The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-06-01
FiTTINGLY OBSERVED.

1
has Decoration Day been SO generally
and appropriately observed as the Deco
ration Day of 1917, and few people pres
ent at the exercises have ever seen more
elaborate decorations nor listened to a
more interesting program of exercises
We have heard a great many say that
never in their lives have they attended a
more entertaining or satisfactory Memor
ial Day observance.
Under the direct management of Mrs
d. II. Lewis preparations for the event
were in the hands of the Red Cross soci-
ETY., and the ladies must nave done an in
finite amount of work, lodging from the
appearance of the hall and stage. The
Orpheum has never been in gayer attire.
| A wealth of flowers and sreenery covered
| the stage and ornamented ever vantage
point where flowers could find foothold.
The national colors were. prodigally dis
I played and feature that added color
and attractiveness to the general affect
was the conspicuous disply of the insignia
| OF the Red Cross A large flag and bank
ed up flowers screeded In the piano at
one side Of the stage, where a platform
had been built to accommodate the instru-
ment, giving a broader sexpanse to the
he bSssp ike Of ths ssa saE
end of the hall.
The hall was crowded beyond seating
capacity, everybody was Intensely inter-
ested in the proceedings and every num-
Der was created with prolonged applause,
Too often exercises on occasions of this
kind drag. are prolonged until they be-
restless and Indifferent and the whole
affair Is really a bore The entertainment
of "Wednesday was wholly and happily
different The instrumental and vocal Sc
lections were of a character that pleased
the address by Rev. GeoS II, Severance
was out of the ordinary grove a rational
but eloquent appeal to th@ American man
and woman without so%, hysteria or
buncombe, and not so proAacted as to be
wearisome. The children taking part were
thoroughly drilled the ssfheing OF little
Is Sybel McCammon and tie quartette in
which Messrs Starrett. Taylor. Cole and
Wanicheik took part were exceptionally
pleasing features. and thesaudience were
nsistent on recalls. The reading by Mrs
IT, l.. Masters was an excellent piece of
eiocution. One of the ,prsttiest numbers
on %a the o1,oes program was my Country l Hear
wohl, with Mrs. b. b. Powell. Miss Ruth
McCammon. Miss HerminA Grieger, Miss
Beat Woods in the chorus. The young
and presented a charming appearance
The band music was what could be ex-
pected from the celebrated Orovile band
Few organizations of the Find could have
done better.
DR.. d. H. Lewis addressed the audience
calling for contributions for the Red Cross
thetic story of the Belgian Hat, made by
a little Belgian girl in ting midst of sor-
row and suffering in devastated Belgium
and which has been circulased widely over
the country in the collection of funds to
aid the starving women and children of
that unhappy country. Il has been
strong factor in appealing to the charity
and through it's instrumentality very
large sum has been collected for that
worthy object. The Red Cross girls circu-
lated the hat and baskets for contribu-
tions. and the response was most gen.
erous. To the Red Cross fund in charge
Of the Oroville Red Cross society. over
$50 We're donated while the Belgium Hat
t'txrin I On
gathered in $3.50
The old soldiers, yeterap.s OF the civil
and Indian wars. bent With age. but
Of honor in front Of the stage The flight
of years is sadly depleating the ranks of
the old soldiers, and before many more
the ast Of the Gana Grand army win
of the old boys present, and glory be 1t
said at this time and in this place, not
withstanding the hardships they suffered
In their youth. notwithstanding thai Trey
know by personal contact the real hor
rors Of war, there are no citizens more
loyal to the country nor the flag they bled
led veterans of e1. Ii they wer physic-
ally fit they would be the very frs, to re-
spond TO the call to defend the honor oS
their country. ac6 their example should
the present genera+:on Those present
We're: Jas Ferguson. n. p. l;1gerton. Joe
Hunter A, L. Clayton, ID. Z. Curtis, f. +.
Wehe, j. M. Norris and e Provo.
So far as known there were but two
Spanish American veterans in the hall
DR. j. l.. Masters and Chas. F. Sigrist. and
they too. having once served the flag, are
| loyal to the core.
A more pleasant day than Wednesday,
May 30 could not have been desired 1t
was ideal for an occasion Of the kind.
There was no parade in the morning
The old soldiers were taken to the celnc-
terry in cars, where a number of people
had collected, and all the graves were dec
grated.
Mrs. D. II. Lewis deserves special com
mendation for the tasty decorations, the
preparation for the event and the unpre-
cedcnted success of the program. TIE la
dy devoted all of her time for days drill
| ing those who took part and perfectin (,
The general arrangements. She was ably
| assisted by number of ladies' who are
deserving Of credit for the work done.
Stores in town were generally closed
Wednesday.
There were not a grea. many people
present from out of town, but the local
population turned out almost en- masse
Those who contributed so generously 10
| Belgian Hat should know that the
| money has been forwarded by Mrs. j. f.
| Samson, president of the Civil League, to
the proper authorities. and will be used
directly to relieve the suffering of such
little people as the girl who knitted the
That, and bathed every thread in tears as
she was at work.