Home Guards

If there is a Hun in this community who doubts that the Home Guards have the necessary qualities to accomplish their purpose he should have been on hand Monday afternoon and evening to see for himself.

There was something doing every minute from the time of the sound of the bugle calling the Home Guards together, until an hour in the morning which we will not mention here.

Early in the day there was assurance of success, as the weather man had been generous in his allotment of warm sunshine, and had even withheld any suggestion of a cold wind or the chilly, damp atmosphere which prevailed the previous week. It was an ideal day, in fact too ideal, so far as bringing the farmers in to the celebration was concerned.

During the forenoon the committees were busy with their final arrangements, and the streets and business places were appropriately decorated with the National Colors.

Promptly at 1 o’clock the Home Guards gathered at their headquarters, and, headed by the Fairfax band, paraded through the streets of the village, finally resting at the village hall, where an auction was to be held, consisting of farm products contributed by farmers and articles donated by the business firms.

The Auction

Col. C. H. Hopkins, veteran auctioneer of this community, took charge of the auction sale, and proved that he had lost none of the vigor and humor which has marked the success of hundreds of sales which he has conducted.

The first article sold was an American flag, which Mr. Hopkins eulogized by telling how he, and thousands of others, had suffered battle and hardship to preserve, and how thousands of others are now fighting that this glorious emblem may carry the message of Liberty to all the world; and for which the Home Guards have pledged themselves to the State of Minnesota to defend, not only from captured by and enemy army, but to defend it even from insult by a cur within our borders.

The flag was sold for a good round sum, after which the other articles, consisting of fancy work, pumpkins, merchandise, canned goods, ducks, chickens, potatoes, grain and every conceivable thing were handed out to the liberal bidders at good prices. The sale netted over $300.

Home Guards Drill

After the auction, the band struck up a martial tune and the Guards “fell in” and marched to the ball park, where they went through many maneuvers in spectacular drill, much to the delight of the hundreds who gathered to watch them.

With their neat looking uniforms, all new, they presented a fine appearance, demonstrating that their efforts in tireless practice throughout the summer had not been in vain.

Finally the company was assembled in front of the grand stand, and an automobile was backed up bearing a huge camera, and the Guards were “shot” for the first time in their military lives. The background was supplied by the Fairfax band seated in the grand stand immediately behind the guards, and the spectators.