The Only Veteran in Town

This is the best Decoration Day picture we have seen this year up to date; but it is only a commercial offering made to fill the demand this week for such pictures, built along conventional lines, and with effects plainly contrived, it deals with things that are, in themselves, emotional (there is nothing more so to Americans) and so it stirs us deeply, in spite of its lack of logic. With good music, it is sure to impress any not critical audience. The insincerity of that part of the picture in which the old soldier is neglected and "thought too old to enjoy the parade" by his son and daughter-in-law (how palpably false as shown) is hidden by the deep feeling that we all have for such a grand old veteran (Charles Kent) with an armless sleeve. Neither producer nor author deserve credit since both worked in a hurry; but Charles Kent in the title role and Adele De Garde deserve high commendation. The photography didn't do the picture justice. - The Moving Picture World, June 14, 1913

It's Memorial Day and everyone is heading downtown to watch the parade. Left at home is Charles Kent, the only veteran of the Civil War and his granddaughter Adele DeGard, who insists on staying with the old, one-armed man.

Charles Kent, after a long career on the stage, became an actor and director for Vitagraph, usually for their more literary films, like their Shakespeare adaptations. He would retire from directing in 1913, but would act in movies until his death ten years later. Miss DeGard began her film career in with D.W. Griffith, but moved to Vitagraph in 1911. Her movie career ended in 1918.

This sentimental and well performed movie can be seen in a beautifully tolled print at the Eye Institute site on YouTube.