Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-05-31
An Excellent Speech by J. Mil
ton Mills, and Mr. Coombs's
Beautiful Poem read by
Miss Sprague.
The Bloomington and Lancaster
Bands soothe our Savage Breasts
and win Laurels for
Themselves.
A Good Day and Good Deeds.

by the programme heretofore published in
the HERALD, except that some Of the perform
ers in the ceremony did not make their APP
pearance ard their places were filled by 9TH
ers The committees on Decoration and the
preparation Of the grounds had faithfully per-
formed their duties. Eyergrecns and flowers
were artistically arranged on and about the
monument-w wherever good taste could find a
place to put them A stage ample for all the
ceremonies to be performed upon it, was con-
structed in front of the Court House The
grass was lately mown and was in a fresh,
clean and beautiful condition. The weather
was as good as if it had been made to order
except that there vas too much wind. Early
in the day the people began to gather in num-
bers more than were looked for. Blooming
ton, Bo?cobel, Patch Grove, Fennimorc, Bee
town, Platteville, Potosi and the country adj
jacent to Lancaster were numerously repre-
scented. After dinner when the band music
gave the signal the people were soon collected
on the grounds and the number present is be-
since the dedication Of the monument.
Gen Moore being absent Gen. j. b. Calls
Vice President, was called upon to preside.
He opened with short speech well delivered
and suited to the occasion. 1t was mpromptu,
owing to the fact that Gen. Calls expected
Gen Moore or Col. Virgin to preside 1t re-
viewed the occasion for the assembly; the 30th
of May being set apart as the day for showing
respect to the heroic dead of the Rebellion
The opening prayer was made by the Rev
S. w. Eaton. 1t was fervent and beautiful
prayer but must have been very dumb to those
who kept up such clatter of conversation
back in the hall and offices Of the Courthouse
Three Vice Presidents were appointed,
namely, II. A Moore, S. Borah and J. Williams
The Choir sang Comrades, we come once
More" and the band played national air.
A company of IS little girls beautifully
dressed in white trimmed with red and blue,
were brought upon the stage and sung an ap-
pTopriate song, and this was followed by
band music.
The President then introduced J. Milton
Mills as the Orator of the occasion. As the
speaker gave his speech to the audience the
dusty wind contended with his breath and
though loudly spoken there were many in the
outskirts of the great audience who could not
hear it. We here publish it in full and those
who read will agree with us that It is a credit
to the son Of learned sire.
THE ADDRESS
A poet, who was m Adofnm At
to his age, an honor to his country
and heavy creditor If az indie bed
posterily, has put this ques ion in
the following exquisite lines
"Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansions call the fleeing breath,
| Can llonor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear Of death y
Perhaps it 5chooves the ono who
is called upon 10 address } GU, upon
such an occasion AS this, TO answer
this question and justify cur past
and present proceedings. upon this
dav, from the Sutyrical ifsiLuation
81 tho poets Vcrse.
iI.vlng iot! The farm aud the
work stop, having deserted, fo:- a
while. the busy store rooms and the
dusty of1icee, having turned our
miadS and hearts from the horny iog,
nrorging hustle aud pursuits Of
yesterday and 10 morrow, forgetting
personal feuds and party strlfe, we
meet bore, Ike different beings ia .
different world, on one vi the most
solemn and mouruful, and, at tho
same time, one Of tho happiest oc-
caslons, which can engage the deep
est emotions, the eincerest sympathiss
and the IN )st Lorrowful recoec-
gioHs Of our natrrc.
Sixteen years ago the sweet Sc
renlty Of peace was broken by il
shr II shri k Of terror deep
groan Of pain, al exhortation to in
slant action by the fair Goddess Of
Liberty, which made Europe stare
and Am erica trembl.. Her favoriee,
cherished government was in dan
ger. The American Republic, her
boast and her pride, the m ghty
work of her centuries of labor and
suffering, her beautiful homo where
she was the honored mistress, the
sceptered and jew He'd queen, built by
her hands and cemented by the pre-.
cious blood of her noble sons, was
threatened with terrible destrue-
ton. Unnatural enemies, they, who
had been Graded in It's nurseries,
breathed is refreshing doors, enjoy
ed it's long sounding corridors, strewn
with flowers and tattened at its Ia.
bles, were using every effort and
straining every nerve to tear the
grand structure TO pieces and hurl
it 10 The earth. She rung the alarm
bell, blew the trumpet and sounded
the martial bugle Immediately,
where al before was peace, quiet
and industry, was heard the deadly
clash of arms, the horiid Gin of war,
the firm, steady tramp OF the horoic
brave, all willis g, and marching to
sacrifice themselves upon the altar of
their country. On yonder monu-
ment are inscribed the names of
near eight hundred devoted pat
riots, worthy sons Of their ances-
tiers Of the Revolution, who
quickly responded to the nations
need in its dark hour Of peril and
freely offered themselves for the sal
walton of their country and the de.
Tense of liberty.
This day, as you walk around the
structure, which yo1 have, with
praiseworihy spirit anil deep sense of
gratitude, erected to their memory,
and read thereon the names of noble
hearted heroes whom you knew and
loved in by-gone Days, by whose
cheerful fresi,ieS yon have spent the
long winter evening, , holding their
conlentment, laughing ut their jokes
dehghting in their stories and profit
lng by their knowleds,., Won viii be
wildly and sadly remind Of the
touching scene OF th-ir departure
from home, Of tue aft Getting spectacle
OF ,heit last separation from those
they loved A beanif uI, pleasant
home, with elegant furniture, lefty
ceilings, long shmmrring mirrors,
the finest paintings aud most classic