The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-31
aud iiaeer. With Miss Hermenia

aud iiager. With Miss Hermenia
iiieisen at the piano.
4 Prof. G.. D.. Hardy recited that in
spring speech. "Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address and his presentation of 1t
made it all the more impressive.
The orator of the afternoon was
George A. Silsby, of this city, and he
digrcssed somewhat from the usual
speeches in the more serious vein
II gave some of the brighter scenes
OF the war of the rebellion. In OPP
ening he referred to a trip that he
took last March in company with
several gentlemen over the battle
fields in Virginia, spending the en-
Tire afternoon in reviewing those
spots. Following this he related many
OF the amusing incidents that occur
red during the wal to show that all
was not of the serious character gen
orally supposed to go along with
those days. Mr.. Silsby paid the fol-
lowing tribute to the Grand Army of
the Republic and to it's auxiliary,
Woman's Relief Corps:
After the War of the Rebellion had
ended the Grand Army CT the Re-
public was organized. Its .plime
object were to inculcate maternity,
charity and loyalty. This grand
organization has probably done more
to EDUCATE the rising generation in
patriotism and love OF country than
any uti.er and as a rule, its members
are Jaw abiding n honorable citi-
zens. These old comrades who
successfully prosecuted d %stupendous
war for the preservation of tile
union. realized the great Importance
OF Stimulating love of country and
1altllfpl observance OF its laws, that
the vlc'ory gained at such a priceless
cost should ensure its p%erpetuity.
Some years later the Woman's
Relief Corp was organized as an
auxiliary TO the G.. A. r., ana the
record it has made places it 10 the
vety forefront as an institution for
carrying out the principles So dear to
the Grand Army.
thousands upon thousands Of loyal
women have banded themselves to-
getber pledged to labor z~ealously for
the Old soldiers, their widows and
orphans and other needy ones, and
with a devotion uneXcelled in the
annals OF history and a loyalty chat
commands the highest praise, they
have nobly performed their part.
LOYAL to U government and its
institutions themselves, they have
constantly preached the doctrine of
freedom and right. They have caused
our flag to float from thousands of
school houses. They have tenderly
nursed the sick, smootlled the pillow
OF the dying and given cheer to all.
They have saved many a post from
dissolution and in Ways too numerous
to mention have proved their loyalty
and devotion. AS a logical sequence,
the Grand Army of the Republic
will, in a few brief years have run
its course. For only honorahly dis
charged soldiers and sailors of the
War of the Rebellion can join it's
ranks and when the last Of these has
anwsered the last roll call. the Grand
Army of the Republic will be only
a memory and the record it has made
will be its just obituary.
But we believe the Woman's Relief
Corps will grow with the years; that
the mantle of the Grand Army will
fall upon its shoulders and that the
work Of patriotic instruction will 90
on with a new IMPULSE and that the
work they will do will ensure the
perpetuity and stability of the Re-
pnbllc. What a noble mission; and
what noble women who thus make
all needed sacrifices to achieve such
glorious ends. This is in fact and
deed unadu]terated patriotism"
Mr.. Silspy appropriately closed his
address with a vivid portugal of the
magnificent charge of 10000 rebels
on our left wing at Gettysburg on
the last day of that great battle and
of their almost complete destruction
at the hand of the union Lroo ps
mentioning the fact that in the three
days engagement there, nearly 60, 900
soldiers were among the dead, wound
ed and missing-a number appalling
to contemplate.
The double quartet sang a selec-
tion and the audience Joined in the
singing Of America" With the pro-
nouncing of the benediction the ex-
ercises came to a close.
Du Maurier and the Fenian Leader.