The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-10-26
w. II. e. Entertain the Old
Soldiers Last Eve.
SERVED THEM A NICE SUPPER
This Was Followed BY An Excellent
Program Which Included Singing;
Music and Addresses.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
The most impressive part of the W. r.
&c. convention was the campfire held
last evening in the Odd Fellows hall.
It was preceded by bounteous supper
served to all the home members of the
w. r. G.. and G.. A. y. as well as to the
visitors. If talking is silver there was
enough of that precious metal to supply
the mint for some time. Every moment
was proftably spent by the grey haired
boys recounting the old story that al
WAYS has in it new. details Of surpass-
ing interest.
The assembly was presided over by
Mrs. NJ d. Fritz, chairman of the enter.
tainment committee. The meeting was
called to order about eight o'clock and
very interesting and highly appreciated
program was rendered.
The first number was a reading from
collection of kindergarten stories, by
Miss Bessie Dodds. The humor and
pathos are so intermixed in this selec-
ton that one laughs at the absurdity
while he pities the poverty of the chill
dren. 1t uses some dialect which was
exceedingly well handled and Miss Dodds
has command of fine amount of vocal
power.
Then followed vocal solo by Miss
Josephine Menth, titled "Over the Chin
ney the Night Wind Sang" This was
encored which shows that it was en-
jcyed One man said, There, I can un-
erstand what she says when she sings
and l call that good"
Commander Longfellow gave the prin-
cipal talk of the evening. He is gen.
tleman of medium size, fine physique
and pleasing appearance. From what he
says you might get the impression that
he is about seventy, but judging from
appearance he cannot be over fifty.
Among other things he said, "The G.
A. R. now numbers only 5000 whom,
you will find still doing business at
the old stand as they will be doing for
score of years to come" He thanked
Blue Earth county for it's attendance at
the national encampment and for the aid
they gave, showing hospitality as Min
resotans. The encampment at Mime
apolis is very memorable one. Mime
sofa has made record throughout the
nation for her splendid welcoming of the
old soldiers.
One old soldier who has given to his
country both lower limbs said that he
had attended encampments every year
for thirty years, and the one last sum-
mer was the best one of all.
MIR. Longfellow continued, telling us
that the G. A. r. is not as popular ev-
erywhere as it is in Minnesota.
A short time ago he was holding a pa
triotic meeting in another state and at
the close of it young lady came up
to him and said: 'Why don't you old
soldiers stop talking about what you did
forty years ago, and come down to pres
ent day life?" "She disappeared in the
crowd before I caught my BREATH" said
Mr.. Longfellow,' and perhaps it's well
for us both that she did"
Then he told us of the new building
being erected at Minneapolis for an Old
Soldiers Home The Woman's Relief
Corps of Minnesota are furnishing this
building He is SO proud of this build
ing that he shows it to all his friends
from other states Minnesota appreci-
ated the work of '6l.
When the army was disbanded in '65,
there was talk of its being dangerous to
the society OF the northwest; but it was
soon noticed that there was little disor-
der among the soldiers. They stand for
law enforcement. They fought and bled
for it for four years. Would they dis
regard it after this sacrifceg In these
forty-four years, there has been only
one convict among the old soldiers of
Minnesota, and he is not convicted be-
cause his guilt is very doubtful.
II am glad 1 am an old soldier" said
Mr.. Longfellow, 81 am proud of them.
am proud of you ladies of the w. R.
c. Before you organized twenty three
years ago, you were doing the same
noble work you are now. You attended
the sick, you earned the bread and you
strewed flowers on the graves of your
lost ones.
'The Grand Army saved the homes of
the American people, and they are the
bulwark of our nation The town, coun-
ty, state and national government rest
upon the home We saved the govern
ment, therefore we saved the homes.
We are sometimes called selfish. Is
that a selfish motive?
I'VE have prospered and prospered
with honor, since slavery was abolished.
'In the first three verses of the eioh-
teenth chapter of Isaih and somewhere
in Matthew, and on our national seal,