Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-11-09
The day so long anticipated has come

BY ETHEL SIMPSON.
The day so long anticipated has come
and past and Audubon county can add
to her already patriotic annals new
page on which may be recorded her
greatest celebration. The day opened
dismal and foggy, but notwithstand-
ing the heavy fog, almost mist, the
people began to pour in from all direc-
tions of the country and gather at the
depot long before the whistle told that
the train had left Atlantic. The mud
dy condition of the streets made it i'm
possible to follow the original idea of
" Keeping in the middle Of the road, !"
so the procession was formed on the
walk. Soon after the siren voice of the
whistle announced that the train had
left Atlantic the children of the public
schools, headed by the High School
Cadets under command of Les Walker
took their position on the walk. The
members of the G. A. r. and Ladies of
the Relief Corps had their position on
the platform of the depot, as did also
the band. Theexcitement was intense,
yet midst all the hustle and crowding
and pushing everyone allowed his
neighbor to tramp on his toes or kick
mud on him, with smile of perfect
happiness and contentment. The near
er the time for the arrival came, the
greater grew the excitement and the
greater the patience. At last the pro-
longed notes of the whistle from the
water works told that the train had
left Hamlin. From that on the in
harmonious blending of the screaming
of the whistles made talking impossi-
bic, so each was left to his own refec-
tions. The arrival of the train ended
the suspense and created such pandi-
mOnium as was never before witnessed
in Audubon. AS the heroes stepped
from the train their quick eye ran hur-
riedly over the vast assemblage of up.
turned faces for those countenances
most loved and reverenced, sacred
from the hallowed presence that fol
lowed them through all the vicissi
tudes Of soldier life. AS one of them
caught glimpse of the face of mother
he spurned the hBnds of friends, of
school-mates, of veterans and relatives
until he had clasped that loved form
Of mother, eagerly waiting for him
to his manly breast and kissed again
and again the cheek pale with the hap.
piness that her boy was home. All the
time the band had given forth its
sweetest music. When the boys came
around to the east side of the depot tine
full force Of their welcome dawneG
upon them. There was vast CROWD
on cars, wagons, in the mud, every
where. In two lines were drawn ur
the Cadets, one time school mates q
of the now veterans From the Cadets
in two lines, extending to Upper
Broadway stood the school children
with flags waving and cheers and
songs to bid them hail! No Ceaser wa.
ever greeted with a greater triumph
No Alexander ever had as enthusias
tic pageant as this escort of thes,
boys in blue. AS the boys marched
through this double column 0
good cheer, welcome and reverence
their cheeks blanched with the respon
sibility that had been entrusted tt
them but now faithfully fulfilled, ant
their eyes grew moist with affection
| for home.
Regardless of mud the line of marcel
was carried out much as had been out
lined. The soldier guests were follow
ed first by the band, then the veterans
the Relief Corps, the citizens, fire de
partment, school and members of tn
Catholic church. The line taken wa
up Broadway through the Park, dow
South Park Street and down Broad
way. The program IN the Afternoon
was given in the Park instead of tn
Opera House. By two O'clock crow,
had gathered about the band stant
such as the town had never before seen
Fourteen Of the new veterans were uni
formed and on the platform, the hon
ored guests. The speakers We're al
present except Rev. Wissler, of Extra
who was detained at home on accoun
of preparations for Hon. William
Walkers funeral
President of the Day, j. A. Nash
introduced Mayor Hanna who, in a.
eloquent address babe the boys roys
welcome to their home and to tn
royal robes of citizenship. Among tn
finest features of the program were til
selections given by the Clover Lea
Quartette. The response to the toast
Iowa." by Rev. O'Connor, was
mastery and eloquent address, full q
patriotism, loyalty and admonition 70
the highest type of manhood. Mrs