The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-03
THE BRAVE GENERAL WHEE1ER.
Was Cousin of the Late Ex-Mayor GaI-
 pin of New Haven,

Dlh OI NcW Ah"NSht
 At the recent patriotic demonstra- tion at the Casino, New York, given in aid of the Soldiers and Sailors Fami- lies Protective association, Roosevelt, Wheeler, Jack Philip and Woodford were present and were cheered tumult- uously by the happy and enthusiastic assembly. Among those who had the honor of a presentation to General Wheeler at the Windsor hotel the day of the meeting was our esteemed townsman, Hon. James M. Townsend, who had highly enjoyable chat with this famous war general and was most pleasantly received by him, they having mutual remembrances to recall of days of auld lang syne. General Wheeler it will be remembered, was a former Der by man of years ago. General Wheeler was all attention when told that MT. Townsend was from New Haven, the general adding remarks concerning old times in this city, with which he was familiar. On fearing that MT. ToWn- send was an ex-captain Of the New Haven grays the general remarked that he had the honor to be cousin of one of New Haven's former mayors, the late Philip S. Galpin, who was also a former captain of the Grays. General Wheeler added that some of his pleas ant remembrances of old Connecticut were his school days at the famous school in Cheshire.
 The Sun gave the following concern ing General Wheeler's introduction to the meeting and what he said;
 General Swayne was introduced as presiding officer by Major John Byrne, president of the association. General Swayne made short speech and then presented General Wheeler who wore the fatigue uniform of major general. The little cavalry officer of Shafter's army must have been pleased at the reception accorded to him. There, was much applause for a few moments then the entire audience arose and cheered the veteran of two wars for several minutes.
 General Wheelers theme was wo- mans work and woman's sacrifice in time of war. The men who have fought the nations battles on land and sea, said he, have come to be spoken of as the men behind the guns It is a good thing to have men behind the guns sometimes, and, in fact, we could not very well do without them. But l tell you my friends, this nation is quite iv,Ih tb of inc land, who are ever and always behind the men who are behind the guns. "'It is not light work or easy work or untrying work that soldier has to do in the field, and he must be ever ready to give his life if the call comes. His | life. however is essentially a life of ac- l tion, and 1t is not without excitement. l When he marched away to the war he I left up yon6ier, in the cottage on the mountain, wife or a mother or a sis | ter or a sweetheart. When the country l called, these women put the guns in l the hands of their soldier boys and | bravely sent them away. After the | good -byes were said there was nothing l for these women to do but to go back l and wait, wait, wait. The excitement 1 of battle was not for them. It was l simply a season of anxiety and heart
 rending inactivity. Some of them, un- able to stay at home, followed theif dear ones to the front as nurses. They watched over us in hospital tents, they 1 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 mes sages and the last words home. To its
 women the nation can never pay the
 debt it owes, and night here and now
 for myself and the men who served
 under me, I want to acknowledge the gratitude we all owe to the noble army
 of women who were, in the best and
 truest sense, the home guard
 When General Wheeler concluded he l received another ovation.'
 l SOCIETY OF FOREIGN WARS.