New Britain herald., 1930-03-06
W. s. Sternberg and Baby" Root Hold Ses- sion of G. A. R. to Up- hold Traditions and Abide by Rules of Organ ization to Keep Charter.

lZatlOn to Aeep Charter.
 They played cards these two old cronies, played cards while the noon day sun beat slantingly, striking a copper cast of Abe Lincoln. It was a iame called Pedro, and the slap, slap of the cards was broken onily by the heavy breathing of Baby l;oot-all five comrades referred to i'm as Baby" for he was the oldest Of the six, over 91, and they, y,whose aggregate age was over 500, playfully 1nothered him. Last month there were seven-but since then final taps Were blown and Michael McMahon had crossed the great divide, had gone to join the bivouack of the dead.
 Pedro is an old game and if one cares to look back into history he will find that it was popular with the Union soldiers during the war Of the rebellion. Then, around camp tres and beside stacked rifles, when inc roar of battles had subsided and the 11ickering flames cast their cheerful glow, it was shuffle and cut and deal-for weary muscles ,!ust relax and battle torn minds turn to other channels. So even now in the cozy quarters of Stanley post G. A. R., in the city hall, it is shuf- fife and cut and deal. Perhaps the same visor is gone, perhaps once the 1c hot a1, +,1, gun and the scabbard are no longer ralloused nor torn, perhaps the cards waver ever 50 slightly-but :till Comrades Sternberg and Root play Pedro like they did in years zone by and maintain that it is & great game.
 The blue banner with Boys of q" emblazoned in gold. had caught the last red gleam of the afternoon sun. The altar of the post, shrouded in the Stars and the Stripes and the 1'nfurled banner indicating the fact that the Stanley post was now hay ing it's monthly meeting. occupied the center of the room. Acting Con- lander William s. Sternberg-Com- tlander Woods was ill in the hos ptal-gavel of authority in his and, called the meeting to order. There were two besides Comrade Sternberg, Baby Root and Alfred Remington. Remington, an old h. dian fighter, was the handy man of the post and assisted at it's functions. He himself, though only son of a CIVIL war veteran, took an active ' interest in the doings of the post. He would act as adjutant, read re- ports, make notatons. probably move the tables later. There they were, three old warriors. taking up only the corner of the room.
 Comrades" came from the lips of acting Commander Sternberg. ad- dressing the two in the corner roonl-in reality there was only one 'Comradc," for Remington was R son of a veteran, and years younger. The gavel fell, once, twice, three lines, the meeting Of the Stanley post, G. A. R., was opened. Com rades,' again from the lips of acting Commander Sternberg--he looked squarely at his comrade Root. his old crony, Baby" Root, whose folks even didn't know how old he was though they knew he was over ?0." What mattered if Comrade Root was almost totally deaf, if he only sat at the corner table ,an curious ly watched the proceedings, idly shuffling the cards. The meeting must go on, for, the acting com. mander had confided earlier, "We must retain our charter and the meeting must be held if there is only ono here to do it." The meet ing opened with prayer, "Oul Father-keep us in health-till we join together in a grand oomrade. ship"
 Letters from I'lorida's sunny climes, from the two bad boys play ing hockey, excusing themselves fol being unable to attend ,one sorry to hear that Comrade McMahon is no longer with us" Letters from other posts throughout the state from national headquarters, finan. cial statements. No more business The meeting was closed. The old flag folded and creased time and again was reverently placed aside the al lar gently pushed into the corner o inc room. The two veterans glanced at each other, both sought the card, once more, shuffle, cut, and dea Pedro is a quaint old game. very much like high, low jack. There was a delay as the pack was shuffled one card fell to the floor. A chail sQueeked and a groping hand re irieved it. Tho game went on. The sinking sun painted miniature camptires on the walls, the blue banner was in the shadow, the gol den letters of the Boys of 61" los their glint. Over it all Abe Lincolr was watching