The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-01

AT THE
BORDER

In a. letter to The Forum, e. S.
Peterson, mess sergeant OF Company
3, First North Dakota Infantry at
Mercedes, tells an interesting story of
Christmas in that part Of the coun-
try. Among other events there was a
Community Christmas tree and pro-
gram at Mercedes during which the
people of that town greatly praised
the soldiers.
The letter In full is as follows:
To The Forum: "A warm, bright,
starry Christmas eve-here and there
the blazing trail of a sky -rocket-here
and there the noise Of fire-crackers,
shot by wee Spies" At the Queen
theatre the great German comedians,
Kolb and Dill, in a five-reel uproar~
at the churches. young peoples meet
ings led by soldiers-at the school
house the great drama, Creation, with
colored and moving pictures, this part
of the serial devoted to scenes in the
life of Christ-at the North Dakota Y.
M. c. A, speeches and songs by the
North Dakota Glee club, solos by
Lieut.. Jack Frame and a splendid,
sensible talk by Lieut.. Col. Grafton
with an aftermath Of Kipling recita-
tions given in his own inimitable style
then the tents. the cots, but no
stockings hung.
Christmas Day.
"A warm Christmas morning
cloudy at first. but now clear. with
brisk breeze blowing.
THE Company B mess hall was dec
GRATED with the bells and the beautiful
red and green stringers, kindly do
mated by Mrs. d. McLaren. The mess
was fine.
Menu,
Roast Turkey and Dressing
Cranberries Celery
Bread and Butter Coffee
Pumpkin Pie
Smokes donated by the captain.
This was served at ] o'clock-no
mess this evening.
There was a great crowd at the
football, game at 10 O'Clock. The Fifth
Nebraska team did not have look-in
the score being "a to zero. Nemzik,
Harris and Melchior starred, Nemzik
playing the game Of his life. There.
has been no lineup which he has hit,
but has gone down before him.
The manager of the Queen theatre
had sent free tickets to every member
of the North Dakota regiment and at
six o'clock the first show was put on.
The popular serial, Liberty, and a
beautiful five-reel drama, The Isle of
Life, were shown. At the park was a
Community Christmas tree (Which by
the way was mesquite decorated with
popcorn, oranges. apples, topped by a
star of cotton and lit by hundreds Of
wee red and white electric lights),
thousands of soldiers being present.
The Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska and
North Dakota organizations were rep
resented, besides that excellent
bunch, the Third U. S. cavalry. and
intermixed were the people Of Mer-
cedes, male and female, young and
IL al.
tionalities.
"A soft breeze acknowledgements
filling the starry sky with a greater
brilliance, but above all the spirit OF
Good Will" was amongst all present. \
THE program was a long one. There
was an eloquent welcome and appreci-
alive address by Judge Hoyt, editor of
The Mercedes Tribune. He said that a
year ago the people Of this city slept
with guns by their sides. knowing not
what the night would bring forth. He
spoke in glowing terms of the soldiers
and did not forget to praise this part
of the southland to the skies, and
spoke about the big crowd Of home
seekers from the north, due here next
week.
Chaplain Clemens Of the First Min
nesota was called upon to respond for
the soldiers, and his witty, sparkling
and most illuminating address suited
the boys to queens taste. The
North Dakota Glee club, Of which |
Scoop Olson, Ross Hansen and Tom
McMeese Of Company B, besides Lieut. |
Col. Grafton and Lieut. Jack Frame
are members, received great applause
for their selections. There was mixed |
quartet and a showing of the costumes
OF other lands by school girls. Two Sc
lections by the First Minnesota band
and then dance music for all.
1.-THE Masonic lodge held open house,
and here again the North Dakota Glee
club made itself famous. There were
addresses of welcome by Worshipful
Master Refs and Mr.. Watson, president
of the Rio Grande Hardware Co. Cigars
were passed and a light luncheon was
served. Taken all in all, it was a
Christmas never to be forgotten by the
northern boys.
1.-THE mail men of the companies are
kept awfully busy these days. All the
boys have received presents of some
kind and are very thankful.
"Going home? Yes. we are booked
to entrain Jan. 8. Things are being
put in shape so that the regiment
will be ready even though the rolling
stock may fail us. Thumb and finger
prints are being taken of all and what
more-well. Fort Smelling may reveal.
EDWARD S. PETERSON,
Mess Sgt, Co. 3,
FViret NJ n INF