Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-21
The Old Soldiers Picnic.


Last Friday, the 18th. the Old Sol
diers' Birthday Association celebrated
with W. r. Brady of this city, at his
home on South Main street. There
were about 100 present, and the usual
program of big dinner, short speeches,
music and general social chat, was car
ried out. Rev. Bixler and G. W. MINI
ocks each made speech, and Rev. l..
c. Schnacke read the following origins al
poem on the occasion:
AN ANNIVERSARY SENTIMENT.
BY REV. L. C. SCHNAcKE
We've come, every gentleman and lady,
To congratulate Conrade-Brother Brady.
Today he stands where he ne'er stood before
Having reached this new milestone, No. Sd
There's popularity he has it is Gear:
And that is, to have birthday each year.
If this were not so perhaps you will see
That his good wife very lonely would be,
And we who like coffee, and pie. and good cheer
Today would be working at home, fear.
We find good housewives always undertaking
For these birthdays to do the best of baking.
1t does us all good to drop shovel and spade
Pen, ledger and yard-stick, and sit in the shade
The oftener spun the bigger they become.
Old soldiers may well eat and drink with delight,
When rememb ring the outcome of Cervera's flight
How Spain's valor. copceit and pride all aglow
Was blown into the air and the sea below.
For the courage that did it, confess,
Was born of these older boys none the less.
It was the old soldier showed what to do
With Montejo, Cervera, and the Spanish crew.
Twas Dewey who saw where the oppressor sat,
And showed the proud tyrant "where he at"
It was Schiey who chased the enemy round
Until half his men-none of ours-were drowned
1t was Shafter who disturbed their early mass
And told greedy Spaniards to skeep off the grass
And Dewey and Schley. and even big shafter,
In the COS were not sitting under a rafter.
They went out in ships, on horses on foot,
And helped tear up the rebellion by the root.
Men like Comrade Brady have added their mite
To drive the dark Spaniard clear out of sight;
For their courage and sacrifice was not in vain.
'Tis found in the hearts of the young lad again.
Therefore, we'll not feel and groan
Until all these baskets of grub are gone.
And now, while we're doing up this thing,
Let me our honest congratulations bring.
'Tis no fiarery to say we love you right we'll.
For fiattery it is when the truth we don't tell.
Ae bad men are made worse by Dadness unresist6d
So good men are made better when good is enlisted
Therefore we' II say something in your hearing
We know will not throw you out of gearing:
We honor you, not for having reached ffty-four,
But because you're the same good man as of yore.
We honor you for your character and life,
And for having chosen worthy wife.
We honor you for having been ''born again.
Which sweetens your life in sunshine and rain.
For rain you have hsd. and tempest too,
But an Infinite Father has led you safe through.
He has put one dear treasure in Heaven l know,
That He might clearer His love for you show.
ALPS well in Heaven -alls well on earth
Whs not have gladness, and Joy, and mi1th
On this occasion that M arks the milestone
Which shows you one year nearer home?
We hope you won't disappoint us year from now,
If you do, you may certainly expect a row.
In one year, if you're still alive,
Your years will be given as ffty-fve
We wish you the luck of our good darkey friend
Whose succeeding years all came safely to end.
For nc said, Il hab always took notice dat if
libes froo de month OF March sho' 'nough
libes to de end OBJ de yea, dst's de stuff"
To w. r. BRADY,
land InEu 4