The National tribune., 1910-02-24
WASHINGTON THURSDAY
LINCOLN AT ST. CLOUD.
One of the Great Anniversary Celebra-
tions of the Emancipator's Birthday.

| One of the Great Anniversary Celebra.
tions of the Emancipator's Birthday.
Never in the history of laudable
ification manifested than on Saturday,
Feb. IL, 1910, when the citizens of the
new town of st. Cloud, Fla, met to
honor the memory of a great man. 1t
was a cosmopolitan gathering; men and
women were there from every State.
| 1t is doubtful, for the number present.
If another company in this country has
ever before met under such delightful
circumstances from more widely sep
arated localities, all with unity of feel
ing and purpose.
The charm of the occasion was its
spontaneity. The raising of fiagpole
had been contemplated for some time,
but no decided step was taken until the
last week in January, when Comrade
Thomas Cox, as Committee of One"
went into the woods and the same day
found two lengthy sticks, one of pine,
for the base, and the other, of cypress,
as topmaSt, lying in the street in front
| of his house on Pennsylvania avenue
| The anniversary of the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln was less than two
weeks away. This seemed too short a
time for an elaborate celebration, but
the men and women of st. Cloud were
equal to the matter. A site was select
ed for the pole and reviewing stand on
Florida avenue and Eighth street A
program was then arranged. and that it
was successfully carried out is a ques-
ton of no doubt.
Tables were erected in an adjoining
grove of pine trees; pits were dug In
the streets in which to barbecue the
meats-a ton or more of it, beef and
portland the city bakery was instruct
ed to provide the bread.
The early morning of the 18th was
very cool, but the sun soon came out
bright and confidence returned. Lowell
in one of his poems asks: What is so
rare as a day in June?" If New Eng
land ever had a finer June day than we
had in Florida on Feb. u, 1910, it was
an exquisite one.
The population of st. Cloud was out
early in holiday attire. Many of the
residences and places of business had
previously been decorated. A gentle
breeze stirred flags and bunting. The
first train from Kissimmee brought
quite crowd. Pending the arrival of
the special train, due at 10 o'clock, the
parade formed at the Gospel Tent un-
der the direction of Chief Marshal Capt.
j. L. Williams, a 35th Ill. man.
The school children were under the
direction of Misses Hattie Leech and
Lillian Dale. In the lead were Master
SAM" and Miss Marguerite Chase, as
Miss Columbia the two on horseback,
followed in turn by 13 young ladies
dressed in white, representing the orig
mai States, and then came more young.
misses, representatives of the States
arranged in the order in which they
came into the Union, from Vermont TO
Oklahoma, the latter having for it's
representative lad dressed as an In
dian. Each carried flag
The procession, which was a long
one, marched to the platform on Flor
ida avenue and Eighth street, the chill
dren In hollow square. and the col
unn passing thru was saluted by the
waving of flags. The children then took
thelr places on the platform. together
with invited guests and officers of the
various bodies represented. The hoist
ing rope to lift the topmast was then
grasped by willing hands, and without
halt or mishap it moved gracefully to
fuli hight, surmounted by a globe of
tin to give finish to the peak AS it
moved upward the children sang ",The
Star Spangled Banner"
After flag and figure drill they
formed into a horseshoe shape with
rounded heels, while at the toe stood
little Miss Vera Cox, wearing a crown
inscribed "St. Cloud" and by her side
Miss Edith Westcott, dressed in white
and garlanded with flowers and wear
ing gold-lettered sash bearing the
word Florida" Guarding them were
Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia and two
veterans, Comrade Fox and Mai. MUIR
ply, the latter Mayor of Kissimmee
The six moved forward to the front of
the platform, and the halyards reaching
the rolled-up flag, 100 feet in the air.
were placed in the hands of young Miss
st. Cloud, who at once in a distinct
voice said: Comrades, with your per-
mission 1 christen this flag st. Cloud"
With this she gave the halyards a sud
den jerk, and "Old Glory" rolled grace
fully downward and outward, and then,
picked up by the gentle breeze, it spread
its beautiful folds over the cheering
crowd. The halyards of the floating
flag were then placed by Miss st. Cloud
In the hands of Miss Florida, who in
a clear, girlish voice, reaching every
hearer, said:
Men forming the great armies of
American soldiers, from the East, from
the West, from the North and from the
South: i extend to you my heart and
hand and Did you welcome to st. Cloud.
IL Is my earnest prayer that you and
your children and your children's chill
dren may live in peace and love and
happiness for all time under the protec-
ton of the Flag that Abraham Lincoln
loved so we'll" Then, turning 10 the
Two veterans, representing the North
ana South united, she placed the hal
YARDS in their hands, with these words:
10 you, my sons, intrust this emblem.
and give 10 1t, If need be, the fun
measure of your DEVOTION as did he
whose memory we honor to-day, Abra-
nam Lincoln" The two veterans bowed
their acknowledgment of the trust and
maze fast the halyards to the pole.
foiloWlng this was. another flag drill
ana the presentation to the G. A. r
Fost OF a handsome flag, the gift of
John McElroy, editor of The NationaI
Tribune i
Among the speakers were Col A. II
Kinney and Senator Carson. There
was music by the drum CORPS. fine sing
ing and recitations.
ana then came the barbecue An
experienced barbecue operator. Com
Tade j. II. Mcfarland, of Oregon Citv
ore, VINO had charge of the meats
spent "a hours in properly ROASTING
thefn, ana no one could say thew wero
not zone 10 turn. The bread. too
was In big loaves, and made the size or
Shces that mother used to give 70 tho
hungry boys. e'o u the
Comrade f. B. Stillings. of Roston
Iast senior Vice Commander of tbe No
'iotiai q: A r., who was present said.
hao heard good deal pro and CON
aoout 81. cloud, and decided to come |
ana see for myself Tht town Is
wonder. ind after much INQUIRY tbst
lhe real people are perfectly sat,sf,eS
WIN conditions here-they arc -
Judges-and go away convinced ~
ti there are no obstacles here worthy of