The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-18
Some Thoughts Engendered by an In
cident at the Recent Confederate
Reunion Held at Dallas, Tex.
HARRY J. MILLIGAN'S SPEECH
RESPONDED TO BY
PRESIDENT w. p. KANE.
Address by Gen. waIIace-Poems by
Riley and HowIand-Descriptio
and Roster of the Memorial.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind, June 1.-THE
gnarled old elms that have sentineled the
beautiful campus of Wabash College fo-
time out Of the memory OF living alumni
have been in their day silent attendants at
college functions and celebrations that were
by no means Insignificant; but throughout
the seventy years they have stood watch
and ward they never lent their dignity
and beauty to enhance an occasion more
notable in every way than that of to-day
the presentation to Wabash College by its
alumni of a bronze tablet, bearing the
names of the colleges roll OF honor. the
names OF the student volunteers who left
the college halls to hght for their country
in the civil war
Forty years ago, in June OF 1862, the old
trees witnessed sight without a parallel
in college history. Very near to them. in old
Center Hall, which stood then as IL stands
to-day, twelve young men, buoyant with
the freshness of youth and inspired by am
btion, marched on the stage of the hall
and were graduated with honor from the
college. Hardly had the last words of Presi-
dent Tuttle died away than the band of
twelve, fired by a patriotism that knew no
restraint, took up another march-out OF
the college hall. through the winding paths
of the campus, under the old trees that
bowed above them, to the Office of the
United States recruiting sergeant On his
enlistment sheets every man of them-ia-
writing as large as that in which John Han
cock wrote his name on a certain memoir
able occasion, took service in the army.
That incident is the one, perhaps, to which
wabash College points with the most pride
1t was not alone the class of 50 that gave
q 70 fH
arms. The class OF '61, the class of 'ss and
even the class of "a sent forth brave boys
to bring honor and glory TO their alma
mater. Nor was it to the wartime classes
alone that Wabash paid honor to-day.
There were graduates OF years before the
war who went into the struggle with the
same patriotic exaltation as the younger
boys. 1t was to all Of these. roll that
numbers. living and dead. $40, that the
magnificent bronze tablet was dedicated to-
day, and 10 whom the alumni and friends of
the college from far and wide over the State
paid reverent honor.
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS.
The college campus was never mora hs.r-
tful than ii was during the perfect June
day. The green dales and hills that mark
its irregular surface. the grand old trees.
the paths winding carelessly here and there
the low red buildings all smiled a welcome
to the visitors who were there to help the
college honor its soldier boys or these
visitors, although no attempt was made TO
estimate their number, II is safe TO say that
at least 5000 attended the many observ-
ances of the day and were present al the
principal exercises, the dedication cere-
monies of the afternoon. There were pres
ent, roaming over the campus with YOUTH
full enthusiasm, bent old men who had not
paid visit to Charlottesville since they
were graduated two or three generations
ago. Some of them had been back but
once or twice since they enlisted from the
college halls. There were scores OF younger
men, the fathers and uncles OF boys in COL
lege now, business men, themselves once
students Of Wabash, who took the oppor-
tunity of playing that they We're college
boys again. Not infrequently little knots
of men whose hair was beginning 10 be
sprinkled with gray would get off in a cor
ner Of the campus and try TO recall the
old yells OF their fraternity days-yells that
had caused the good people of Crawfords-
vile to start in horror from their beds in
those days when yells had no standing
Many of these older people had their chill
dren with them. and TO the youngsters they
would point out just where this and that
harmu-scarum incident occurred that had
puzzled the faculty and had gained them
the rewards OF temporary fame.
or young people in the crowd there was
no lack. The young women from the town.
with their gay summer dresses and their
loyalty to Wabash flaming forth I'm red
streamers, the under graduates with their
class and fraternity caps marked by Greek
letters, class figures and skulls and cross
bones The members OF the senior class
gowned and capped in solemn black, were
figures of note on the day Immediately pre-
ceding commencement day. With zest OF
enjoyment that is peculiar 10 college cele-
brations the crowds attended the dedica-
ton of the senior class memorial In the
morning, the noon commencement banquet
and the dedication exercises In the after
noon IL was particularly 10 be remarked
that while all were gay, light hearted and
exhflarated by the freshness OF the day.
vet all entered thoroughly into the spirit
/ OF the occasion. During the solemn oedica-
ton OF the afternoon the most reverent
heed was paid 10 the words OF the speakers
I and the ceremony that followed.
The great feature OF the day-the presen-
tation of the tablet by the alumni commit
tee composed OF Harry J. Milligan OF In
dianapolis. Gen. John G. Black Of Chicago.
John i. Cleland OF Indianapolis. and others
/ began at 2:3O o'clock IN the afternoon. In
front OF the entrance TO old Center Hall
hundreds OF chairs had been placed, which
were filled an hour before President Kane
called the assemblage 10 order The scene
resembled a great amphitheater, with the
trees as the encircling walls. the entrance
10 the hall the stage. and the blue sky the
roof Hundreds who could not nnd seats
/ reclined on the grass or stood during the
ceremony just back OF the chairs The
front OF the hall was hung with American
I flags and over the right wing OF the build
ing just above the model OF the bronze tab
let the memorial flag Of the senior futtercd
+ In the pleasant breeze.
GRAND ARMY VETERANS.
Just before half past ociock there came
the rolling beat OF drums and ae inspiring
music OF ffes up the long path from Wa
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