The Portland daily press., 1874-02-27
THE RECEPTION.
Gov. DingIey and the First Maine.
Music, and Feasting and Flowers.

A large crowd assembled in front of the Fal
mouth at three o'clock in the afternoon to wit.
ness the arrival OF Governor Dingley and staff
Col. Mattocks, Adjutant Adams and Captain
Small of the Jameson Guards. went out to
Yarmouth to meet the distinguished guests.
The party arrived at the Falmouth at three
O'Clock. and at once proceeded to their rooms.
In the party were Adjutant General B. b. Muir
ray of Augusta, Inspector General Isaac Dyer
OF Skowhegan, Assistant Commissary General
Chase of Augusta, Assistant Judge Advocate
General Stevens of West Watervile, Assistant
Surgeon General Huckins of Corinth, Aides de
Camp, Lie1t. Colonels Whitcomb of Ellsworth
and Howard of Lewiston, and Major Davis,
Military Secretary. A lso of the Governor S
Council, Messrs Mason, Lindsay and Downes
At six o'clock Gen. Chamberlain arrived, and
with him Col Beal, Col. Brown, Major Far
rington, Major Bradbury, Major Benson. Major
Godfrey, Capt. Follansbee and Orderly Pit
man, proceeded to the Falmouth
| AT seven o'clock, two lines of sentres de-
tailed from the Portland Light Infantry, were
drawn up in the corridor of City building, lead
| ing to the staircase, and a squad of policemen
were stationed to keep back the encroachng
half past seven the galleries of City Hall were
packed every seat ou the floor was taken and
the ante-room and corridors were alive with
elegantly dressed ladies and with men in blne
coats and black
The hall was admirably decorated. Stream
ers of bunting, red, white and blue, reached
from the opening in the ceiling to the capitals
| of the pillars Numbers of small corps flags
embelished thes capitals. Soldiers knapsacks
and devices in the forms of stars, occupied the
spaces between the pillars. Regimental flags
thirteen in number, hung from the galleries,
beneath which were festoons of bunting The
front of the stage was draped with American
and English flags, festooned with evergreen.
In the centre stood an eagle, bearing in his
beak white ribbon with the motto, "First
Regiment M. V. NJ, Welcome to Governor
Dingley." On either side of the stage stood
marques surrounded by flags In the rear was
the eas-star with the monogram "P. L. l."
surmounted with the Army & Navy aud Port
land Cadet prize flags. At the rear of the hall
was cannon, and decoration formed of flags
radiating from drum surmounted by an eagle.
The Governors dressing room and the ante
rooms above and below were also draped in
bunting.
Some minutes after eight o'clock the Cover
nor and staff, followed by Gen. Chamberlain
and staff, entered the building between the line
of soldiers and proceeded to the dressing room.
The line officers of the first regiment were then
drawn up in the rear of the hall, and shortly
after Gov. Dingley, leaning on the arm of Col.
Mattocks, followed by the two stats, made his
appearance in the hall. The line officers of the
regiment were presented to him, after which all
marched to the stage and Mayor Wescott STEP
ping forward introduced the guest in the fol-
lowing concise and pertinent language:
ladies and Gentlenaen-We are honored to-
night with the presence of Governor Dingley.
the chiaf Executive of our State-a man whose
ability and integrity is too well known to re-
has recognized, and by his presence he recog-
nlzes the Importance TO the State of the main
tainance of suitable volunteer militia, hence
It is emInently fit and proper that the officers
OF this Department should assemble here and
extend to their chief reception
In behalf OF the citizens of Portland it be-
comes my pleasant duty to offer to Governor
Dingley welcome to our city, and I trust that
our citizens will vie with each other and extend
to our honored guest hearty welcome
now have the honor to introduce to Won |
Hon. Nelson Dingley, Governor of Maine.
Gov. Dngley responded, rendering his sim |
cere thanks for the cordial reception, which he |
looked upon, not as personal com mpliment, but |
as recognition of the Chief Executive and the |
Commander-in-Chief. Every citizen of Maine, |
he said, had an honest pride in Portland as
the chief commercial city of the State. He
complimented the officers upon their soldierly
bearing, and asked the citizens present to ex-
tend to the military arm of the State that SYM
athy and support which it so we'll deserves.
At the conclusion If the addresses, Governor
Dingley and Gen. Chamberlain descended to
the foor where many ladies and gentlemen
were presented to them. After the ceremony
of introduction tney retired to the ante-room.
Soon after the line Of the grand march, led by
Col. Mattocks and Mrs. Dingley was formed
The ball which succeeded was a brilliant
affair." About two hundred couples participat-
ed The order of dances, bearing portrait of
Governor Dingley, were elegantly gotten up.
embossed and befowered. Indeed, the weight
of the floral decorations seemed to be upon
these cards. There were many elegant toilets
worn by the ladies, and these and the military 1
uniforms and the decorations combined to make
the scene a very brilliant one. After the sixth
dance banquet was given in the ante-room to
the Governor and General Chamberlain, and
staffs At its conclusion six more dances were
gone through with. The company broke up
somewhere in the small hours
The affair was undoubtedly the most bril-
liant ef the kind which ever came off within
the limits of the State. Admirably planed, it
was as admirably carried out in its minutest
details. The decorations of and arrangements
in the hall were excellently gotten up. The at
,I,,. L. hill -
the ceremonies passed off unexceptionably
Happy in its inception, the affair was as great
a success as its most sanguiEe projectors could
hope. The Portland Light Infantry have reas-
on to pride themselves upon that success. With
tlem was most of the work; to them belongs
whatever praise is to be given. The success of
the reception is due, in great measure, to the
unwearied exertions of Lieut. Pride.
Among the military men in attendance were
Gen. Thomes, U. S. A., Lieut.. Pray of the
First Massachusetts Infantry, Col. Mattocks
and Adjutant Adams of the First Maine, Gen.
Smith. Adjutant Gen. Murray, Major General
Stevenson of Massachusetts, Capt Small and
Lieut. Clark of the Jameson Guards, Capt. Per-
ham, Lieut.. Mennealy, Lieut.. Hunt and Lieut..
Carville of the Androscoggin battery, Capt.
Pratt, Lieut.. Hinkley and Lieut. Gilbert Of he
Hersey Light Infantry, Capt Emery of the
Skowhegan Light Infantry, Capt. Fessenden.
Lieut.. Proctor, and Lieut. Pride of the Portland
Light Infantry, Capt. Pennell of the Blues,
Lient. Gately of the Montgomery Guards, and
Capt. Somers of the Sheridan Cadets. The
Portland and Bowdon Ca diets were also repre-
| sented.
MASS TEMPERANCE MEETINa.-Gov Ding
| ley has been invited to preside at the Temper
ance meeting, and will accept if public duties
| do not compel him to return to Augusta by the
morning train. If our citizens, especially the
women, take an active interest in the meetings
to-day grand success may be assured, and
much good may result. Besides the organIza-
ton in the forenoon, at 10 o'clock addresses
| will be made by clergymen and others present.
The best methods to secure constant expression
of public sentiment in relation to the suppress
sion of the dram shop will be thoroughly dis
cussed and without doubt such measures VIII
be recommended as will seem best to secure
this important end. The grand rally In the