The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-06-07

Maplet0n, June 4.-Ine RAIN some
what interfered with Decoration day
program inasmuch tina. the roads
were so muddy that cars were not
used, consequently the G. A. r. and
w. R. c.. were unable to attend in
a body. J. M. Sprague and j. w.
Atchison, however, walked the en-
tire distance with the citizens, school
children and home guard who per-
formed the ceremonies in the morn
ing The afternoon exercises were
held in the Pastime which was taxed
! to it's capacity to accommodate the
audience. The High School orchestra
opened the exercises with several
selections and the Sterling drum
corps composed of A. j. Ellis, E. Fisk
| together at the door by stirring
martial music. The stage was decor
| ated by three large flags, one forming
| the back ground, the other two at
half mast on either side of the front.
| Seated upon the stage were the
veterans of the Civil war, Alex
| Latourelle, William Ward, j. NJ
Sprague, John Taylor, j. M. Atchison,
W. D. Sprague The speakers were
Rev. DR.. Martin of Winnebago, Rev.
Marsten and Rev. Larke. The w. R.
C. occupied seats at the front. They
were Mrs. W. j. Libby, Mrs. Alex
Latourelle, Mrs. Garrett, Mrs. J..
Strobel and Mrs NJ. Rathstock. The
invocation was given by Rev. Marsten
after which the high school orchestra
composed of Misses Clair Bishop,
Florence Laske, Frazier McGregor,
Leslie Kruger, James Emmerson
played "Our Boys" The Glee club
ladies then sang very sweetly Keep
the Home Fires Burning" and well
Never Let the Old Flag Fall" Miss
Ethel Scott presided at the piano.
Lincoln's address at Gettysburg was
given very feelingly by Edward Healy.
This selection seemed particularly
| appropriate at this time. Miss
Lenore Greiner, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. V. J. Greiner was then called
upon for a solo and she sang beauti
fully "The Flag Without a Stain. -
and for the encore Land of Mine"
with Mrs. l.. Borchert at the piano.
iC. N. Ackerson, chairman, then intro
duced the speaker of the afternoon
who is not stranger to Mapleton
audiences, and as usual DIR. Martin
had message which he delivered
without gloves, showing up the
slackers, Nonpartisan members and
Ipraising the government for all it has
done. The people packed into every
Iseat, were warm and uncomfortable,
and yet every now and then there
was burst of applause, showing that
levery word was appreciated. William
Hall, who arrived a week ago from
ST. Cloud, Fla, then in a few words
|, told of how the Stars and Stripes are
waving in the southland and that st.
lCloud had enough enlistments to
more than fill it's quota. The pro-
gram closed by the singing of "Star
Spangled Banner by the Glee club
and audience.
DIR. j. T. Bomberger, who has been
to the city several times in the past
ten days, was taken very ill on We'd
,nesday and on Thursday was placed
under quarantine for the dreaded
disease, diphtheria The doctor was
slightly better Saturday morning.
other class of young people have
completed the prescribed high school
course of studies and have gone forth
into the world, some for further
study, others in the various activities
iof life. The exercises this year were
made very happy and pleasant except
for the fact that on the last day one
of the boys of the class was placed
under quarantine on account of sick
ness in the family. The stage was
decorated in red roses, the
class flower and snow balls and red,
white and blue, the class colors. The
class motto was patriotic also, being
! the much used phrase, "Over the
Top" which was in white and held a
prominent place in the stage decor
alton. Promptly at 8 p. m. the mem
bers Of the class, eleven girls and one
boy took their places on the stage.
The girls wore the white MILDLY
suits with large red ties. The faculty