Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-11-09

handled in mastery manner by Rev.
g. %. Burch. Rev. Burch portrayed
the dual mission of the government in
its attitude toward its soldiers. The
biography of each of the boys with the
history of the Fifty-First Regiment,
by }. w. b. Cole, was one of the most
Interesting parts of the program. To
Mr.. Cole the cleaning of the records of
our boys was labor oflove and he has
given to the people a work that will be
cherished as happy "Reminiscences of
the day. Father LOTUS was then call
ed upon and, although unprepared,
he gave an earnest and brilliant talk,
teeming with brilliant thoughts.
After the rendition of the program
the people We're entertained by an
exhibition drill by the Cadets of the
High School. The military bearing of
the boys showed them to be in earnest
in their work and the evolutions they
made spoke highly Of the training they
had received at the hands of their
young captain. The drilling of the
returned soldiers, under Sergeant Mar
lin, attracted everyone. While the
boys represented seven regiments, and
some had not had hold Of a gun since
January last, yet their movements
showed thot they knew how to handle
the gun. The afternoon exercises held
the audience as no program ever has.
1t was program worthy of the day
and will long be remembered by all
the people.
Long ere the time to open the doors
of the Opera House in the evening peo-
pie began to assemble so as to get seats,
and when the time arrived the house
was soon filled to it's utmost capacity.
Standing room was at a premium.
Some even seemed to be suspended in
the air. Those on the program could
scarcely get to the platform. The
president, in a few we'll chosen words,
admonished the people to be patient
and give each speaker their attention.
He then introduced the chorus directed
by Mrs. Carmichael. All had gone
expecting treat, but the music went
far beyond all expectations. Nothing
can be said too good in praise of those
who assisted in the music. The invo-
cation was given by Rev. Matheney.
Mr.. Cousins then responded to the
toast "The Flag" He paid touch
ing tribute to the only hero who did
not come back, but who is enrolled
with the mighty army beyond this
vale of tears. Then passing from this
he showed how our flag with it's
mingled colors stood as the symbol of
all that Americans hold dear. Mr..
Nash then told of the unremitant toll
of one of Audubon's best citizens, Mr.
Freeman, who got up from bed of
sickness to be present, but who was
too i'll to be respond to the toast The
Volunteer Soldier" and introduced
Chester Marlin who spoke as though
he had been in the habit of delivering
addresses to the Philippine insurgents,
telling them OF the beauty and gran
deur and sublimity of our country,
trying to teach them the noble prin-
ciples of freedom, liberty and indepen-
dence which our country affords to
those who are under the protecting
care of our flag, instead of being mar
shalled in battle array-a target for
Mauser bullets.
Miss Harriet BILLIARDS. response to
the toast, 1.-THE Student Soldier was
an address that left her without peer
on the program of the evening. Her
thoughts were touching and beautiful.
Her poise graceful and earnest. Her
delivery natural and calm. With
beautiful word pictures, she adorned
the pages of recent history with the
mighty student body, the great right
arm, the defence government. Each
school child present felt the thrill OF
the con tagious heart strings of SYM
pathy that go forth from our people to
them, the hope of the future. DIR. A
L. Brooks witty dissertation of the
| "Army Mule" was an interminglina
of wit, humor, pathos and sound sense
characteristic of the doctor. He was
followed by description of cam
paign life in Cuba by G. S. d. Mason
who spoke eXtemperaneously, but
seemed to be so full of his subject that
thoughts came swiftly and easily tc
him. His description showed vividly
the duties of our soldiers there and his
description of the Maine, is one thai
each one present will ever remember
j. M. Graham was then introduced tt
respond to "The Union Forever" and
in an eloquent manner he portrayed
the events of the past as our guide
boards for our present; the history o
our psesent as the criteria of our future
He showed plainly that we had beer
looked to as the leader of all good
great and noble things and that M
leaf must fall from our well earned
laurels, by misstep in the future. Mr.
ID. 9. Mott paid glowing tribute t.
''The Army and Navy" In sue
cinct manner he summoned up ou
victories on land and sea, and in tn
light of past events prophesied tina
our future success in arms would be al
brilliant. Robert Rice's response t,
"The Girl l Left Behind" was char
acteristic of his easy. witty style of de
livery. His word painting was luci(
and ludicrous, but his personatiol
teemed with good lessons. After al
this one might suspect that the larg
assemblage of people, seated so com
pactly that there seemed to be scarcel,
breathing room, would have grow
tired of the entertainment which hat
lasted for over two hours during which
; time they had listened to eloquent ad
. I