Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-02-24
A SMALL
AUDIENCE

Ine mass meeting Helu III tho fhtel
est of the Soldiers Monument took
place in the Opera House last night.
Although it carried with it some disap-
pointmeut as to the number of speak
ers, If not as to the sizs of the audi
ence, it yet developed high degree of
interest.
Col. Hitchcock, of Scranton, and
Thomas J. Semple, of Allegheny City,
were both detained at their homes b
Illness and the Committee had to rely
wholly upon local speakers. These by
the way never acquitted themselves
more creditably, proving wholly equal
to the emergency.
After a selection by the baud, Hon.
James Foster, James Scarlet, ESQ,
District Attorney Ralph Kisner, Faith.
er Jules Foin, John H. Goeser and
Major l. H. Seesholtz filed in before
the footlights and took seats upon the
stage.
Hon. James Foster made some open
ing remarks, explaining the object OF
the meeting. He gave history of the
movement to build a Soldiers Monu-
ment in Montour County dwelling up
on the hard struggle that has been en-
countered. He expressed deep regret
chat a larger audience was not present
to greet the speakers and that the
pastors of town as class had not seen
proper to accept the invitation sent
out to be present and help the cause
along by giving each short address.
The first speaker introduced " as Dis
trict Attorney Ralph Kisner, who
made ringing address along the line
of patriotism which started enthnsi-
astic applause.
Rev. Father Foin, rector of st. Hur-
bert's Catholic church, was next in
troduced. Father Foin soon impressed
the audience as an ardent patriot. He
reached an impressive climax when he
asked the audience to rise and produc-
ing a leaftlet read extracts from Wash
ineton's Farewell address delivered in
1895, which stood as keynote of all
in the line of civil duty and patriotism
that was advanced during the even
ing.
James Scarlet, ESQ, was Introduc-
ed as the next speaker. The popularity
of this orator was we'll attested by the
prolonged applause with which he was
greeted. His address was all that was
anticipated, in effect being an irresist-
ible appeal for assistance in erecting
suitable memorial to those who fell
in the great Civil War. He rose to a
thrilling climax as he dwett upon the
brilliant military record of little Mon
tour County, not only as related to the
Civil War, but also to the war with
Mexico. A Soldiers Monument, he
beautifully said, is not needed to honor
the memory of those who went out to
,ight their couEtry's battles it should
be built not to honor the dead, but to
honor the living, monument to the
sacrifices of a bloody warm honor of
the wife whose husband never return
ed-in honor of the children who kiss
ed their father for the last time. 1t is
needed to inspire the youth of our day
and to demonstrate that there is in
Montour County gratitude as well as
self sacrifice.
About O'Clock Rev. S. B. Evans,
pastor of St. Paul's NJ. E. church and
Hon. H. NJ. Hinokley entered the
Opera House and took their places on
the stage. Rev. Evans followed Mr..
Scarlet with a fine and practical sd-
dress, which was enthusiastically re-
ceived.
Mr.. Hinckley uext took the plat
form, speaking at considerable length.
Mr.. Hinckley is au enthusiastic speak
or and last night he was wholly in his
element. He soon had the audience
reused to the highest pitch of enthusi-
asm. He dwelt upon the need of pat
riotism at the present day, such as in
spired the soldiers of '6l, aptly illust-
rating by the remark that "no doubt
today many men shouted themselves
hoarse over tke memory of Washington
who yesterday were busy buying and
selling votes.''
| The last address of the evening was
delivered by Major 1. II. Seesholtz. of
Catawissa, who gave the audience some
points on building soldiers monu.
ments. Major Seesholtz was chairman n
of the Soldiers Monument Committee
| when the memorial to the soldiers of
! the Civil War was raised in Catawissa.
| According to his remarks the task OF
rearing a Soldiers Monument if right
ly taken hold of is not SO difficult a
one as might be imagined
| The Opera House was rendered for
the mass meeting free of cost. The
band, stoo, gave its services free. The
only ones who seemed to fall short of
| full appreciation of duty were the
citizens who failed to attend the meet
ing. The audience was a small one.
Nevertheless Mr.. Foster as Chairman
of the Monument Committee expressed
confidence that the monument would
| be erected. All those who wished to
| subscribe later we're requested to hand
their names to ]. ii. Goeser, Treasur-
er of the Monument Committee.
Will Likely Select Harrisburg.