The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-08-22
Castle Court Entertainers Give Pleas
ing Exhibitions in costume--The
Work Was Thoroughly Enjoyed
Notes and Comments.

play of applause of any session so
far, popular not only as the author of
the book, "Over There" so widely
read, but also as coming platform
speaker of no small import II was
indeed an honor that one of our own
boys, Corporal Howard S. Davidson,
a recent graduate of Penn college,
should have the pleasure of introduc-
ing Private Peat to the audience.
Both wore the khaki uniform and
when Peat made his appearance, the
boys shook hands in friendly greet
ing and then almost automatically
their right hands came up in salute
as becomes the true soldier.
Private Peat went over to the
Western front with one of the earli-
est Canadian regiments and to a large
extent they were unprepared for the
vigorous warfare that confronted
them, but like true men they arose
to the emergency and met their foe
with undaunted courage. After their
- arrival at the front, Peat spent most
of his time on the Flanders border
near Ypres and has seen all that war
means from there to Vimy Ridge. He
was gassed and is even now contend
ing with the effects of it, and part
of the right lung was injured by an
explosive German bullet and he was
so badly wounded in the shoulder that
for time the muscles of his right
arm were paralyzed.
A ForcefuI Speaker.
His talk in general was frequently
interrupted by applause. His mode
of expression was at times strong
and vigorous, but he had come from
a rough and rigorous experience and
there are times when only certain
words will properly express just the
thoughts that should be conveyed in
the face of experiences like those
and these words he did not hesitate
to use, but called things by their
right names. He told of his life in
the trenches and the work of the
death-dealing hand grenade. He
gave an inner view of the thoughts
of the soldier as he faces the battle
front, regarding his duty and his al
legiance to his God and he stated
that it was his belief that these rough
and ready soldiers, did in general
more genuine and sincere praying,
than many of the people did at home.
Message To Mothers.
Private Peat stated that he beiev
ed that the stopping of the onward
march of the Germans toward Paris
in the first years of the war, was
nothing short of Providential, and he
could explain it in no other way. He
also had vital message to the
mothers, the wives and the sweet
hearts of the boys "over there" and
said that the men were bound to
come back better men than when they
went away, as the rigorous experience
would either make or break them, and
it was far more honorable to come
back crippled and wounded than to
have proved to be Stacker.
We Shall Win.
There is no doubt in his mind as to
that it will be done by the help of
God and the strong manhood of
America,-but when? No one knows.
But we will win in the end. Peat
was very strong in his denunciation
of the German propaganda that in
sists in peddling about the country,
veritable mass of lies. His advice
is to make no statement under any
conditions, that you cannot absolute
ly prove. And if you do not favor
the cause of the allies, keep your
mouth shut. He spoke for about two
hours and throughout the entire talk
held the keen interest of all present.
Musicians Enjoyed.
During the session of the after
noon, the Castle Court Entertainers
gave a fine program of varied selec-
tions and proved their versatility to
a notable degree. The company
comprises H. r. Hoffman, manager.
basso and reader; Mrs. Sylvia Lewis,
contralto; Miss Helen Waite, sopra-
no; A. Angel, tenor, and Miss Joan
Barr, accompanist. Vocal solos,
trios, nursery songs, oratorio and
grand opera sketches as we'll as the
selections of the quartette all con-
tributed to make up a thoroughly
pleasing program. In the evening
they presented In rich and handsome
costumes, recital OF the Old English
songs Of, tie days Of Queen Elizabeth
their entrance song being that of
strolling band of musicians in Their
singing before royalty. Their Ell
tire work was thoroughly enjoyed and
they proved themselves to be gifted
artists of genuine ability.
Notes and Items.
J. Worth Allen and H. r. Hoffman
of the Castle Court Company had the
pleasure of renewing their friendship
so...,oa a., THAR Guantanamo trims