Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-06-12
QUAINT OLD MINERAL POINT.

LLf W a wi AlAA AAAf tNfANA|'A AA0Ail lAAt
Grand Army folks Of the quaint little
old city Of Mineral Point to visit their
schools, there to witness and listen to
the memorial exercises of their little
citizens.
say "the quaint littlesold city" In
so calling it | take the words out of the
mouth Of long time home-loying citi-
zen of the place and | suppose he
ought to know. Quaint when well used,
is a pretty good word While it means
somewhat ancient, antique and out Of
the ordinary, it means all that those
words express in their best sense.
Quaint also means neat, pretty, cum
ming, fnely-fashioned.
That Mineral Point is somewhat an
cient, 50 far as we may use the term
in Wisconsin, is shown by some of it's
old stone houses. And then it is in
that part Of the state where miners
were early drawn on account of the
lead ore found there. There were
Cornishmen in those days, and their
children and grandchildren are now
among the thrifty farmers and business
men Of that part Of Wisconsin. l I'M
derstand that they still stick to their
pasties, not only for the sake of tradi-
ton, but because they are eating and
will in turn stick by the eater.
And Mineral Point is little unique
in its layout 1t is fashioned accord
ing to the lay of the land. The streets
follow the lines of least resistance, yet
there is no little climbing to get from
one place to another After all, there
is as much down Hill as up. It is a
winter paradise for youngsters who de-
light in coasting. A small girl told me
that you can ride like verything
down one hill and then 90 quite ways
up another before the sled stops"
On some accounts level ground and
checker-bo board blocks and streets might
be more convenient, yet for real beauty
uniqueness, quaintness-the hills and
irregular streets Of Mineral Point are a
great deal prettier It is truly neat
city and finely fashioned.
| was told by an old citizen something
like this Eve are just common folks
here, but, sir, we have the we're best of
people, good and true. 1t is a good
place in which to live Another said,
1--WE are patriotic people, and our boys
and girls are growing up that way,
which means, / guess, that they not
only love the flag and the principles it
symbolizes, but cherish their own
homes and their community traditions.
Patriotism begins at home. The home
is the center, and love of home reaches
out the boundaries of our larger home
our country.
met a large number of people while
| was there and have been easily per
suaded to believe that, if they are
about like the rest of the folks Mineral
Point is happy in its citizenship.
But, l went there to see the schools,
and must tell about them and their
doings.
When was escorted to the meeting
place Of Geo H. Legate Post, No. l25,
by Comrade Hoare, Jimmy" they all
call him, found there several Of the
comrades and ladies' of the Relief Corps.
After cordial greetings we marched
down hill and then up hill to the graded
school building. We were courteously
received by the teachers and little folks.
When we had got settled the room was
packed something after the manner of
the proverbial box of sardines And
then began the exercises. | was sur
prised at the length and agreeable va
riety of the program prepared. ! do
not know that every child had some
thing to say or do, yet | am sure that
nearly all of them did. There were
recitations and songs and drills of yari-
Gus kinds, and all were performed, and
the little folks seemed so happy in pre-
senting their parts.
| cannot give the details of the pro
gram The boys and girls were dressed
in their best, and every one had a flag.
| counted eighty flags on the walls of
the room. and there We're many other
red, white and blue decorations With
all these things and ever-so-many big
boquets of flowers, there was riot Of
bright, patriotic colors and the atmos-
phere was fragrant with flowers All in
all, the program that morning was one
Of the very best of its kind | have
ever seen.
IL was especially pleasing to notice
the hearty interest the teachers took in
the exercises by their pupils. 1t was
plain that they had done much patient
work in preparation for them.
| must not forget to say that when
the visitors marched into the room we