Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1917 — Goodland Honored Soldiers Saturday. [ARTICLE]

Goodland Honored Soldiers Saturday.

Goodland citizens, in a fine spirit of appreciation of the volunteer soldiers of Newton and Jasper counties, comprising Company M, gave a big farewell banquet to them Saturday. Practically the entire company attended and after giving a parade and exhibition drill in the school yard, were seated at tables in the dining room of the Catholic church, where a banquet, fully equalling those given the two nights before by Morocco and Rensselaer, was served. One table was occupied by the Goodland boys, fourteen in number, who were the honor guests. At the officers’, table were seated about a dozen officers, including besides the Rensselaer officers, Major Carl F. Beyer, and his adjutant, Lieut. C. C. Bassett, who are the officers of the battalion of which Company M is a part. It was the first time Major Beyer had seen the company and he praised them for their appearance in drill. Several brief speeches were made at the banquet, including an address of welcome by Mayor Hawn and responses by officers from Rensselaer. Mort Kilgore served as toastmaster. Several veterans of the civil war and two or three from the Spanish-Amer-ican war were also honor guests at the banquet. , The program concluded with a brief drill on the main business street. v

A feature of the day was the visit to Goodland of the mascot of the Kankakee, 111., company, a miniature lad of nine years. The little chap had recently been adopted by a member of the company, following the riot in East St. Louis. The company was serving there when the lad put in an appearance and asked to become a soldier. It was found that he was an orphan and a waif. He took so readily to the drill and made so many friends that it was decided to adopt him and give officialdom to his mascotry. Since then the boy has acquired knowledge of the drills and he not only accompanied Captian Garland in the parade but later took command of the company and in a clear, piping voice gave all the commands in a manual of arms. Although ninelyears old, the boy is no larger than the average child of five. The soldier who brought him from Kankakee told the story of his adoption and holding him high above his head in one hand gave all an opportunity to see the little fellow. Not only the soldiers but all citizens of Rensselaer are appreciative of the splendid manner in which Morocco and Goodland have entertained and honored their soldiers who are soon to leave for the southern training camp.