The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-04-15
The Grand Army Of .he Rcpublic.
THE GREAT FAIR AT THE CITY HALL COM
PLETE SUCCESS.

The City Hall presented magnificent sight
last evening, and when we say the City Hall
we mean not only the hall proper but the adj
joining rooms. Under the gaslight the drape-
ries, the flags, and the thousand and one ieco-
rations of the apartments lit up with great eff
feet created a toute ensemble that was praised
by every one. AS soon as the doors were
opened the crowd began to assemble, and when
the opening exercises of the evening CON-
menced the floor of the hall, as well as the
galleries. was crowded.
At 8 o'clock the members of Bosworth Post,
No'2, marched into the hall, escorted by the
Mechanic Blues and Light Infantry, accompa-
MED by the Portland Band After the militia
ry had come to "rest," Colonel T. A. Roberts,
the Chief Manager, introduced Rev. Mr.. Far
rington, who made brief and eloquent prayer.
Rev. E. G. Bodies was next introd ced and
delivered the opening address.
He said, regret the Office stand here to-
night to discharge is not filled by one more
competent than myself. There are men who
have brought back to civil pursuits the honor
and the virtues they have displayed on the
field of war, and they could better speak than
myself, who am endeavoring to simply occupy
q small corner of time in the present festivi.
ties. He then most POLITICALLY described visit
to battle field of the late war where nature
was smoothing out all signs of the great con-
fict, and said that the whole country was
trying to smooth out all signs in the
evidences of returning prosperity to the old
channels of trade and commerce. He spoke
of the small quantity of crime committed at
the end of the war which had been feared by
so many, and the return of the soldiers to their
old avocations, and said it simply proved that
such was the republican education of our men
that we coald rest assured that they would be
able to take up the sword if necessity required
1T and then lay it aside for peaceful pursuits
lie spoke of the fact that SO long after the
close of the war the heart of the soldier beats
strong in the interests of charity, and that he
does not forget those who have become depend
emit through that war. A half-million men en-
tered the war for .he protection of their coun-
try, and tonight there are five hundred thou
sand men banded together all over the coun-
try for the great battle against suffering and
misery.
Upon the hands of the men in the Portland
- wy VI sAiS oA"ho <AhhAJ AO0eo su0 UsCfO ttVItb
of more than eighty families. If we believe
the banner was honored when these men went
forth at the first shot fred against the country
at Sumter, it is more than doubly honored
now in their great work of noble charity to.
wards the wives and orphans of their COM
rades who died in its defence Now, ladies'
and gentlemen, we are the reserve of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. They have the battle
to win still, and it rests upon us. to rally to
their defence. We ought to come with lavish
generosity, when we consider what they have
done for us.
Around us are the names that shine like
stars in the great armament and great Gener-
ais look down upon u.s. Let MS remember to-
day is the anniversary of our great loss, when
the nation was deprived of its noble and be-
loved head. Remember when the wires flashed
the news across the country for more men,
three hundred thousand threw themselves into
the gap, and their blood was shed like water.
Now then let the rain of our charity descend
upon the widows and orphans of those who
died that their country might live, in proper
ton to the lberality with which they bled, that
we who stayed at home might live.
We cannot do anything like justice to this
most eloquent and brilliant extemporaneous
address in our report. There was considerable
confusion, and Mr.. Bolles gave sharp rebuke
to that class of our community who are SO sell
hsh they are determined they will not permit
others to enjoy what they cannot appreciate
themselves.
There was fine music by the Band, and the
presentation of an elegant silk flag to the Post
by the ladies, at the hands of Gen. Mattocks,
VINO made very telling speech, which we
should like to give but are compelled to omit
for want of space. This closed the regular ex-
ercises of the evening
In coming up the grand staircase one is
struck by the drapery of flags at the top and
sides to give the appearance of tent openings,
while small banners are suspended from the
entries above and overhang the stairs. On
reaching the top the following inscription
meets the eye: Portland gave the lives of 800
brave men to save the country. The widows
and orphans of these men look to us for kind
ness and care"
CITY HALL.
The hall is very handsomely and most appro-
prlately decorated Festoons of colored bunt-