While this closed my public life, as far as these holiday observances
went, I did not give up my music altogether, as I had no other way to
support myself and was still in possession of my voice and my ability
to teach was established. I went right on in the even tenor of my way
and did what I could toward making it possible for my pupils to take a
place with those who had succeeded in the beautiful art of music and
song. I had now taught in Oakland fifteen years and felt no uneasiness
as to the result, so I went bravely on doing what I could. My friends,
the soldiers of the G.A.R., felt their memorials and installations
were not complete without their Daughter of the Regiment who had never
denied them since 1861. Persons make a mistake who think they cannot
do much if they fail in the great achievements of life, but I contend
that the small things are not to be despised. I shall not be able to
put one-sixteenth part of my engagements in this book, but I will
illustrate with the G.A.R. and tell how often I have sung for that
organization alone. The reader will then realize the amount of work I
have done for churches, fraternal societies, missions, art classes,
sewing classes, functions of all kinds, club functions, singing
classes, holiday festivals, assistance to the young people of the
societies and Sunday schools of the churches with which I was
identified, guilds, charitable institutions and private affairs. Had I
not kept a diary for all these years I never would have known the vast
amount of work a person could do in a short life.
From 1861 until 1864 I did not keep a diary, but saved programmes of
special events. When the war started we were constantly doing
something for the soldiers. I will tell of an episode which convinced
me that the power of song is more lasting than we realize. When the
wounded men were brought home to the hospitals the different church
choirs were sent to sing for the sick and the dying, and at the
funerals. It seemed that each Sabbath afternoon I was administering to
the needs of the sick and wounded men. In 1862 I returned to
California and lived in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Stockton and
Oakland. I was the honored guest of the Appomattox Post, Captain
Thomas commanding, on April 26, 1894. It was the yearly visit to
inspect the Old Soldiers' Home at Yountville. Mr. Arbuckle and many of
the officers of the G.A.R. were in the party. I was to give the old
veterans some of the old melodies they loved. We had a full quartette
of musical people from the different posts, and when we arrived the
large hall was filled with the veterans. When my name was called upon
the programme it was impossible to begin until they had given vent to
their enthusiasm. I was in excellent voice and with my patriotic
spirit stirred I sang with a determined will to please once again, and
I certainly received a full return of appreciation.
After the concert a reception was held and I greeted them all as they
passed in file, and shook hands and received their expressions of
pleasure for my songs. After an excellent luncheon we inspected the
new kitchen and dining hall recently completed. One of the women, Mrs.
Sarah Markwert, and myself inspected the new kitchen and we came to
where one of the old veterans was washing the dishes. I said to my
friend, "Well, this is splendid, no one need mind washing dishes with
all these conveniences." At that moment the old man turned around and
with his hands in the dish water said to me, "Shure it's a many a long
day since I saw your face." I looked at him in astonishment and said,
"My dear comrade, where have I seen you before?" "Shure I was a sorry
looking man when you saw me in the hospital in Massachusetts as
helpless as a babe." "My dear sir, do you still remember me?" "Do we
forget the angels when once they visit us?" Then he went on with his
story until he brought the picture back to me as if it were yesterday.
Truly I was convinced of the power of song. He had listened to me when
sick and wounded and as his mind went back to the days of '61 he still
remembered the face and the singer and the song. After bidding him
good-bye and thanking him for his long remembrance of me, I turned
thoughtfully away. As we came upon the porch of the hospital I passed
a middle aged man and I nodded pleasantly and passed him by. As I
passed he said, "Are you going to forget your old postman of 120
Charles street, Boston?" I could not reply for a moment, and I looked
at him and said, "Are you Charles Blake?" He said, "I am." "What are
you doing here, are all the Eastern soldiers here in this place?"
"No," he replied, "Only two or three of us." "I was speaking to one
just now in the kitchen who remembered me." "Oh, yes, Patrick, he was
in the same place I was." "How did you happen to come here?" I asked
him. "My letter pouch became too heavy for me to carry and I asked to
be sent here, and I expect to remain the rest of my life." Truly,
wonders will never cease, said I, as we left him and went to the sick
room. There we saw rows of beds all occupied except three or four. At
the head of the stairs we stopped to speak to the old veteran and
inquired of his health. He said, "My days are short and I am ready to
go at any time now." I said, "You were unable to hear the music
today?" "Yes," he said, "I thought once or twice I could catch a sound
of it, but I could not tell." I asked him if he liked music and he
said, "Very much, and I wanted to hear the singer today for I had
heard her sing before I got bedridden, when she was a young woman, and
I was so sorry to have missed it." I said, "What song would you like
best to hear, now that you are sick, if you could hear anyone sing?"
"The song I have in my mind now is Nearer, My God, to Thee." I took
his wasted hand in mine and stood at the head of his bed and sang to
him and to all the sick in the ward. After I had finished a silence
was o'er all, save a sob or two from those who were deeply affected by
the song. The nurse approached and asked me if I would sing Rock of
Ages for one veteran who was lying at the other end of the ward. I
complied and when I had finished these poor afflicted men wanted to
thank me, so I passed from one bed to another and said a parting word
to each, and as I passed the bed of the old dying man, on my return,
he said with tears, "I shall not forget the song or the singer. The
memory of both will go with me to the gates of Paradise. I'll not
forget, good-bye." He lingered for another week, they told me, and his
last words were from the hymn, Nearer, My God, to Thee.
I have felt it my sacred duty to always answer the call of the
soldier. It began in 1861 and has always been listened to by me since.
I have sung at many exercises, at the Memorial exercises, which began
in 1880, I sang for the George Thomas Post. On January 18, 1885, I was
at the installation of post officers. Memorial day of that year I sang
at the Metropolitan hall, San Francisco. In 1886 I sang in the same
auditorium, which was packed, and I sang there again in 1887. In 1888
I sang for the W.R. Cornman Post, No. 57, San Bernardino. On January
5, 1889, installation exercises, and on January 30, 1889, G.A.R. camp
fire for veterans, I sang at San Bernardino. Returning to San
Francisco, I sang at the installation exercises in May, 1889, on
Memorial Day. On September 3, George Thomas Post concert in aid of
veterans' families. In 1890 I sang at the Sabbath service in the
Methodist Church for veterans. On May 30, Congregational Church,
Oakland, to a great congregation. Music was furnished by thirty picked
voices. Alfred Wilkie sang the Sword of Bunker Hill; Vive l'America,
and Tender and True were sung next. As Captain Thomas remarked, this
song was sung by the same singer in 1861, twenty-nine years before,
when the war was on, and once again to commemorate the brave who died.
On March 6, 1894, I participated at a grand rally and musical of Lyon
post and corps. On March 15, at Appomattox corps and post concert;
April 23, G.A.R. reception, Congregational Church, Edwin C. Seymour
and General W.H.L. Barnes, speakers, Mrs. Blake-Alverson, vocalist. On
April 24, reception of G.A.R. at Mills Tabernacle, Governor Markham
and staff present. The building was densely crowded and the enthusiasm
was marked. The band played the national anthems. I sang the Star
Spangled Banner and Annie Laurie amid the cheers and tremendous
applause of veterans and others present. On April 26 the Yountville
yearly visit to the Soldiers' Home was made by the Appomattox posts
and a concert was given and a general inspection of the home was held.
On May 8, 9, and 22 were days of receptions and entertainments to
raise funds. On May 30 I sang in the Methodist Church, Berkeley. On
June 14 I sang at the tenth anniversary of Appomattox Post and on June
15 anniversary of Lyon Corps and banquet. On July 19 I sang at
reception of G.A.R. officers and their families who had assembled from
other California cities and the East. August 6, September 1, 4, 22,
Admiral Porter Post No. 169, Lyon Post, Cole. E.D., Baker Camp No. 5;
October 25, National Guard of California; November 16, Flags of all
Nations concert; December 11, Lyon Corps entertainment. In 1895,
January 3, 8, March 13, May 30, July 4, July 9, 31, September 11,
November 13, were days of installation, memorials, processions of
importance, bazaars and concerts. In all I participated.
[Illustration:
Georgia Sroufe
Mrs. Dollie Sroufe-Tiffany
Sophia Faull
Rose Faull
Edith Beam
Biddle Bishop
Carrie Brainard, Birdie Brainard
Bessie Graves
Ada Van Winkle
Mrs. Hattie Brainard
Susan Sroufe