excitement OF battle was not for them. 1t
was simply a season Of anxiety and heartrend-
Ing inactivity. Some OF them. unable to stay at
home, followed their dear ones to the front
as nurses. They watched over US in hos
pital tents. they smoothed our dying
pillows. they caught and remembered
our last words and the last messages.
and. when it was all over. they breathed a
prayer by the graveside. Then they sent the
messages and the last words home. To It's
women the nation can never pay the debt 1t
owes. and right here and now, for myself and
the men who served under me. I want to ac-
knowledge the gratitude We all owe to the
noble army OF women WHIT were. in the best
and truest sense. the home guard"
When Gen. Wheeler concluded he received
another ovation. Gen. SwAyne said:
There have been some variations In this
programme. and now l propose TO ride rough
shod over 1t. Gen. shafter. whose illness we
lament. was to be one Of the speakers. There
10 here on this platform a person who has had
some little practice In rough riding. and that
person l have now the extreme pleasure of
presenting to you--Col. Theodore Roosevelt"
Col. Roosevelt had taken a back scat on the
platform. Immediately behind Commodore
John ". Philip and Gen. Woodford. SO that it
was a genuine surprise that Gen. swayne
sprung when he presented the rough rider. As
Col. Roosevelt arose the audience rose with
him. Men cheered and shouted and wo-
men waved handkerchieis. and some OF the
more emotional screamed. As the audi.
ence arose Gen. Wheeler got UT. stepped
forward a little to q position Just at the
Colonel's right. Commodore Philip got up
and stood Immediately behind the young
Colonel. while Gen. Woodford stood at his left.
The CROPPING Of these three men about the
leader OF the rough riders caught the audience,
and The cheers redoubled. Finally the people
had to stop for q moment to catch breath. Then
. man down In the front Of the house stepped
Into the aisle and shouted:
Gen. Swayne. ! propose three cheers and q
uger Tor that highest type Of American man
nood and Of the volunteer soldier. Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt"
inAt set the audience going again. and the
cheering could have been heard across Broad.
way. Five minutes passed, and there was no
sign Of q let-up. At last Col. Roosevelt. who
had been doing his best all this time to look
comfortable. raised his hand as q signal for the
uemonStrauon to stop. He might as well have
senailedtoth the winds. Tho people only shouted
Sne iouder, Quiet came after a while. how
oNef. Simply because the people couldn't cheer
e. more, Then Col. Roosevelt said:
In 80 lar as this demonstration has been for
ue volunteer soldier, / must heartily add my
snoels 70 yours. The victory was won and the
wal 10 over. because OF the courage and the
vGor Of the rank and file Of the army. It liz an
oa dodge for a speaker to say that he IA nm
prepared. AS 1t was only about twenty min |
uts ago that ] knew / could get here. I want |
'ou 70 believe that this speaker IL somewhak
unprepared. / wanted to come, however. be-. |
.ause am heart and soul with the work this
sesociation is carrying on. / wanted to show |
~ my presence. at least. that / am grateful for |