Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-06-17
DIR 9ailp Spp.
TIL, RsDAY, JUNE II. 1858.


R.cen,ion Of she Boston Light Infantry,
Wednesday was glorious day for the ceremo-
mics Of the reception, by the Worcester City
Guards, Of the Boston Light Infantry, Captain
CHARLES Rogers commanding. The Tigers ar
rived in the cty by an extra train from Norwich
punctuaIy at the hour Of g. accompanied b.
Gilmores Brass Band, fne-iooking corps o
performers. The booming Of cannon announced
their arrival After marching upt Main street,
they were received by the City Guards, Captain
Ward commanding, in front Of their armOry, amid
large eoncoarse Of spectators, inimposing style
after which they were received by his Honor the
Mayor, in the City Hall, who welcomed them in
behalf of the city, in an eloquent and appropri'
ate speech. as follows:
MAYOR DAvIss SPEECH.
Officers and Soldiers Of the Boston Lagat A'ya''e
Tys na ,
Ii gives me great pleasure % see TINS noole
and far.famed company in the Heart of the Com
monwealth. The Worcester Guards gave you a
welcome at the railway station as yon approach
ed the CITY Hall, the loud tones OF the artillery
announced to you welcome; the stats and
stripes on yonder flagstaff indicated to you
welcome. Now, as the chief executive otilcer OF
the city of Worcester, tender to you cordial
welcome to the city duO TO us uVsplAaltlAco' al
ter visiting, as you have, the great commercial
metropolis Of America, where deserved honors
were showered thick upon you, our city may seem
small and diminutive yet you Will hnd mere
warm hearts, pure patriotism, a strong love OF
country, and men who believe that well-disci
plined, we'll organized citizen aodeTy is necessa-
~ to the preservation of the free institutions OF
this great republic. A force sufficient to quel
domestic insurrection, to repel foreign invasion,
to carry the laws of the country into execution,
is absolutely necessary to preserve the glorious
institutions bequeathed 10 us by our fathers
This force is safer in a citizen soldery than IN
standing army. You are an honorable part OF
the force established, by the laws of the Com
monwealth, for these great objects. You have
noble and sacred trust. Be true to the trust
confded to YOU, and you will commend the re-
spect and esteem Of the wise and the good
Mr. Commander, l welcome you to your native
city, to the place of your birth, to the pleasant
associations of your childhood, and to the spot
of your mental and martial exploits and l trust
that you, and those under your command, will
have no occasion to regret your visit to the Heart
Of the Commonwealth.
Officers and soldiers, 1 again bid you hearty
welcome, hoping that your interview with the
Worcester Guards and the citizens may strength
en- your attachment to liberty, to our free institu-
tons, and to the glorious Union of the States.
To this Capt. Rogers Of the Infantry responded
briefly and appropriately. e.
Both companies, with invited guests, then re-
paired to the armory, in Brinley Hall, where a
bountifu collation. Of substantials was served up.
They then marched through some Of the princi-
pal streets, the Guards being accompanied by
.Fiske's Cornet Baud, whose enlivening strains of
music added so much TO the interest of the occa-
sion. Athalf.past eleven o'clock they we're re-
viewed on the Common by His Honor Mayor Da-
Wis, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Leonard and
staff, Colonel Child and staff, officers of Com
pany B., Holden, and Major Stoddard and
staff The companies went through with their
operations in magnificent style, winning the
highest commentator from all.
At twelve O'Clock the Mayor gave reception
to the officers of both companies, with other mill
tary and civil guests, and right good time was
had, His Honor sparing nothing in the exercise
Of his usual liberality in fare on such occasions.
AT one o'clock both companies, with invited
guests, sat down to well laden table, in the ar
mofy, set for nearly three hundred. and every
plate was filled. or the materials furnished, it
is praise enough to say that they were provided
by that model caterer, Augustus Mars, whose
dinners are always tip top, but this one seemed
in the opinion Of all who partook of it, to be a
little ahead Of anything they had ever before sal
down to. eF tNt fe
At the head Of the hall was picture of City
Guard grasping tiger by his paws. as he stood
upon his hind legs, the tiger having very pleas
ed expression on his countenance. Over the pic
ture was the word "Welcome." Under this was
a more elaborate picture Of Capt. Rogers and
Capt. Ward, with heart between, with a gilded
sun in the centre, surmounted with this motto
" 1t warns the heart to greet her SON" and be-
lew the figures, "Reunion June l6, 1853" AT
the opposite end Of the hall, over the enhance
was gilt eagle, holding in his beak picture in
frame representative Of the Boston Light Infant
ny, surmounting the whole Of which was life size
portrait Of Washington.
At about TWO o'clock, after the CHATTER Of
knives and forks had subsidized, and the wants Of
the inner man had been thus fully attended to,
Capt. Ward called the assembly to order, and, in
few appropriate remarks, extended cordial
welcome, in behalf Of the City Guards, to Their
brethren of the Boston Light Infantry, whose
commanding officer, Capt. Rogers, had received
his first lessons in life here, having been born
and bred among us, where many Of his early as
sociates in boyhood still reside. Capt. Ward then
referred in appropriate terms to some Of the asso-
Citations connected with the boyhood Of Capt.
Rogers, in this city, and to some of his early as.
soeiates, now or past officers in the Guards and
(Worcester) Infantry, Lieut.. Hathaway among
others. He had vivid recollection Of the visit
OF the Tigers to Worcester in 1874, when they
were commanded by Capt. Park, and the Guard,
by Capt Newton, now deceased, to whose mem
DRY he paid beautiful tribute. Capt Ward con-
cluded by reading sentiment complimentary t.
the Boston Light Infantry, as follows
Bosfon Lfeht Infanfrg- Its history Of sixty years
and its long roll Of lnsious names, gives 1t high po
Dlion in the esteem and affection ofthe people OF Massa
chusetts-but the last name written on her banner o
oommandthat OF enc ofher own sonsgyes to the city
Of Worcester pulse Of pride and pleasure and
truth and meaning 70 our motto VT warns the hear
to greet her son.
To this, Capt. Rogers responded, in speech
full "Reminiscences Of his early life the first
enteen years Of which were spent IN this city ant
Of illusions to those now in active manhood, will
whom be had been acquainted in boyhoOd anC
youth, among Others to Capt Lincoln. and Lieut.
Hathaway, his school associate. These allusioni
brought down the house in an uproar Of ap.
plause. After extending his cordial thanks, in
behalf ofthe Boston Light Infantry, to the Wor.
cester City Guards, for tho reception this day
which was truly, he said, Of the proudest days
Of his life, Capt Rogers concluded BY offering, as
a sentiment; ,... ,,... IS
.
The city Of WerossfsV--rhe reception OF her absent
sons today, with their comFades tesaes ina most graft