Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-26
War Meetings.

DeItoa that deserves ss,clal mention
was TIL holding of war meetings in
various nearby schoclhouses. Our
old csptain, Abraham Vaaderpoel,
was abe to think well when on his
legs. Borrower, he was Of an, fmpul-
sive na-ure and spoke with both elo-
quence and vigor, and it is no, won
der thit when the distracted state
of his country became his thene;
when BE saw the need Of good men
and true to defend the old flag; when
he found his own company, With
whom he desired soon to march awaN
to war st!H lacking for men, it is no
wonder. ! say, that our sturdy old
captain was moved to vigorous elo-
quence in urging young men to enlist.
1t care about that now and then
notice was sent to the people of this
or that school district that on a GER
tain evening a war meeting would be
held thre; that an address would
be given by Captain Vanderpoel, and
that there would be on the program
an abundance Of lively martial mu
sic. Wlen the appointed evening
came, and supper was over, teams
enough Tor the crowd would be in
waiting for us. The first wagon was
for the officers, musicians and the
fag-bearar, and the others for the
rest of US. The procession would
move out from the village with colors
flying, martial music, and cheer after
cheer from everybody. Oh, those
were the days of enthusiasm! Above
the din and racket we were sure to
hear fttAnry Marston's ''Hurrah for
our ride and Ed Benefits Who
wouldn't sell his old clos and go for
a soldier! Fourth of July every day
in the year"
A lively ride that would be, and
long before we got there the good
people Rt the sc'roOlhoIse knew we
were owning IS VIC got down from
the wagons the crowd would give us
three Cheers; and then. through sol
dierly courtesy, we paid them back
with ineeres, This hearty inter
change. II greetings would put US and
the folb there on free and easy
terms all round.
There must of course be some mu-
sic at mce; and so while the te,,-.4s
were being cared for the woods
around the schoolhouse would be
made tc ring with The Girl I Left
Behind ie and Yankee Doodle. Then
after gong in there must be more
musics nd, while the shrill notes
from Rt5e Green's fife would almost
pierce holes through the window
panes. 7rume HurIbut, seeing the adj
miring .aze of all the country maid
ems cenered upon him, would fairly
amaze tem by his deXterity with his
drumstiks; and Jim Solomon, might
lily wrolght up by the spirit of patri-
otism within him, would 50 belabor
his old BRASS drum that bits of plas-
ter VOID drop from the ceiling.
After #tev ceased playing they got,
of coura, what they deserFed-three
cheers; and, thus encouraged, they
tuned II again with new energy, and
did not stop until so out Of breath
that. tbugh another three cheers
for the band" threatened destruction
to the oof above them, they were
obliged 10 sit down and rest,
We 1ho were there can never
quite frget how the spirited music
of the fe the rhythmic beat of the
snare rum in time with the deep,
heavy hrob of the big bass drum,
not on rang in oar ears but set our
responive hearts 50 to beating and
throbblg in harmony with the war
music hat we almost lonSed for the
accornaniment Of volIeys of mus
Retry nd booming Of cannon; and
then MEN in the very height of
our efhusiasm we swung our caps.
gave~t hree times three and tiger"
for tS old flag, What wonder that We
wersS oud 10 stand as the sworn de-
fende. OF Old Glory
TIteenect of all this music and en-
thusiam was to put the audience
intotA best possible condition for
the rigging address of The old cap
tain e next thing on the program
Web Is saw to it that the strong ar
guInels Of the speaker, and his stir
ring htory, were duly applauded;
and s. the doing Of this the rest of
theAsalience heartily WED with us.
By Il time the captain cached his
per6r,bn there was q mighty enthu-
siasm IN that house, and again it
fourIdvent in three 1usty cheers.
Then ere was a c5Ii for more music
and ffer and drummers, now
restd would respond with fresh
vico1 Then more cheers.
At g point in the program the
eapt# would give 4 hearty invita-
ton 1.-The Young men in the audi
ence Join the com1any, but this
&as 20 resul, in sudden silence.
for Yle the yourg fellows present
were tie ready to exercise their
lungs8 the good cause actual en-
listing was a more serious matter.
The aain would renew his invita-
tons It'll like those Of tae earnest
lreaet exhorting Mal and women
to enl in he army Of the Lord
they lame earnest appeals to come
forwaiand give themselves to the
enrvfAf their cot1r47v
Durf this part Of the program the