The National tribune., 1901-03-14
MICHIGAN RELIEF CORPS WORK.
An Interesting Report by the Department
Press correspondent.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The mercury
Is rising and the numb fingers are thawing
out. These two conditions account for your
correspondents late inactivity. While most
people enjoy the sieigh-rldes and sleigh-par-
ties indulged in so freely up here in M,cni-
gan by the vigorous members of the w. r.
q. and u. A. r., there are {: few who prefer
to listen TO the sweet-toned sleigh-beIls while
sitting before a grate-fre, and view the huge
drifts from inside the comfortable home. Yet
there is something SO inspiring in the hustle
and jingle produced by extreme cold and
deep SHOWS that one would not change the
place OF residence for any land of perpetual
mowers. Rather perpetual Winter In Aichl-
gan, with its cheer, its bustle, its enjoy
ments. yes and its shivers, than the ennui
Of warmer cline. -.,-.as=5,--
One has but to read the reports from Corps
to learn OF their happy condition. RepOrts Of
| joint installations OF Posts and Corps have
come from all parts of the Department. They
are SO frequent and numerous that one is
apt to forget that installation Of Corps ever
takes place without the presence Of 1.-THE
boys" Many Corps also report special meet
ings concentrating the organization of the
| Order These reports come so thick and fast
II Is impossible to particularize. 1t would
seem as If every Corps, great and small, mad
taken pleasure tand prohp in these obsery-
ances.
In the city of Grand Rapids there are four
Corps, and they extract considerable pleasure
| out OF life. lnnis Corps members surprised
Champlin Corps on the night of their install
lation, and took part in the services and as
| sisted In the dining-room. 1t was q happy
party. Innis Corps recently held a thlmbie
party at the home of a member on the host
ess's birthday. They served an oyster sup
per and presented the hostess with a W. Il.
| q. pin. This same Corps makes an excellent
| report, which is herewith condensed They
number 81 members, and last year ,1J3 calls
were made upon the sick; S193.02 was ex-
pended In relief; s9.5s spent for flowers for
| sick and dead; S4.74 taken in in penny col
lections for flower fund. Solon Is a small
village In one Of the north border counties
OF the lower peninsula of this State, and In
that village is small Corps. whose report
VIII bring smile TO all who read it and
| touch a gentle cord of=tenderness for that
band Of women who are filling up life's cup
with loves sweet wine" They say: 1--WE
meet at the home Of a member In the Win.
ter. for the hail is so cold. We always fur.
nish dinner, and veterans all come and par.
take OF 1t with us. On The regular meeting
day Of Feb. 2, just as dinner was ready tc
| be served, we celebrated a wedding Com
rade Il. X. Boynton, Of Co. NJ. 18th ". y
Cav, aged IL. was married to Mary Il. Hodge
aged IL by Rev. ]. f. Crane. 103d Ohio. m
the presence Of the Post and Corps, two OF
the comrades and their wives acting as best
men and maids. The ceremony ended. din
ner was partaken Of with relish"
Kalamazoo Corps added % new members
70 the roster last year, and added comfort
TO many homes by their relief work boz
containing supplies valued at S27 was Sent
by them TO Galveston. They do not save IN,
mowers FOR the dead, but scatter fragrant
blossoms along life's pathway Of all the vet
Grams of their section.
The Press Correspondent from Alma Corn:
Is u years of age, and sends four-page Ier
ter telling what good times the Corps mem
bers are having and how much good they are
doing. She writes "please excnse mistakes
put there are none TO excuse, and the writing
is as clear and leglbIe as a schoolgirls.
Hillsdale sends word of active work q,
their members for soldiers monument. Tn,
, fund is steadily growing, and handsom,
memorial is soon TO adorn the fine square
Corunna also contributes TO the minute,
or the Press Correspondent with CHEEKY en-
couraging reports Of the Corps From every
where come such enthusiastic letters we ar,
"swamped" with the nice things we oneh
TO say OF all. when we know we must '.boIl 1
down. "-CORNELIA S. PERRY, Press Cor
. RESPONDENT. lansing Mich