The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-05-20
People Of Crescent CITY give
Old Soldiers 0 HelTIy
Welcome
WEDNESDAYS PICNIC N PRETTY Or
ANGE GROVE TOWN BIG SUCCESS
Public Meeting IN the Auditorium.
Picnic Dinner in the Grove.
Base Ball Game. Dancing.

ne annual picnic aLd rNcuEs4uL
given by the Veteran Association q.
. the Blue and Gray TO Crescent City
last Wednesday was one Of the best
attended and most enjoyable affair
ever given by the association.
[ Promptly at ; o'clock in the morn
I ing the steamer Crescent pulled out
from Adams wharf with a jolly
crowd OF Palatkau's bent on a good
time. 1t was raining some at the
time but that didn't prevent some
% people. a good share of whom
We're ladies, from taking chances Oh
a good day. They won. Il rained a
great deal of the time up the river
and when the steamer reached the
lake the downpour was heavy: but
by the time Crescent City was reach
ed the sun came out and the pros
. poets Of a happy day frightened and
stayed bright 20 the finish. The bal
ance of the day was ideal.
At the Crescent City wharf the
veterans were met by DR.. G. F.
Sprague and the reception commit
tee. Headed by the Palatka Citizens
Band the veterans, followed by the
excursioaists. were conducted to the
auditorium.
The people Of Crescent City turned
out in crowds, and many old vete-
rams, as well as the people from all
parts Of the peninsula. who came in
by private conveyance, helped to
swell the crowd, 80 that when the
meeting was called to order the big
hall was filed to the doors.
+ Mayor Sprague called the veterans
to order and made a short address of
welcome. the language Of which
could not BE- mi>iuterpreted-the gem
uinc ring Of hospitality was in it.
DR.. Cyrus. eX-commander Of the as
sociation. responded in q happy vein
for the veterans.
! Judge Nj. Coke Of Palatka was
then introduced and delivered the
following eloquent Grafton:
Ladies and G-utleman-Comrades,:
II time. and place, and occasion
could inspire oratory it does seem
that the conditions are present to-
day to draw eloqueuce from one who
has never been trained to public
speaking.
The place. Crescent City, surround
Il on al! sides by great shining
lakes. which are bordered by tower
Ing expresses and spreading magno-
las; shaded within by orange trees
and live oaks, and embellished with
the Earest Of flowers. there is. per-
maps. not a spot in the whole Of sun
ny Florida that Pretends to rival in
beauty your lovely little city.
The time-spring. when nature,
Yielding 10 the genial warmth Of
semi-rEopicaI sunshine. is putting on
her coat Of vernal green; when each
breeze IS it comes from the nearby
Atlantic Is laden with the rich fra
GRANGE gathered from wild flowers
and blossoms that grow 30 protuSely
in the intervening country.
The Cccasiou-rhe annual re-
union OF campfire Of the Veteran As
ISOLATION Of the Blue and the Gray.
FoIly-Ihree years ago. comrades, We
wegs Young men in the pride and
vigor Of carly manhood. Our coun-
rry was then divived into two politi-
cal factionS-.he north and the south
whose differences could only Be
settled by a resort 10 civil war.
WIKI equal patriotism We threw
ourselves into the contest as a Blue,
OF q Gray according 10 the section
in which We lived. For four years
We faced each other in deadly,
though honorable. combat During
that fOuE years We marched and
contaminated; We stood in open
fields in defiant columns and poured
volley after volley Of musketry into
eacn Others ranks; We CHARGED right
up 10 the very muzEles Of opposing
cannon with s courage and derermi-
nation peculiar 10 American soldiery.
From the fields Of GETTYSBURG, Rich
u0ud. CLiCkamauga, Missionary
Ridge ami = hundred others, deeds
u daring and bravery Of both the
Blue aud the Gray have found
places in the history Of cur common
country that ale no longer claimed
exclusively by their respective sec
rions. These deeds will live forever
il the annals Of the nation as exam
pies Of the valor that distinguishes
the American soldier.
In reviewing the history Of that
stirring time, the picture would not
be complete if the part taken by our
mothers. sisters, wives and sweet
hearts should be left cut. II histO-
rianS and eulogists have forgotten
or neglected % do justice 10 the he
roie deeds and patriotic interest our
women manifested IN the great war
between the states, this organization
Of the Blue and the Gray will gladly
place them side by side with the
services Of the greatest generals and
soldiers who won fame in that try
ing and history making period Of our
existence. I Sc among the ladies