Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-03-20
SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED


,hings to eat," was the sentiment rel
oeated expressed by the the company /
IF Uncle Sans soldier boys, sailor
boys and marine boys which were en- |
5ertained by the citizens of Wa-Kee-
1ey last Friday evening.
The boys were assembled in the
Masonic lodge room and the banquet |
was served in the dining hall The !
good things to eat were prepared by
the ladies of Wa-Keeney under the
direction of the committee on rations
and were served by them with the as
siStance few gentlemen kitchen
police. The tables and room were ap-
propriately decorated with the nation
al colors and the tri-colors of the
allied nations. There was no attempt
made at Hooverizing and the menu
contained many of the luxuries of
nature and generous supply Of
tempting and most excellently prepar-
ed edibles together with a generous
supply of roasted turkey with each
plate. The boys enjoyed eating the
goodies and the kitchen police force
enjoyed issuing it to them so that
there was general enjoyment all
along the line. There was food and a
good time for all and the regret is
ber OF boys present to participate,
there being about fifty of them who
partook of the meal.
Preceding the banquet the boys
were extended welcome by Comrade
G. c. Yetter, of Ogallah, a lieutenant
in the union army in the Civil war
who not only told the boys how glad
we all are to see them safe home
again but compared the times, the
battles and the conditions under
which they had fought and served
with the similar conditions during the
civil war. The civil war of 81 to s65
was the greatest war of the times un-
til the breaking out of the great world
war which has out-classed and over
reached any previous war of the
world
R. w Blake1y, of OgaIlah, was
then introduced and told the boys
something about what those who had
remained at home behind the lines
had been doing He briefly reviewed
the conditions and circumstances pre-
ceedlng the war and which lead up to
1t and which made it necessary that
a great amount of money and sup
plies should be used for the comforts
OF the men who should fight the bat
ties of the war and for the people who
were suffering so much on account of
1t. He. told them of the campaigns for
money and supplies for the Red Gross,
for the ESeven in one'' organizations,
the soldiers welfare and the 'tLiberty
Loan Drives" It required men and
women of nerve, courage and bus
mess ability to pull these drives
across the same as it had done for
the boys in kahki uniforms to face
the German foe
The general public reception was
held at the Garden theater at 500
O'Clock and was attended by as large
crowd could get into the build
ing The audience came to order
when the bugler sounded the assem-
bly, call and this was followed by
singing ''The Star SpangIed Banner
and raising the Stars and Stripes. c.
H. Benson, chairman of the local
draft board, acted as master of cere-
monies and presented Judge I. T. Pur-
cell who extended the welcome of the
citizens of the county to the return
ed soldier boys. He briefly reviewed
the incidents of the past year and
called attention to the fact that it
was only a year ago that Kasier Viii
liam was at the head of a victorious
army which was gradually marching
on its way to Paris, and that Kaiser
William was absolutely confident that
no army earth could stop the adj
vance of his troops A year ago the
flower of American manhood was
leaving home, country and loved ones
on journey across the ocean to face
this victorious joe Sorrow reigned-
Now these same boys are coming
home after having done their part in
crushing this victorious foe and in
ridding the world of militarism. Joy
is reigning, except for the tears
which are being shed for the few who
have given up their lives and will not
come home Judge Purcell praised
true patriotism but boldly denounced
those who sympathized with the Ger
mans declaring that the man or wom-
an who took up the German cause had
better been sent to Germany where
| he or she would have been compelled