The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-10-24
0CALA LIT Up WITH
PATRIOTIC ENTHUSIASM
IT SHONE AND WAS SHOWN ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE
TUESDAY EVENING

The loyalty of Ocala to the nation
and it's enthusiasm in the cause of
world democracy was again set forth
in the gathering around the liberty
bonfire on the public square Tuesday
evening.
The Boy Scouts under direction of
Scoutmaster Stephens, went indus
triously to work as soon as they were
out of school, and heaped up the ma
terial for the bonfire in the street
near the bandstand. Long before
opening time, they had good-sizezd
pile of fuel ready for the torch.
By six o'clock the people began ar
irving and at $50 all that part of the
square was crowded, thousand or
more being present. Probably a hun
dred or more came from out in the
country.
Mr.. L. w. Duval acted as master of
ceremonies, and managed the affair
in his usual efficient and tactful man
ner. The ceremonies began with
singing america" by the chorus
made up of girls of the high school,
directed by Miss Marguerite Porter.
There are many mothers in Mar
ion county who have sent their sons
into the army or navy-some their
only boys; some one or two out of the
family, but so far as is known only
four have three-Mrs. R. L. Ander.
son, Mrs. w. E. Woods, Mrs. J. R.
Moorhead and Mrs. j. T. Nelson.
These three noble women were pres
ent, and lit the bonfire, Mrs. Ander-
son saying as she applied the torch
that she did so not only for herself
but for every mother in Marion and
the sister counties linked with her
whose sons have gone to fight for the
cause.
Excellent speeches were made by
Messrs. F. E. Harris, W. T. Gary and
]. ]. Gerig, and besides these some
informal talks by Messrs. Duval, Nc
Iver and Raiford Simmons. At the
close of the speeches many fagots
were added to the blaze by holders of
| liberty bonds. Twice during the cere-
mony the chorus of girls sang, the
first time, "Keep the Home Fires
i Burning" and toward the end the
stirring song, "God Keep Our Splen-
did Men, to the tune of "America."
Mrs. William Hooker, chairman of
the woman's liberty loan committee
for Marion county and state chairman
of the woman's committee Council of
| National Defense, was in charge of
the program. She was ably assisted
by Mrs. w. T. Gary, president of the
Ocala Woman's Club.
The Ocala high school brought
liberty bond this week and a repre-
sentative from each grade put a fagot
on the Liberty Bond fire. Reginald
MacKay represented the freshman
class and bore a fagot bedecked with
black and white ribbons, the o. Fl. S.
colors; Caroline Borden, the sopho-
more class; Tom Wallis, the junior
class; Harold Klock, senior; Leonard
Bennett and Jack Igou, 4th grade;
Nettie Mathews and Ted Drake, 5th
grade; Carolyn Peyser and A. T.
Thomas, 9th grade; Janet Culver
house and Ernest Beaton, 7th grade;
Marie Robertson and Moultrie
Thomas, 9Th grade.
Misses Agnes Burford and Blair
Woodrow represented the Red Cross
and were dressed as Red Cross nurses
and they each laid a fagot on the fire
1t was an inspiring occasion, one
of the first perhaps of many that will
happen during the war. We home
folks can do no better than come to-
gether as often as possible and cheer
and encourage each other by rubbing
shoulders in the mighty host that
must support the young heroes on the
| fighting lines.
| Following are the speeches of
Messrs Hararis, Gary and Gerig:
MR.. F. E. HARRIS
Ladies and Gentlemen
Perhaps it is altogether fitting and
proper that should have been select.
ed to place a fagot on this patriotic
fire from that historic spot known as
old Fort King, for it was there or near
there that my father began a military
career which lasted through the Sem
mole war and terminated fatally iii
our war with Mexico.
i Most of US are familiar with the fact
I that Major Thompson and Lieutenant
1 Constantine Smith were assassinated
at Fort King by OceoIa. the famous