The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-08

"WOODMEN OF THE WORLD
"Unveil Monuments Over the Graves
of Departed Brothers.
Sunday afternoon Broad Ak camp,
Woodmen of the World. assisted by the
members of Sand Beach and Maple
camps, held a grand ceremony at the
Spraguc street cemetery. The function
was the unvciling of two monuments to
deceased members of the camp and the
exercises were of the most interesting
character
The joint camps of the Woodmcn,
headed by Rettigs hand, marched from
the hall of Maple camp to the cemetery,
number of ladies of the Woodmcn's
circle being in line in carriages.
Arriving at the graves of the de-
ceased severeigns sweet music was rem
dered by a quartette Of choppers, led by
Brother Parker of Broad Ak camp.
Sovereign J. Henry Shepherd then de
livered a feeling oration over the graves
cf the deceased. in which he paid high
tribute to the memory of the departed
and the beautiful custom of the Wood
men of perpetuating the memory of the
departed members by the erection of
beautiful monuments.
The ceremonies were brought to an
end by a selection Of vocal music by the
Woodmen quartette and the camps
marched back to their meeting rooms.
As you will note it is peculiar and it
is not what a polished French gentle
man would style "chcf d'eu7vc"-in
English, rare bit. It may be said that
this report of an event which was in
terestlng to hundreds and thousands of
people in Shreveport is misleading and
incorrect. Two monuments were TN
veiled, but there is no mention of the
names of the deceased to whom these
tokens of love in marble were dedicated.
The report should have stated that the
monuments were erected to the memory
Of WV. Caperton and Jos. Laenger.
The ladies Of the Woodrnen circle
were not "in line in carriages" but were
in waiting at the cemetery
There was no fleeing oration over
the graves of the deceased" whose
graves are almost at the extreme end
of the cemetery, but the orat IN of Sow
ereign J. Henry Shepherd followed the
solemn rites at each grave, at which the
seXtette led by Brother L. Parker dis
coursed in touching feeling strain sa-
cred selections, and with this splendid
oration from a gallery platform there
was closed an event which impressed
deeply the vast throng of ladies and
gentlemen (not Woodmen). an event
which merlted, in public print, more
than passing notice nearly two days
after its occurrence. Respectfully.
BROADAXE.
April 7.
1t is evident that "Broadaxe" has no
appreciation of the report, and we may
sexplain. There was no reporter any
where about, and having heard of the
unveiling ceremony it was natural that
something be said even thirty-six hours
after the happening. 1t was an off hand
effort" such as are frequently worked
off, from the sanctum sanctorum. "Off-
hand efforts" are all right if guaged ac-
curately, but a mess when they are fired
without regard to facts.
We may explain with story Some
years ago when the editor of the Cau-
casian was local news grinder for the
Times, there should have been held on
fixed date, in the Eighth Ward of
Caddo parish, a big Democratic rally at
which several of the big oratorial guns
were programmed. for speeches. but ow
ing to sudden and heavy local storm,
wind thunder, lightning and rain which
continued until dark, there was no rally.
The news grinder could not attend, and
the opposition man had been left. The
then Times grinder having determined
on doing up the opposition sheet, sat
himself down on handy half barrel
and detailed in his most fellcltOus style
the rally of the day. with excerpts from
the orators ''accentuated" and 'punctu-
ated'' in appropriate places with vocif-
erous applause, etc, etc. 1t was after
midnight when the gem, with haring
headlines and a rooster, was on the
press, and with feeling of ''exultant
pride the grinder stepped around the
corner to be refreshed, when to his
amazement and good fortune he met
several of the orators who were busy
cleaning mud humps from their throats
- stimulating" When the grinder real
lied the all-powerful truth he did not
tarry for refreshments, and almost in a
n - A - E@Gsa