Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-11
Grand Army Banquet.

Lie NidLQ Amy 'SOCiaiio oiN
Woman's Relief Corps held their
annual banquet in grand army hall
last Saturday afternoon, and a goodly
number were present to enjoy the
occasion. The tables were hand
somely decorated and hand painted
place cards told of the cherry tree and
Washington'S little Ratchet.
The banquet vas arranged for
W%ashington's birthday but the death
of Comrade Osborn compelled post
ponement until last Saturday. The
program was carried out as origin
ally intended, hence the cherries and
the Ratchet.
The banquet was perfect in detail
and this of course includes coffee, and
the ''soldiers beverage was just
right, calling for praise for the ladies
who we're running the camp kitchen
detail. Everything else wa delicious
and the ladies were voted experts
and mentioned in general orders for
promotion by Comrade Clifford.
tuSC Nlllolu uSOlbS % Oodol ulooOSi
in a brief address, announced that
the first part of the program had been
delightfully."- successful and that music
and OratOry would follow.
Miss Ruth and Allen Hvistendahl
and Ivan Bremen entertained the
audience with vocal and Instrumental
music which won them generous
applause.
Mrs. Roy Millage entertained with
a splendid reading which was highly
appreciated. Comrade Mechanics
read a letter written by a son of Gen.
Grant which told Of the friendship
between his father and President
Lincoln. Prot. Clendennen spoke
briefly Of the great war President and
Mrs. Carl Wiggin read a paper on
Washington which we print below.
Comrades Dunlap and South talked
about Washington, the latter reading
an account Of his burial from a news
paper published in New York, dated
January 4, 1880.
IAlCSl liSlL l. y UhC
banquet closed, and all were so well
pleased that they promised a greater
banquet and O enjoyment for 1911,
although the event for this year was
the most successful yet given.
Comrades Moscrip and Gopher of
Harrisburg and Fox of Sioux Falls
were out of town guests and Of course
Comrade Fox had his fife along, and
my! how the old boys did enjoy the
war times notes Of that old fife.
These annual events of the grand
army veterans are patriotic and
beautiful, and arouse anew the spirit
million boys in blue marched into the
southland to destroy secession.
The following is Mrs. Carl Wiggin's beauti-
full tribute to the memory Of Washington:
The name of Washington is familiar to ev-
cry boy and girl in our country. and like Old
Glory itself. carries American ideas. Ameri-
can ambitions and American liberties every
where.
1t does not matter to us what spot claims
his birth place nor what may have been his
nationality. Neither do we care that his an
cestors were numbered among the nobility.
This we know. that no other people can claim
him as their own and no other people can APP
p~reciate his virtues as we do.
We also know that the qualities which
made Caesar merciful. and Hannibal patient,
were combined in Washington. There are
many men who have single qualifications and
who havebecome great by possession there
of. but few indeed there are who have in their
makeup the many qualifications Washington
possessed.
Where does history point a man. other than
Washington. who tho just was sympathetic.
tho a conqueror was still free from the crime
Of blood. tho a revolutioniSt was free from
any charge of treason. and who for aggres-
sion only commenced a contest. and for liber-
ty alone unsheated his sword. but never
stained it.
Love OF liberty was interviewer into every
fiber OF his heart and to secure his fellow man
the possession of it his uppermost thot.
Rnt the last glorious act crowned his car
| eer. for who, like Washington. would have re-
fused the protfered crown and preferred a re-
tired, domestic life, and this to the alteration
Of a land he might be almost said to nave
created. And who like Washington, when
offered an escort on the day Of his Inaugural
ton. would have said: Il require no guard
all 1 need is the affection Of the people
Such men as Washington will never die and
each year on this the university of his birth
will be told again the story of his triumphs.
The deeds of Washington and men like him.
who make it life to live.' can never die.
These shall resist the empire of decay,
When time is DER and worlds have pass'd away
Coldi in the dust the persisted heart may lie.
But that which warmed it once can never die.
No other land than ours can boast a liberty
such as we possess. # shines forth as a be ac-
on light OF freedom. and stands today a haven
from oppression. and thousands of immi-
grants yearly testify to this by their patriot
ism and love for this their adopted country,
The freedom gained in America has not
been without its influence on the rest of the
world. and everywhere among civilized ma
ions the name OF Washington stands for
liberty. and liberty gained in one LAND kindles
a desire for it in another. Success of one
people in a struggle for freedom incites 9TH
ers to try for the same right.
OF all the inspired men who helped in gain
the greatest. and so his stands to-
day a striking emblem of liberty and where
liberty spreads so spreads the fame Of WASH
ington.
Recently in far Off Hungary was erected a
life size statue OF Washington. This monu-
ment was erected nv HupparinS in America