The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-22

ment OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public, recently held at Washington
ID. G. That the fiftieth anniversar,
Of the close Of our terrible Civil wal
Should occur at a time when two
thirds OF the civilized world is at wal
added much pathos and interest t6
the event. IL Is said OF President VIII
son that when the veterans thanked
him for the special attention hs
rave, them. he said: You owe me
nothing while | owe you everything
for without your sacrifice and suffer
ing there would be no United States
for me to be president OF today"
As delegate at large from the w.
r. c. OF Minnesota. joined those
who left on O special train over the
Milwaukee road from Minneapolis
Saturday evening, September 20,
There we're fourteen coaches, three
OF which were from North Dakota. We
arrived in Pittsburgh early Monday
morning. over the Baltimore and
Ohio. and spent the entire day revel-
ing In the gorgeous scenery OF the
Allegheny mountains. The Baltimore
and Ohio was the first railroad In this
country. having been built in 1927.
East OF the Ohio river the territory
through which its lines extend is emf
nently historical. associated with the
French and Indian wars. the war OF
1912 and the Civil war.
Our train stopped fifteen minutes
al Harper's Ferry, w. Va, known as
the most beautiful and historical spot
In America. Here the Shenandoah
river empties into the Potomac and
the train stops directly I'm front OF
the John Brown Monument. the spot
where the first blood was shed at the
beginning of the Civil war. Here the
veterans and their friends sang John
Browns Body" etc. Several tablets
tell the story OF the bravery and
heroism of the men who sacrificed
their lives 10 save the Union. This
part OF the country was in state
OF siege during the entire war. The
Confederates sought to destroy the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad to pre-
vent the transportation CT northern
troops TO the south.
OF course the great event OF the
week was the grand review. where
10000 men who had fought for their
colfhtty fifty years ago, marched up
on historic EPennsy1vania avenue in
martial array. To see these men
again gather in such great numbers
was something thst went directly, ID
the hearts. OF All, Grand stands for
the comfort OF spectators were on
both sides or the Street for miles. but
the reviewihg stand directly I'm front
6f the White House was the center Of
Attrsetion.p This seated about five
hundred people and the writer was
bffyilegetl' To have a seat on tht front
row, President Wilton, tile national
bfficefs or the G. a. r, and the aux
niary organizations had seats In the
cehter front, the exact spot where
Vice President Johnson and General
u. S. Grant reviewed the troops at
the close of the war This was a
few months after the assassination
OF President Lincoln. President VIII
son was kept busy giving the "Presi-
Dental Salute" with his tail silk hat
He remained standing and bowed In
reverence as hundreds OF battle scar
red flags were carried by. II was a
pathetic sight TO see these old heroes
try TO straighten up and keep step
as they approached.
General Nelson A. Miles, while not
quite as handsome as In former years,
led the parade and demonstrated that
he still knows how TO ride a horse in
the true military fashion. There were
also many amusing features in the
parade. Uncle Sam appeared fire.
quently In different appropriate cos
tunes and always got n smile of rec
ognition from the president. %.
The crowning social event of the
week was the reception given by the
Woman's Relief corps in the rotunda
Of the capitol Wednesday evening.
Several thousand people attended.
and the guards said no social event
except the New Years reception had
ever compared with II.
On Thursday afternoon President
Wilson received all delegates at the
White House. None were admitted
unless they wore badge. Many men
and women who had several badges
loaned them to friends who had none
thus swelling the crowd to several
thousand. The president received In
the large East Room which has been
made historic by many notable we'd
dings and funerals. The guests went
in single file and passed nearly
around the large room where they
were serutinized by secret service
men, before approaching the chief
executive, who shook hands with
each person and greeted them pleas
antly.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels or
dered seven war vessels into the Po-
tonfac navy yards for the inspection
OF visitors. Four were painted dari
grey and were manned ready for ac-
tion, the others were handsome white
The writer had the pleasure OF see-
ing Admiral Dewey when he inspect
ed these sea fighters.
Mrs. H. A. Van Camper, OF Can
non Falls, was my travelling compan-
ion, and we. like many others, made
numerous side trips out OF Washing
ton. We went by way Of George.
town TO Arlington, the entrance oil
which Is across the road from Fort
Meyers and the government wireless.
stations. There are three towers oil
the latter. the; tallest being 800 feel
high. From this station wireless
messages are daily sent to Honolulu
and other Pacific points. while the
other two carry messages To all ma rts