New Britain herald., 1915-06-15
ELkS PAY THEIR ANNUAL TRIBUTE
 TO THE "STAR SPANGLED BANNER"
Inspiring Exercises Held in Lodge Room with Members of Stanley Post c. A. R., As Guests of Occasion
 Dr. Griswold Orator of Occasion.

honor the city was named, it being
 the first and oldest incorporated city
 in Ohio, and may say in passing that many of the original settlers of the
 city and vicinity came frfom this inn
 mediate locality
 Steubenville was the home of
 Edward M. Stanton, Lincoln's great
 war secretary, and one or the finest
 bronze statutes in the country stands
 in memory of him, in the yard of the
 Jefferson county court. house. The
 celebration was participated in by
 great throngs of people from all over
 Ohio. as well as from Pennsylvania
 Kentucky and West Virginia. all of
 which states were represented in the
 military parade by various organiza,-
 tions. The United States army was
 represented by two companies Of regulars, and the navy by a company of marines. There was also present the secretary of war, the German en- bassador, and the governors of Penn sylvania and Ohio. As the special representative of the Putnam Pha- lanx, was the guest of the city for five days. and what I shall present to you tonight, is the story of that great military genius and friend of the American colonies as gave it to them at the unveiling of the mem orial to Baron Steuben on that occasion, the story of a man, who nearly 40 years ago gave up the pleasures and comforts which he had earned by more than thirty years of strenuous life in camp and on the battlefield. to ta ke up the cause of young and uEdisciplined people, in their unequal struggle for liberty.
 Saw Warfare as Mere Child.
 Frederick William Aurustua Henry Ferdinand .von Sleuper, known as Baron Setuben, is unique figure Tn American history. Born in Magde- burg. Prussia, November 15,1730, he was taken by his father into the war In the Crimea when he was so young. that he was but ten years old when he returned to Prussia. Under his fa ther's tutelage he has been so well instructed that he was prepared to enter the college at Neisse. where he distinguished himself as a mathena- tician, and graduated at the early age of fourteen He now again joined his father in the army, and was pres cnt at the siege of Prague. From this time on his career as |. soldier was and continuous until he was made aide to that great nnili- la ry genius, Frederick the Great. l After the close Of the seven years ] var, he was presented by his sov- I ereign with the canonry of Havelberg. and was made a grand marshall of i russia, with an annuity for life.
 N FIattertng Offers From Rulers.
 At this time the King of Sardinia, and the Emperor of Austria both made him fattering offers to enter their services, but after his moro 1 than thirty years strenous work, he | seems to have fallen in love with the l ease and pleasures of life at court, 1 and declined all offers of further ac- tive service. Early in the year 1717 he started for: England to visit some English officers whose acquaintance he had made in the Crimea.
 But Steuben was destined never to see England. Stopping in Paris, he met St. Germaine, the then French | minister of war, who just at that 1 time was greatly interested in the | cause of the American colonies. The ! astute Frenchman we'll knew the i condition of the American | cause, and was only to ready to fur | ther that cause at the expense of [ England. Franklin and Dean. the | American commissioners, were urgent and persistent in their demands for assistance.
 Steuben Hope of United States
 The trained Germaine knew that