The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-10-20
A GRAND RECEPTION
Tile Postponed Reception Was Tsnd-
cred the Volunteer Soldiers at the
Opera House.
Addresses Were Made by Messrs. SilSby,
Preston, Major Warne and 9th
erS--Were Well ReesiYsd.
Soldiers We're Highly Euloglzed by the
Speakers for Their Good Conduct
and Their Victory.
WELCOMED HOME THE BOYS.
Mitchell People Gave the VOlun
teers Grand Demonstration
Monday Night.

Monday Night.
Not within the history of good
many people who we're seated in the
Grand Monday night have such scenes
been enacted as were witnessed on this
occasion-the returning home of the
soldiers who had been to war and who
had como home with the wreath of
victory on their brow and whose con-
duct was above reproach. The ban
quet which had been prepared for the
boys was served at late hour Satur-
day night and the other features had
to be postponed until Monday evening
At 7:3O o'clock the old soldiers, Sons
of Veterans and the W. r. G. met at
their hall and escorted the volunteers
and the Spanish-American soldiers to
the opera house, being led by the State
Juvenile band. The building was one
mass OF humanity and it was nearly
impossible for the old soldiers to get
into the building to take the seats
that had been reserved for them. 1t
seemed that as if the entire town had
tried to get into the building.
The stage was handsomely decorated
with flags and bunting, the canopy
effect being beautiful. At one side OF
the stage was a vacant chair draped
with flags and cut flowers. This was
in memory of Jay A. Smith who died
at Manila last Novemb ber, and a hand
some tribute was paid to his memory
by Mr.. Preston in his speech by laying
wreath of flowers on the chair and BY
his two comrades, Sergeant Coursey
and Frank McLain when they made
brief remarks. The auditorium wat
made respleudent with flags and bunt
ing and it was scene to inspire the
J patriotism to the utmost limit.
When the soldier boys appeared OF
the stage it was the signal of hearty
burst of applause aud it was severa
minutes before it subsidized. There wa
16 of the volunteers who occupied seat
on the stage, several of whom wer'
from Plankinton and were invited tt
remain and participate in the exercise
of the evening.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by the Rev. D. r. Tomlin. q
I was followed by Mayor Fullerton, who
I as the presiding officer, made fe,
. brief remarks in reference to tn
D gathering. The State Juvenile ban
: played patriotic medley and whe
D they played the Star Spangled Bar
!. ner" every soldier rose to his feet 9
8 one man and remained standing durin
U the rendition of the piece. Such
= the deierence paid to the flag of thei
q country. A quartet was then rendere
g by the Misses Goodykoontz and Koc
q and Messrs. Lott and Kratz, which W,
q most excellent number. Miss Lee pr
8 sided at the piano.
Y The first speaker on the progra
It was the Hon. Geo. A. Silsby, who we
). coined the boys in behalf of the G. /
d R. Mr.. Silsby said in part:
2, Mr.. Mayor and Soldiers of the Sou
1. Dakota Regiment: 1t is rarely indee
" my friends and fellow citizens, that
:, opportunity like this occurs. VIII,
"A the band played these stirring mel
10 dies tonight, it took us old fellows, wi
,e wear this little copper button, and wi
ID US the gray haired men and wome
back thirty odd years ago, when the
stra,ns we're almost Of daily occurrenc
q, and know it stirred your hearts bio
I'd as it did mine, with new emotion,
ut we listened to the matchless renderil
% of those old war time pieces; and W
- more than pleased, my fellow citizer
ol when the band struck up that mate
b. less tune, "The Star Spangled Ba
G. ner," to see that our brave boys shou
in rise in honor of our flag and all that
:. typifes. 1t was gentle suggestion
~ all of us to give more respect, mo
ee