The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
Observances in Maine and Else
where.


where.
Dedication of n Soldiers Monument in
WatereilIe.
WATERvILLE, May 30.-The observance of
Decoration Day was of more than ordinary in
terest in the town to-day because of the dedica-
tion of soldiers monument which has been
subject of much interest by the people of the
town for some time. The monument is one of
the most beautiful in the State and reflects the
highest credit to the taste and patriotism of
those who have secured its building. The mon
ument consists of granite base of rare design
surmounted by bronze statute of the citizen.
soldier. The procession was very large. The
Colby Rifles performed escort duty, and in that
capacity attracted much attention by their SOL
diery appearance. The procession was made
up Of Heath Post, G. A. r., Odd Fellows fire
companies and large body:of citizens. Busi-
ness was generally suspended and nearly 5000
people were present at the exercises The ora
ton was delivered by M. L. Stevens, ESQ.,, of
Portland, and A. L. Kinds of Benton read an
original poem. A quartette furnished excel
lent music. The exercises were most impress
sive. The following is an abstract of Mr.. Stew
ems address:
The speaker remarked in opening that it were
well if. to the memorial of the fallen ones here
erected there were added only the unseen tear
and the uuspoken sigh from loving hearts while
strangers present should stand by bowed and
hushed,
"'Tis manliness to be heart broken here.
The grave of earth's best nobleness is watered by
tear"
Yet important lessons may be drawn from the
memories to which the day is sacred. As
Americans we bear a common love to this
of it and of nothing more than of the fair leg
acy of daring and heroism bequeathed by our
citizen soldiery. Once, twice and again have
they come from the pursuits of peace to wi n
their noblest laurels on fields of blood, giving
life itself that the nation might live.
Referring to the rebellion he said it needs not
that its story should be told today. 1t is only
just below the horizon of present view, the
CLEAN of the battle light and the rush
of the bayonet charge come to us even
now as the after-ripples of the waters upon a
sea-shore, yesterday dashed by the pillows and
beat by thetsurges of storm.
As one after another the passing years come
between us and those events, we may accept
each annual way-mark as but steps in ladder,
whose ascent shall enable us better to under
ciate the devotion and heroism of those W hose
graves we deck with flowers today. Whence
came these men! From what sea OF influence
sprang, Minerva-lke, fully armed that array
of heroes? To these and like questions cur
vantage height of fifteen years will enable US
to find ready reply. The speaker then passed
in rapid review the conditions physical and pO-
litical, from which the fathers of the nation
wrought the power and ren0wn ofwhich we were
so proud at the opening of the rebellion, and
orr hQ he
untiring energy, the frugaty and honesty, the
brilliant enterprise by which they were char
acterized 1t was in the golden age of the
growth, the fruitage time of progress resulting
from the labors of such men, that the citizen
soldiery of 1S61-65 were born and reared.
Those Adamses and Warrens and Knoxes and
their compeers were the sires of these; the
Heaths, the Stevens's and others who were nam
ed. The speaker here introduced and read
from several original letters written during
camp and hospital life by Sergeant Major
Stevens of the 10th Maine, one of those whose
names we have upon the tablet of the monu-
ment, and said have read these extracts not
for anything remarkable or singular in
Examples es out Of Se ssy whas co% n
from hospitals and battlefelds
and sometimes from prison pens
through all that bloody strife, tell
ing, as can be told with no other such empha-
SIS, the indomitable heroism, the SURPRISING
the rebellion. They were schooled in the vir-
tues and graces of the fathers, and so grew
strong and brave and ready for that supreme
call of duty to which the country's hour of
need gave voice. Hence while rejoicing that
they have lived, proud that they were our "boys
in blue" let US find in what they were and the
virtues they exemplifed the way-marks for our
guidance, and in their fame, their glory, their
rest, the reckoning genii who shall WOO US to
like patriotism, like devotion, like conservation
m tho LON Go in fr+, Ior
like danger should imperil this glorious land,
this Memorial we rear shall rouse us as the
warning of Paul Revere reused the yeomanry
of Middlesex, and inspire US as the presence of
Sheridan his fleeing legions at Winchester.
"But," said the speaker Il do not forget that
the Rebellion is ended, that these lives so freely
given purchased victory; that the sire am of our
national life is flowing on broader, deeper,
grander than ever before; that while musket
volleys are speaking, over the graves of the
fallen, the emotions we cannot utter, the Cen
tennial bells are ringing their glad peals as we
enter second century of growth and progress.
AS midst the light and beauty of snltry day
in summer time come dark clouds, the light
ning's flash, the thunder's roll, the pouring
floods, only to give the glad beauty of a bright
there came to us, the darkness and the gloom
of civil strife that after the storm we might en-
ter upon new and more vigorous national life
and control with higher skill the agencies in
WuOS6 UuWUIhluS IH6 poTleCC mduuUOu VI OuT
nation shall be secnred Let US not forget,
therefore, that if the institutions bequeathed by
the Fathers were worthy of our love, much
more binding should be the ties which link us
in strong affection to the new nation, the per-
fected freedom, the consolidated nationality
these later heroes have won"
Abiding to COL w. s. Heath, whose body
was never recovered, he said: 81 am reminded
that there is many marble slab in Northern
church-yards which tells only of hero absent;
the only report of them is missing such was
he whomyou mourn to-day, who from the fear
full strife at Gaines Mill never returned. Some.
where in that luxuriant Southern soil his dust
mingles and sleeps. The Persian poets sung
"Each tiny flower
That filings its perfume on the summer hour,
Draws its young life, when first its rootlets start
From pure drop that warmed a heros heart"
So to-day, children, brother, friends, while
the stern fate of war forbds you to Irvine the
flower, wreath and bestrew his grave" you
may cherish the pleasing thought that moth
er earth will be faithful to him, and to all these
missing ones, and that with each returning
May she.will crown their resting places with
blossoms whose rootlets kiss the precious drops
they SO freely, nobly shed.
In conclusion the speaker said, it is fitting
then, that here in their early home, within
sound of the college bells which called SO many
of them to the training and culture which
made them what they were, you should rear
this beautiful and impershable monument,
that in thus keeping ever present memento
and symbol of their glorious deeds, you may be
enabled better to fulfill the uncounted debt of
love it is your joy to psy. To this holy purpose
let this beautiful work, wrought in enduring
bronze and moulded by the rich and expressive
touch of art, be dedicate and consecrate: for
this benign and sacred use, long may it stand.
kindling in all hearts a warmer appreciation of
the blessings we enjoy, and inspiring liz all
lives grander devotion to the principles on
which they rest, now, and in all the days to
come, SO making vital in our own act the
spirit and example of those fallen ones that,
though
"Gonei-in a nobler form they rise;
Dead!-we may clasp their hands in ours,
And catch the light of their glorious eyes,
And wreathe their brows with immortal flowers.
Wherever noble deed is done,
There are the souls of our heroes stirred;
Wherever a field for truth is won,
There are our heroes voices heard"
I'm Fairfield.
FAIRFIELD, May 30.-Memorial Day exer-
cises were observed at this place at five O'Clock
this afternoon. Services were held at the GEM
etery. A special train of eleven cars from
Waterville brought the Hook and Ladder Com