Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-02-04


last week, was more than success. 1t
was the most brilliant affair ever held
here. The arrangements by the Mason
ic Fraternity Of this place had been very
ample and extensive, and the result
must have exceeded their expectations
In all departments everything was most
excellent and only equalled by the order
and harmony throughout. The fraterni-
ty Of this village devoted themselves al
most entirely to the reception and enter
tainment Of their guests-an attention
which was fully appreciated by their
brethren from abroad, and which great
ly enhanced the enjoyment of the even
ing.
Many prominent Masons we're in at
tendance from Brattleboro, Chester, Rut-
land and other places in this state and
from Walpole, Charlestown, Keene,
Marlboro, &c, in New Hampshire, and
among them was Gen. Griffin of Keene,
all Of whom notonly expressed themselves
well pleased with their reception, but
spoke in high terms of praise of the en-
terprise Of our citizens which had result
ed in the building of so fine block and
its convenienees, and especially of the
Masonic and Union Halls.
The first upon the programme was the
entrance into the hall for the grand
promenade, which was perhaps the most
imposing scene of the evening. The fra
ternity, large portion of whom wore the
beautiful regalia Of the Knights Templar,
with their ladiesin toilettes of equal splen-
dor, entered and marched in promenade
around the hall to the exceedingly fine
and inspiring music of Halls Band of
Boston.
The toilettes of the ladies were es-
pecially admired and BETTING the time
and place. There were many heavy
black-silks worn with white shawls,
brown silk richly trimmed with black
lace, a beautiful green silk with lace
shawl and an elegant garnet silk, which
were relieved by the pretty white alpaccas
and gauzy tarletons and muslins of the
Misses. The dress of one lady, much ad-
mired, was pulled white lace with scar
let trimmings, another of pure white,
and one CT mauve silk were faultless.
One lady wore a lovely green silk with
white lace over-skirt. Another wore
white cashmere with buff trimmings,
another rich blue silk. Many others
were equally stylish and pretty.
After this followed the usual pro-
gramme of dancing with some variations
particularly by the music, which was
the admiration of all during the entire
evening. In one of the quadrilles was
introduced a medley of the hooking
bird, Scotch bag-pipe, torpedoes, &c.
AT eleven o'clock came the supper,
which was served in Masonic Hall,
where the tables were literally loaded
with the choicest delicacies of the season,
in fact everything which could tempt
the palate was to be found and in the
most attractive form. The boquets were
exquisitely beautiful several of which
were tipped with splendid callas these
interpreted with fruits, dainty jellies,
hot escalloped oysters, chicken salad,
pastry, some of hich bore Masonic en-
blems, confectionery, &C., besides the
meats, turkey, tongue, &c, formed
the most tempting array of viands, that
an epicure could desire. The credit of
the supper, we understand is entirely
due to the wives of the Masons in this
place, than whom we venture to say no
better cooks can anywhere be found.
After the supper had been fully dis
clssed aud enjoyed by all, the company
again retired to the hall where the occa-
sion was finally closed by the band play
ing and all joined in heartily singing
"Auld Lang Syne," and thus closed an
occasion of much pleasure, and one
which by all present, will long be asso-
ciated with pleasant memories.
"THE GLOOM OF AUTUMN. On the
first page will be found a very readable
poem under the foregoing head. As in
timated .here it was written by one DR..
Selah Gridley, about the year 1875, who
was then resident of South Woodstock,
as school teacher. The poem, though
not to be compared with, reminds one of
Grey's Elegy. 1t was thought so much
of at the time it was written, that it was
printed in slips, one of which was pre-
serv-d by one of his pupils, a lady still
living in Essex County, New York, who
is now eighty-fve years of age, and from
which we have copied. We don't know
that it ever appeared in print in any
other form. DIR. Gridley also wrote an
other poem near the same time, entitled
The Passing Stream" in similar vein,