The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-06-01
Seven Million boxes sold in past ~ months.

lessly faced the great enemy on many a
field of battle, but at last his cOmrade
has laid down his arms and surrendered.
The sad rites are over and he marches
home, the last of the boys in blue. He
spends his days in peace but his thoughts
run back to the sixties. In imagination
beat of drum, but alas the marble slab
alone remains to tell the story of those
bygone days. Once more he hears the
roll call, but it is from the other shore.
AS he tries to respond his spirit takes
flight and the last hero of the civil war
has left the shores of time. The whole
nation is startled by the announcement,
people are awakened as from dream.
Cities vie with each other in trying to
do honor to the sacred dust, flowers
and eulogies are in abundance, but all
too late for the eve to see or the ear
to hear 1t would have been better to
have given some of the flowers before
the eye had lost its luster 1t would
have been wiser to have said some of
the kind words while the ear could have
heard them. Such is the way of the
world. We neglect the living and eulo-
oise the dead The one should be done
and the other not left undone. The par
able is plain may we learn the lesson
ere the evening shadows fall. Enjoying
the privileges that are given to all who
take shelter beneath the stars and
stripes, we should never forget their
cost, their meaning, and their worth
The red represents the blood of brave
patriots, who so willingly gave theii
lives that America might in truth be
a land of free men and free women
The white represents purity of purpose
purity of character, and purity of con-
duct, of nation whose motto is the
golden rule of the new testament. The
field of blue represents that fraternity
of heaven in which all nations SHOULD
dwell together in peace. The stars rep
resent the several states. united under
one flag, and honored by all nations. Ii
was first unfurled in l776 at the siege
of Fort Schuyler, and has ever since
been held aloft by brave hands, and
loved by brave hearts. 1t means free
hands, free lips, self government and
the sovereignty of the individual. 1t
means universal education, light to ev-
cry mind. knowledge to every child. 1t
declares that the little school house shall
be the fortress of liberty. 1t means
that the ballot box as the source of au
thority must not be poisoned. The flag
is the emblem of the supreme will of 8
nations power. Beneath its folds the
weakest must be protected and the
strongest must obey. 1t shields alike the
loftiest mansion and the rudest hut. 1t
stands for the suffering of the past, and
prophesies the glory of the future. Like
the banner of heaven it is the child OF
storm and sun.
Flag of the heroes who left us their glory
Bourne through their battlefelds
thunder and storm;
Blazoned in song and illumed in story
Wave Ger us all who inherit thy
fame
Up with our banner bright
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain
to shore
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nations cry,
Union and Liberty, one cvermOre!
T One of the pretty features of last
evenings memorial services at the Welsh
church was the strcwing of flowers III
the aisles for the old soldiers to walk
on This act was performed by several
I L. oil Il