The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-06-03

vice in the forenoon to take the old
soldiers and their escorts, the Woman's
Relief Corps, to the cemetery where
the graves of their fallen comrades and
the grave of confederate soldier were
strewn with flowers and flag planted
on each.
In the afternoon at 2:30 the following
program was rendered at the Academy
of Music:
Song-The Little Bronze Button, by
twelve little girls.
Lincoln's Address at Gettysburg
Frank Stanton.
Song-Commander Eaton.
Reading-''The Black Rider"-Cora
Moore.
Poem-Comrade John Chamberlain.
Duet-Myrtle Tyrrell and Jessie
White.
Reading-Ruth Nichols.
Address-Hon. S. B. Mahaney.
Before the program had we'll started
there came hobbling down the aisle,
assisted by two helpers, an old man
crippled and bent. He was escorted to
the platform and as soon as that famous
address of Lincoln at Gettysburg, so
we'll delivered by Frank Stanton, was
over, the presiding officer, Commander
Eaton, introduced the stranger as E. G.
Harlan, of the Third Georgia Cavalry
of the Confederate army. The old man
spoke very feelingly and those who
heard him were deeply touched. He
thanked the ''good people of the North"
for the privilege of attending such
exercises and of the Christian patrio-
tism they were showing to an "old
REBEL" as he termed it. The speaker
was loudly applauded and the incident
served to arouse enthusiasm and
showed that no rancour existed any
longer between those who wore the
blue and those who wore the gray. At
the close of the exercises the presiding
officer started a purse for the needy
old man and in a few minutes there
were twenty dollars on the platform at
the mans feet.
The Times learned the story after
wards of how the old man came to be
in Oakes on Memorial Day. He was on
his way north on the road east of Oakes
and called into the home Of Eugene
Eaton at the noon hour for something
to eat. There he was fed, end learn
ing his story Eugene took the man to
his fathers place, short distance
away, and of course Commander Eaton
asked the stranger to share in the exer-
cises of the day. It was learned that
he recently lost his entire family in q
cyclone, and was on his way to Daw-
son, in Kidder county, where his only
living relative, a nephew, resided. He
took great delight in the interest that
was shown in him here and after few
hours spent with the old soldiers he
started north afoot for the home of his
nephew.
The only serious and unconventional
part Of the days performance was for
the commander to remove his coat just
before he started to sing. It was truly
exhibited, however, before he got
through that his discretion in the mat
ter was absolutely right, for he knew
he would have to sing two songs before
he got through. The audience just
wouldn't have it any other way.
The address Of Hon. S. B. Mahaney
of Willow City was very good. Owing
to the time taken up with the othel
part Of the program the address neces
: sarily had to be cut short. Tn,
speaker started by alluding to tn
landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth
Rock, traced our history down and tn
! causes which led to the civil war
depicted some Of the scenes Of tina
. bloody conflict, and finally reminds
the living to be ready to join tha
invincible army-the army Of the Lord
A crowded house listened to the pre-
. gram which was well carried out.
Q After the exercises at the hall, pre-
. ceded by the band, the old soldiers IN
. Relief Corps marched to the homes q
: Major Fay and Comrade Cady IN
u serenaded the old veterans who wel
. unable to march with them.