Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-25
GUESTS AT SMOKER
Forty Veterans of National
Rifles in Reunion.
CHRIS ABNER THEIR HOST
Glad Hand for Boys Of Other Days,
After Separation of Twenty
Years.

Forty veterans of the National Rifles
assembled last evening at the Germania
Club as the guests at smoker of Chris
Abner. resident of Cologne. Germany,
who twenty-four years ago was quarter
master sergeant of the then famous mill
tary company. Mr.. Abner was in Wash
ing ton on a short visit for the first time
for more than twenty years. and took the
occasion to meet his old friends and re-
new the acquaintance of his old com
panions-in BARNS"
1T was reunion of the members of the
National Rifles, and as each one entered
the hall he was enthusiastically greeted
by his old quartermaster sergeant. How
are you Chris?" Glad to see you, Chris
You look the same as ever, old man.
were some of the many greetings that
were heard on all sides as old friends
met Mr.. Abner after an absence of many
years.
Old Times Recalled.
Lieut.. Georve w. Evans, secretary of
the Veterans Association of the Nationa
Rifles, presided at the Informal affair
and seated on his right was Capt. James
h. Oyster, who formerly commanded the
company, and on his left Mr.. Abner the
host OF the evening. Mr.. Evans made a
brief Introductory address, in which he
recalled the days when the National
Rifles was one of the leading military
organizations of the country and related
several anecdotes of the quartermaster
sergeant, Chris Abner. He explained that
Mr.. Abner, who was In the city for only
a short time, felt that he could not leave
without attending a reunion of his old
friends.
Capt. Oyster, in calling on Mr.. Abner
Tor a few remarks on what he thought
or Washington after an absence of more
s ws1I .a twenty S years spoke OF the
Rifles, and said he felt that he owed
the command an apology, because one
day twenty-five years ago, when they
were on trip out west, he, as captain,
had refused to allow them to partake
freely of certain refreshments The apol-
ogy was accepted amid applause
Mr.. Abner's Address.
Mr.. Abner, who is at present head of
plant in Cologne, Germany, made an
address to his old companions II have
not been in Washington since 1884, he
said, land as I drove down the Avenue
one of the first things 1 noticed particu-
VI
opposite the District building. / took
of my hat as / passed the statue, and
felt glad that s:le memory of Gov.
Shepherd had at last been recognized in
Washington.
1.-The most impressive thing that I
have seen for many a year was the
Nantucket lighthouse as the boat ap-
preached the shore and knew that i was
once again in America. Although i have
been In Germany for a long time, all
yroyv 6rno how hnn ~
have thought often of my old friends
and you do not know how glad ] am to
be with the members of the National
Rifles tonight.
There never was a company of men
who stuck together throughS after life
any better than has the National Rifles.
We were comrades in arms and we have
upheld the honor of our old organization.
We have never been to war. but both of
f1cers and mon have upheld their own
honor for years, and that is also a form
OF heroism.'
Toast to Absent Members.
A letter from Frank B. Moves, stating
his regrets at not being able to be pres
ent and sending regrets to the host and
the other members of the National Rifles,
was read during the evening and toast
was drunk to their absent war corre-
spondent.'
Among the members of the company
who attended the meeting were Capt.
James F. Oyster, George w. Evans F. L.
Siddons, Bryan II. Morse. Jackson H.
RalstOn, George n. Acker, F. NJ. Barnes,
J. w. Sanderson. w. Fl. Keneasbee, G..
S. Domer. James A. Sample, Henri Gull
laume, William G.. Penney, Charles At
kinson. A. c. Floyd. William X Ellis.
Fred H. Chaffee, w. P. Vale, Charles
T. Lowell, Charles B. Fonda. Willis B.
AT1r
Shirley, w. E. Lewis, Milo c. Sumner
and j. Harrington.