Evening journal., 1918-02-21
SNELLENBORG FUlBY
MEN At Their best
Entertain Delaware Soldiers
at Camp Dix With Min.
Strel Performance
WILMINGTONIANS
HAVE GREAT DAY


which went to Camp Dix yesterday to
present their program for the benont
Of the Delaware and other men station
ed In that cantonment arrived at the
camp at 2i0 o'clock yesterday after
noon. They were given a big recep-
ton and later their performance, which
was given In the Y. NJ. C. a. main audi
torium, proved 10 be one OF the best
amateur presentations the soldiers have
seen. It was witnessed and applauded
by 1000 troopers who appeared 20 thor
oughly enjoy every minute Of the time
and every song and joke as offered by
the Young men Of the minstrel troop.
for their applause was generous land
their laughter was Of the heartiest. 1t
was big day and a bigger evening for
the Delaware boys, both the soldiers
and the civilians.
When the delegation stepped from
the train az Camp Dix, they were greet
ed with q blare Of music from the First
Infantry Band under the leadership Of
]. Norris Robinson who had brought
the musicians down from camp TO well
come the visitors After the music
there was a reception and a great hand
shaking as friends in uniform greeted
friend In civilian dress.
The visitors found the ground inches
deep In mud following the rains OF the
night before and with the teams, auto
mobiles, trucks and thousands Of men
Amushing" through this It had been
churned into a soft oozing mass which
o. made walking almost impossible. The
party managed TO set through this mass
TO the high and dry main road through
the camp and there they formed in
line Of parade for the long march to
the Y. NJ. c. A. auditorium. There the
line was broken.
The visitors called upon old friends
among the officers and men Of the
Delaware regiment and amons the draft
men who showed them every courtesy
and who appeared unable TO do enough
70 make them feel at home and to en-
Joy their visit They escorted them
through the barracks. took them to
The several Y. NJ. C. A. and Knights Of
Columbus halls Of amusement, rest
rooms, reading and writing rooms and
later took them to the fields where
the trenches have been dug and IN
whirh the soldiers get their real train
ing for the front line work In France.
After spending the afternoon making
this tour and the time was all too
short to get about the vast reservation,
the entire parry were guests OF Colonel
J. Warner Reed, commanding he First
Delaware Infantry and the officers OF
the regiment Il dinner. They had
mess" at the officers dining hall or
mess hall as It Is known in camp. Col
onel Reed and his officers proved royal
hosts and their hospitality was more
than appreciated.
But the big event Of the occasion was
reserved for the evening and this was
the presentation Of the mlnstrels by the
Snellenburg Greater Minstrels The Y
NJ. c. A. auditorium had been thrown
open TO the performers and they were
permitted TO have full sway OF the en-
tire affair and Of the hall for the even
ing The building will seat 1900 peo-
pie and there was hardly a vacant seat
when the entertainment began. prac-
tically ell the Delaware men were there
David Snellenburg, the man who made
the trip and the presentation Of The
minstrels possible was int oduced as
chairman and presided at the gather
ing. "This is one Of the proudest mo-
ments Of my life" Mr.. Snellenburg told
his auditors in opening the program. Il
consider 1t a great privilege TO be here
with you and to say few words TO the
BOYS from back home. We bring yOu
a message and that is that the folks
back home are with you in this great
struggle Our heart and our soul and
our all are with you In this great nghi
ana we give to your our all IS yVa
havf gwen your all to your courlcy."
Mr.. Snellenburg then introduced
Colonel Reed who was given an ova.
tion, the handclspplng continuing for
more than a minute as Colonel Reed
mounted 10 the platform. 1--WE want
10 thank you for your klndRess in
bringing this entertainment TO oul
boys" Colonel Reed said I'VE know
the folks back h.<ne do think Of US
We also know that when we Delawar-
cans have anything good we are will
ing 70 share Il with others. for that !:
our spirit and that Is our policy"
Mr.. Snellenburg then announced tha
they had brought with them not onl'
some fine entertainers, but also th'
greatest general left from the Civi
War, ihe man who had captured JEFF
ferson Davis, the man who feels that j
the Delaware boys return from Europe
with the Kaiser their prisoner, al
things will be well with Delaware; anS
he then introduced General James H
Wilson, who had come 10 Camp Dil
with the mlnstrels and their friends
General Wilson was greeted with lou
and prolonged applause and in begin
ming his remarks, he addressed the as
semblage as fellow soldiers Of Della
ware He expressed the pleasure h
felt 10 be with the men and then spok
OF the history Of Delaware in the ma
tions affairs He advised the sons o
Delaware always to remember thre
names. Washington, Lincoln and Rod
ney, and spoke briefly Of each an
what they had done He told the me
the history Of Delaware should ll
everyone Of them with pride. II
wished them all God speed and eX
pressed the hope that every one O
them would come back each with
medal Of honor and q trophy and h
assured them OF a hearty welcom
home upon their return, especially,
ne added, II they should bring wit
them Kaiser Wilhelm
Mr.. Snellenburg then introduce
Josiah Marvel who said they wer
glad to be there with the soldiers an
bring them q message from home i
then paid glowing tribute 10 Mr.. Sne
lenburg as the man who had made Oh
trip possible and who had made Il POI
sible to present tonights entertain
ment In the camp for the benefit Of III
soldiers. He said there is not in Del,
ware man of broader humanitaria
feelings than Mr.. SnellenburC. Referrir