The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-06
GIFT IS SURPRISE
To MAJ. BOWlEs
Blues Present Their Popular
Commander With Silver
~eTSslt' tA.--H-aa--aa-a=-.=
HAPPY INCIDENT MARKS
ENTRANCE To A lMOkI
Battalion With Elastic Step and
Light Heart Marches to New
Quarters and Presentation
Made.

As n mark az esteem tar him as
soldier and friend, Major e, W. i'owies'
the popular and efficient commander of
the Richmond Light Infantry Blues,
was given Ii handsome six-piece silver
service by the members of the Blues
Battalion Thursday nlsht after the
citizen soldiers tad taken actual pos
session Of their new armory at sixth
and Marshall streets.
The presentation Of the elaborate.
gold lined. colonial patterned service
came as "a complete surprise to Major
Rowies, and he Was astonished beyond
utterance, when Corporal John h.
LiEhtfoot, Of Company {, stepped TO
ehe center OF the aTnory and made the
Eif la the name Of the battalion. Cor
EoFaI LIghff0Ot made an eloquent ad-
dress. In which he praised Major
Bowies and told him of the affection
and respect In which he Is held ana
low proud the Blues were TO have him
az their commanding officer and serve
under him. Corporal Lightfoots ad-
dress was received with prolonged APP
piause by his fellow militiamen.
Major Bo9les, after an Impressive
silence, confessed his utter surprise
and thanked the members OF the bat
TALON from the bottom of his heart Tor
the feeling and spirit which prompted
them TO remember hla SO handsomely,
Major BosVles said he would ever cher
ixh the memorable occasion and the
service, "and ] am sure 1t viii be II
source Of delight to the lady at home.
through whose grace ! have been able
10 devote SO much time to the Blues
concluded the commanding officer.
Three rousing cheers went up for
"Isowies." and three even more Iusty
cheers were given for the lady at
home whereupon Major BoMles doti-
ed his cap and bowed in recognition OF
the honor.
March 70 New Arrcry.
Happy OF heart and elastic stepped
the Blues armed and equipped as II
for actual field service, marched
proudly from their temporary armory
on Main street near Fourteenth street
AT O'Clock and proceeded to their
spacious new quarters on Marshall
street. with the stirring martial music
from the drum and fife corps euiiVen-
ing the occasion, and with hundreds OF
citizens marching abreast of them on
ths sidewalks,
At $50 the battalion reached the
artuorv and was marched immediate
IL To the large driH hall on the thtFe
floor There the three companies wer'
put through a short drili before ne}nt
allowed to rest.
wajle the soldiers were AT ease ria
5or F3owles made an address. in which
he said the occasion Was history
making for the Blues, commented OF
the honor Of the 0rrauiza ton through
out it's l10 years Of existence and ask
ed that each soldier strive to MAN
tain ii So long as he was connected
with the Blues The commanding Cf-
Aeer alluded to the fact that in Eu-
ropean countries the reserve army.
correspondence to the militia An TIT
United States, Was OF the utmost I'm
portanre He emphasized the fac
that the Blues organization vas 1
military body FIRST and foremost, anr
that each soldier should, by reading
books and studying maps and charts
tit himself 10 be Of the greatest Nalu,
To his country as a soldier Tina
social affairs and parades should h
collateral 10 the military functions o
tho Rlues was also emphasized by Ma
1or Rowles. In concluding his addres
he said he wanted the arInory to b
military building, and that all per
sonal and business differences be KEEP
out Of IT.
Al Home and Comfortable.
After the applause had subsidized
Corporal Lightfoot stepped forward L
present the silver service. This con
cluded. the soldiers and the drum
corps marched 10 their RESPECTIVE
quarters in the armary and stowet
away their guns and equipment ii
individual lockers.
The new armQr& -lnoked Spiek- an.
span. and most attractive in tn,
second floor han has been placed
massive bronze tablet presented ID,
the First Company Governors Foo
Guard, Of Connecticut which will b.
formally unveiled during the Nutmei
State soldiers stay here next week