The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-12
Here and There. No. B.


uresquep "a writer has said Of late.
Yea, verify, but our nation does not
much affect the manners Of the gay
Tournament, is not given 10 posing for
that sort of distinction. With cause
so just and holy, our country would be
even in defeat, far and away higher than
successful Spain, but in her magnificent
triumph she is truly sublime.
Our brave Commodore Dewey sailed
away over rough seas. His fleet were
not to seek anchorage in some restful
haven, but in each advancing, threaten
ing wave that seemingly repulsed their
staunch ships, they may have had
visions of real forces strong and deter
mined and which might not break and
flee at their approach. Before the
battle could be fought even, there might
be hidden peril lurking beneath the
waves of the hostile harbor, but the
resolute fleet moved on To sure, swift
victory. Marvellous indeed seems this
conquest even to the proud united
nation who sent forth the brave fleet,
but far and beyond what we now can
ever dream, is it wonderful to other
nations who have made war their chief
study, aye, their God.
''Ris quite another picture that arises
with undimmed brightness before some
who read the history of Sherman's late
autumn expedition of 1864, not from
carefully weighed, deliberate sentences,
but in startling facts, in lightning flashes,
as the world today reads history, even
while it is making. The New England
Thanksgiving of that time was filled
with anxious forebodings for the brave
General and his men, who, having cut
the telegraph wires seemed beyond all
knowledge and help and with slight
chances of victory. Nothing from
sherman" was again and again repeated
as the news columns were eagerly scan
ned Sometimes it seemed well nigh
uncomfortable, the waiting, and yet, mo
news was good news" up to certain
time, for then it was known that they
were etfectually hidden from the enemy,
this resolute band marching from At
lanta to the sea-
AT grand reunion of the army of the
Potomac, when the Civil war WAS nearer
by half than today, there was grand
ovation to the heroic, successful Sher-
man. One spectator, at least, never
hears drum with its onward, still on
ward, regular beat, and the thrilling,
wierd call of the fife, that some feature
of that glad time is not present. An
immense audience had gathered
one but might well be supposed to have
close, sympathetic relation to the sub
ject of the day-while the ample stage
of the opera house offered space for real
actors in our war, and skilfnl hands
Ia,
and banners appeared, all showing war
ruthless hand. There the civilian was
in the minority, for all over the house
were the saviours of our nation. The
orator of the hour had "seen the battle
from affair."" and perchance the attention
was fixed too strongly on the heroes OF
our war, who had made the present eel
ebration possible. Truly the enthusiasm
, waned some what, albeit twas IA loya
man who gracefully reviewed our wal
history, and quickly the speaker chang
: ed his carefully arranged speech. All
said he, You brave men should be
heard instead of "A stay at home ano
advancing rapidly across the stage he
stood by the side of General Sherman
offering grateful homage III simple, YET
glowing words Then with glance al
the leader of the superb orchestra and
wave of his hand the entire audience
arose and "Marching through Georgia.
was gloriously sung. Men cheered
flags waved, and the only quiet, appar
emily unmpressed person in that assem-
blage, sat modestly in the midst of it all
General Sherman, the hero who planneC
and carried out his design of capturing
much desired city for a Christmas gift
to his President.
EMMA NJ. SMITH.