Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14
TRIBUTE TO EMASCIPATOR
Council Bluffs Does Honor TO Memoir
Of Abraham Lincoln.
CROWD TAXES CAPACITY OF HOUSE
General Dodge and several Others
Give Personal "Reminiscences Of
Lf.ceIs, Who Once spoke
on site ~ BufidfnE.

Council Bluffs paid tribute te the men-
CRY Of Abraham Lancoln. the great emsnui-
pstor. with public exercises al the opera
house Friday night. which attracted a gath
ering OF patriotic cifizsns VINO filled the
fhestsr 20 its cspacity. even the seats in
the gallery beinE occupied.
The exercises were announced 10 COM
mence NJ 61b O'Clock. buf an hour before
time the crowd began TO assemble and late
oomers had 20 be satisfied with standing
room. The decorations q the parquet and
stage were elsborsts and wholly argro-
pirate 10 the occasion. ConHpicuously hang
ing from the center Of the proscenium arch
was an Immense shield composed Of red-
white and blue flowers ip the center Of
which was a large picture Of the msrtrred
president in whose memory the exercises
were TO he held. Tan and stately palms
were hanked in good effect about the stage.
while big bouquets o. roses and cut Tow
ers adorned the speakers table and other
~puntaEe points on the left Of the stage
was pitched an army tent with the stars
and stripes floating from . pole. while on
the right was an old log cabin with a
! rail fence In front
occupsine seats on the stage IN ADDITION
10 the officers and speakers Of the even
lng were members Of the old soldiers or
ganiEations. Rno several officers and mem
hers o. the local chapter Of the Daughters
z the American Revolution. whose dresses
made 9 pleasing contrast &c the more
somber hue Of the garments Of she men.
The hiE school cadets acted az ushers.
nile the Dodge Light Guards formed a
guard q honor At the entrance.
where Ltneeaa once spoke
Hon. John M. Calvin. president Of the
PottswHr4a1nie County Historical society.
fpreEided over the exercises and in opening
made q short address. in which he referred
10 the fact that AbrHham Bincoin had
fifty years before addressed an audience
In The ola Union han which at .thst time
stood on the site OF the present opera
house IN which the exercises OF last night
were held.
Some disappointment was occasioned
when II was announced that Rev Father
p. n McGorern Of omAhA would be unable
TO deliver his address on -LiBooln. the
EnancipatOr and Preserver Of the Union"
Father McGcvern WIS suffering from =
severe sore throat sno for this reason had
to forewp the address Hs occupied q seat
on the stage ana in a few words expressed
his regrets to the audience at being unable
TO carry cut his part on the program
Following the pron0uncing pf the invoca-
ton by Rev. Marcus p. Mcclure Of the
First Presbyterian church a chorus Of high
school students sang Dixie" with pleasing
effect. Then came what was considered
! by many ths feature Of the entire pro-
gram. me recital by Miss Fanny DISTRICT
OF Mary Raymond shipmAn Andrews gem
The Perfect Tribute" II was announced
az a reading. but Mjss Dietrich dispensed
with book or notes and nscite6 the beautiful
story from memory. She was letter perfsct
and when she closed she was CRESTED with
enthusiasts applause from the immense
Hudience. Miss Detrich has appeared be-
fore many audiences In Council Bluffk. but
II 10 doubtful II she ever won the hearts
q her listeners as she did last night in
~reciting TINS bskutiful little story Of
Abraham Linooln which has become q
classic.
Many Personal "Reminiscences
Musical features Of the program were the
singing by Mrs. l. r Hypes Of The Star
spEngled Banner. accompanied by A. A
cOVAlt on the cOrne1. and OF thu Battle
Hymn Of the Republic by Mrs. A. A
C0ralt Mrs. Charles NJ Earl read q num-
; Der Of personal "reminiscences Of LAnooln
, Of Council Bluffs people. including Mrs.
w. n N Pussy. Mrs. J. r. AtkinA H II
, Field. Rev. j. N Williams. Mrs. H o.
witt. r. p Officer. Mr. r. p Snow. Mrs
c A Tfbbits. Colonel w. p. Baker. Major
. sPers. Captain Hight. Colonel Beebes. G..
7. Phelps, Captain G n. Bailey, Colonel
e J. Abbott and T.. Z Gavin
General GrenviIls NJ DOdge opened his
talk on Personal "Reminiscences Of Abra-
nam Lincoln" by reading a brief biography
0f the great emRncips&or written by Mr..
: LAnooln himself II the request Of q friend.
General DOdge'E address was an informal
recital q many Interesting aneod0tes and
"Reminiscences q the great preadent and
he mace no effort Al an Grafton.
The exercises were brought 70 a close
with The singing of "Americs" by the audi
anoe. Al intervals during the progrAm
csVslts orchestra played a number OF pa
triodc selections.
, Although yesterday was q legal holiday
II was only observed as such in Council
Bluffs by the banks and al the city hal
and county uourr house. For the first time
IN the history Of The city the saloons were
r closed on this. the new holiday. In some
q the schools exercises appropriate TO the
r duy were held. but next Friday has been
. set for having patriotic exercises IN an the
z school buildings in joint
o. Lincoin's and WsshingtoH-E birthdays.
2 At he hieh school in fhe morning Prof
Brindlsy gave . short tak on Lincoln and
5 the cadets lined up IN front OF the building
to fire a salute. bnt were unable 10 carry
z 0ut this part OF the program owing 70 the
lack 0f ammunition