The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-06-07
der full expression to the meaning of

der full expression to the meaning of
this day.
Speaking as am to two audiences
the men of today: speaking as ! am,
of the conditions then and the condi-
tons now-if | succeed in drawing the
be pictures of contrast. Then it was
war, anxiety and fear; now 1t is
peace and joy and confident hope.
tain duration sudden death upon the
field of battle or lingering imprson
ment amid the horrors of Andersonville
and Libby. Now our youth are en-
gagged, in useful and peaceful pursuits,
attending our schools and colleges with
their pleasant vacations spent at home.
sat but recently in public hall and
sturdy son who was displaying his ac-
complishments before an appreciative
audience. Then L looked up and saw
hanging upon the wall before me the
picture of the fallen bugler. You may
imagine the incident as having happen
doubt happy visions of reunions with
dear ones at home had often filled his
mind But alas! in an accidental Skin
I mlsh one day bullet pierced that bug
ierS breast is comraeds found him
in farmers field and over his dead
body, stood, shivering in the biting, win
try blast his faithful steed. the riders
rein. No more would his bugle sound
1t lay beside him. His limbs were cold
and stiff and his youthful couptenance,
was ashy pale and grim. And | said
to myself: the pity of it! What
curse is war! What a blessing. peace!
Why could not this boy have been
spared to cheer a mothers heart and
arouse mothers hope? Because his
life was needed to save his land-and
ne gave it: Whence spring and around
this day? Answer We whose brothers.
fathers or husbands sleep in Arlington
or bivouac elsewhere in soldiers graves
tribute of love and affection upon this
DuglerS unknown grave today. And a
like tribute l mean to pay to the mem
t 9ry ~, OF every Union sailor or soldier
| is instinct with life. 1t throbs with
the pulsating heart beats of the nation
they heiped to save and from whose
sign OF legalized traffic in human souls.
1t is one thing to be a football hero;
It is quite a different thing, to do what
the spirited paintings of scenes from
the Civil war which have been hung in
our new, state. capitol will never be
superseded by frieses or frescos repre-
Sentlng scrambles on NOrthrop Field
The artist may linn on canvass a
beautiful. picture-it will never excel the
glory of the sunset or the sunrise.
The poet may, write a perfect epic--it
will be but a faint reflection of the hui
man struggles it seeks to depict The
sculptor may carve in flawless marble
! it is. beyond his power to breathe into
his handiwork the spirit of life The
patriot and the hero alone can do that
They who freely give, or offer to give.
their lives that their nation may live
will themselves live forever in the
hearts of grateful people. Their
names are enrolled on the parchment
of time. Many of them are dead But
we recall them today, place our tokens
| of love and affection on their graves
and we cheer their living comrades. in
order to ennoble ourselves and implant
in the minds of the young the sacred
| and tender emotions that cluster around
this occasion The son who has in
herited an unsullied family name and
an abundance of riches would be un-
grateful indeed if he should fail to do
honor to the memory of his father
The generation that has become the
| legatee of such an inheritance as we,
rich alike in a glorious past and the
ability to enjoy present blessings, it is
hard to believe will ever forget it's
benefactors--its heroes and it's patriots.
Such I conceive to be the meaning
| of this day. "i"