The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-07

pIause Nothing could be finer than his
review of the loyal work and sacrifices
of the soldiers and the rapid and grand
progress OF the great republic. He paint
ed true manhood in glowing language
and stirred his hearers to better thought
and life. Father Then has won the love
and admiration of the "old boys"
Rev. Father Then said:
Mr.. Chairman, Old Soldiers. Your Elk
cellency, Ladies and Gentlemen: No man
could feel Indifferent to the honor shown
him, in being offered an opportunity to
address the old soldiers and their friends
on the occasion of their reunions, and as
I appreciate the honor, am grateful for
the invitation and shall endeavor to
prove myself deserving of it.
Man is a social animal~ He loves 10
associate with his kind, TO congregate
with his equals. Natures voice bids him
to do this. His inclination leads him 10
it. In the society of his felIowman he
finds a security of strength, a power and
a happiness he could not find If left TO
himself For business purposes Tor intel
lectual pursuits. for artistic inspiration,
pathetic reasons we must be in com
munion with fellowman. Man lives but
one ENTHUSIASTICALLY you hear Of man
leading a dual life, but he is generally
caught at it and then even his one life
is very much embittered for hin-and
into this one life man naturally desires
to crowd as many emotions and ideas, as
many sensation and facts as it is posi-
BILE for him 10 bring into it. As We aG-
vance in years we feel the desire to live
over again. in a way, certain portions OF
our lives, 10 experience again certain
sensations, to enjoy again certain pleas
ures and-strange TO say-to feel again
the sting of sorrow the dart Of pain that
once wounded the heart. There is
strange fascinating sweetness in the
memory OF sorrows endured. 1t j. true
that the sorrows Of the present are often
the joys of the future. Probably no man
would care 10 live his life all over in
realty-no man would wish TO be born
a second time 10 the same life, but ne
do enjoy living over again in spirit Ger
tain periods OF our lives. certain JOYS
and sorrows that have come into our
lives.- To this end we want our fellow
man. want as much as possible the self
same men who were with Us, the sell
same surroundings that marked the inci-
dents " wish 70 recall This. my SOL
der friends is the reason and the idea
az the bottom OF your gatherings and re-
union In spirit you want 70 De az the
front once mere. TO fight the battles as
once you fought them, 70 hear the whist
ling OF rifle ball AMI roar q cannon the
beat OF drum and word u command. 70
look again into the faces OF comrades
who stood shoulder 90 shoulder wiki yo1
in those eventfui DAYS 10 b thrilled
a gain by the emotl3as which their fled
your breasts. This desire u,azcse yuu
forget the indrmities Of old age the al
sence OF that viEor which once vas
Yours. forget even the br ken Urab =
wounded shoulder and you hasten = meet
your comrades in arms Cd bss Jlesa
reunions You are emitted e them They
are pleasure 10 you and a beneG- Man
Is the better for meeting hss fs.Ic-r--g1 f
The grasp Of the hand the look - re
face. the right w-o-5 ana the rizht id
are more powerful factors II mans fu-
provement than anything else Wee Sc
In my power I would $40 ~ i that cEs
old soldiers Of this entire ecuutry- north .
and south east All west re. at east
once a yea- and a. Nc expense to th-la- I
selves
What shan say 10 yo1 ms =a5-
trends Speak g pea e vsr. is
-arx ans harisAipss Yn knaE
3-rS9naI exp=rience Enat ErsE ~ru
rrfy- 500 = n s-er1 = -. ~.