Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-10-09

| Washington in 1898 that certain
number of volunteers were wanted tC
uphold this country's honor and
tavenge that foul crime committed in
Havana harbor. we see young men
from Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Cor
nell and many other of our best
colleges responding to their country's
call In many cases these young men
were the sons of millionaires, who
could live in ease and luxury did they
choose but they enlisted because
they were patriots.
| Place Of Women in War.
"But have spoken only of our
soldiers. What OF the deeds of our
noble women for patriotism?
"If you were in England today and
asked d British soldier, who of all
England'S noble women was the most
revered, he would tell you Florence
| Nightingale. 1t was she who first left
home and friends and followed her
country's soldiers through the war of
the Crimea, who sought them out on
| the battle field in sunshine and in dark
ness, who by her untiring efforts saw
that the medical supplies were at hand,
and used the best that the clcum-
stances would permit, and how nobly
this work was taken up during our
civil war, the hundreds and hundreds
of Gods nOblest creation responding
to every call, leaving every comfort,
thinking only of the wounded and
suffering. In our late war with
Spain, before the plans for tie mo-
belization of our troops at any particu-
lar point had been determined the
Surgeon Generals office and the office
of the society of the Red Cross at
Washington under the leadership of
Clara Barton, that noble woman who
has given her whole life'S work to re-
lieve the suffering were flooded with
applications seeking appointments as
nurses in the fields.
Mr.. Upham showed from the reports
of the commissioner of pensions how
well the government had repaid the
soldiers for their loyalty and devotion.
In every state, said Mr.. Upham,
both the living and dead soldier was
honored for the patriotism he had
shown. A graphic description of the
National cemetery at Shiloh was given
to illustrate loyalty of the soldier to
his country. Mr.. Urham continues:
War Not Necessary to Patriotism.
''It is not, however. necessary that
we must have war to show our patrio-
tiSm. The ladies of Grand Rapids in
taking up the matter of equiping aud
improving the educational features
of this city exhibited noble degree
of patriotism and you can show an
equal degree by your appreciation of
their work and improving these oppor-
tunities.~ The young man or young
woman with a good education who
goes out into the world seeking recog-
milton has an advantage over those
with less education the value of which
can not be measured.
81 have watched the erection of
this building from the time the
ground was first broken until it's COM
pletion aud | have often thought how
different is the modern school build
ing of today. as compared with what
many of our prominent men had in
the past"
Mr.. Upham drew picture of the
struggles and success of the late
President Garfield.
''It is for you to show by your work
whether the seed sown here in this
city by the erection of this magnifi-
cent building has been soWn in poor
or rich soil; no one else can do this
for you.
"You may acquire millions in
wealth and it may be swept away in a
day, but the knowledge stored in
your brain ready to use at will is
something that can not be taken from
you.
''These are golden days, these are
days that come to you but once in a
life time. tomorrow will soon be yes
terday, next year will soon have passed
away; by making the most of your
opportunities now, later in life wher
you become men and women and look
back upon your school days they will
shine out in your lives as bright, yes
brighter than the brightest jewel ir
crown of any king, prince or poten
tate"