The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-14
APpOMATTOx
Can't. James Ham Post Gel
ebrates Lees Surrender
A PLEASANT ANNUAL REUNION
The Veterans Renew Their Youth in
Dreamland - Sheridan's Ride
from Winchester Witnessed
by a Participant-The
Banquet at Voigt's.

On Friday night last, April 9th,
the forty-fourth anniversary of the
surrender of General Lee, and the
practical close of the great civil war
was celebrated by Capt. James Ham
Post, G. A. R., as has been the Gus
tom of that organization for many
years past. Commander Henry Will
son is entitled to special praise for
his successful efforts to make the
occasion memorable one. The
programme included the attendance
of the entire Post and guests at the
"Dreamland," where, by special ar
rangement, the stirring moving
picture war scenes of Sheridan's
Ride, the surrender of Lee, the an
nouncement of the end of the con-
fiict, and other views of vivid in
terest to the veterans were displayed
to the enthusiastic approval of the
old soldiers. The East Honesdale
Fife and Drum Corps, a most efficient
organization, was present in the
theatre, and, when the scenes sug-
gested, added to the realistic char
acter of the occasion by their STIR
ring rendering of patriotic music.
After the moving picture entertain
ment the party adjourned to Voigt's
Hotel, adjoining, where sumptu-
Gus banquet had been prepared. The
spacious dining room, on the second
floor was found to be profusely dec
GRATED with the national colors, ar
tistically draped on the walls, with
the &c. A. r." initials appropriately
conspicuous; while the tables were
resplendent with hyacinths and other
potted flowers in bloom, with smilax
trailing around among the dishes in
most attractive fashion.
The party having been seated with
Hon. John Kuhbach at the head of
the tables, and the tempting viands
disposed of, Commander Wilson in
troduced the Mayor as the presiding
officer in neat little speech, in
which he stated that it had been
the custom of the Post to select the
chief magistrate of the borough for
that distinction at its Appomattox
reunions. Mayor Kuhbach ac-
knowledged the compliment paid him
in felicitous words, in the course of
which he mentioned the fact that,
while in the Legislature some years
ago, he had met a man of promi-
nence, who, learning that he was
from Honesdale, was most enthusi-
astic in his praise of our noted local
author-in poetry and prose-Homer
Greene, and, as Mr.. Greene was
present, he felt justified in calling
on him for few remarks.
} Mr.. Greene, in response, seemed
! at first disposed to excuse himself
} from saying anything farther than
} to acknowledge in a perfunctory
: way his appreciation of the honor
done him, but finally his innate
sense of justice found expression, and
claiming that forty-four years of
amity and peace should have wiped
out the prejudices and animosities
of even the old soldiers whom he
was addressing, paid glowing trib-
ute to the character of General Lee;
crediting him with a sincere belief
that in casting his lot with the Con-
federacy, he was controlled by pa
triotic motives and acting under a
conscientious sense of duty. In les.
ser degree he had a good word for
the discouraged, foot-sore, impover-
ished, vanquished common soldiers
of the confederate army, and touch.
ingly pictured the love of and fl.
deity to their disappointed com.
mander as they knelt and kissed his
boots when he passed through theil
ranks after the surrender. Mr.
Greene's remarks were heartily ap
plauded.
Ex-Mayor Thomas ]. Ham, VIM
e. Justin and others briefly respond
ed to calls for speeches, after which
Hon. Leopold Fuerth, Representative
of Wayne county in the Legislature
who had made the trip from Har
risburg in response to an invitation
to be present, spoke at considerable
length in explanation of the status
of several bills in which people Of
this section are interested, and es
pecially of the Harrisburg Capito
Park Extension bill, the school code
bill and the Soldiers pension bill.
Coffee, cigars, ETC., gave zest tt
the closing hour of the reunion
while "reminiscences OF, the great con
fiict were being exchanged by the
veterans; the whole being greatly
enlivened. by the stirring music o.
the fife and drum corps, which a
the close of the entertainment, wal
rendered a vote of thanks by the ole
soldiers, to whom the patriotic air.
| so capably rendered brought bacl
, vivid recollections of the days wheI
they drank from the same canteen. ;
: "He said he could read my face lik,