St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-08-24
Thursdays Exercises.
A Magnificent Occasion.

- H1dSSQlI1C6nG OCCdSlOn.
SPEECHES FROM THE PRESIDENT AND
MANY NOTED MEN.
The second day opened with showers.
making it disagreeable for little while,
but it soon cleared away, giving per-
feet weather during the remainder of
the day.
THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY.
President Hayes, Secretaries Evarts
and McCrary, Attorney General Devens,
Postmaster General Key and Mr. Birch
ard Hayes, Mrs. Hayes and Miss Foote
passed the night at the charming villa
of Rev. DR.. Tibbetts, which is situated
about four miles from the village of
Bennington Oh an eminence which COM
mands broad and magnificent pros
pect, embracing Il spur of the Green
Mountain range and the hills around.
The party sat down to breakfast at 9
O'Clock, and the meal was scarcely fin
ished when His Excellency Gov. Fair
banks arrived i'll barouche drawn by
four horses, which was followed by
other carriages for the accommodation
of the members of the Cabinet. About
10 o'clock the President and party were
driven to Bennington Centre, at which
point the First Regiment National Guard
of Vermont, Col. 7. S. Peck, command
ing, was drawn up to receive the Presi
dent and escort him to the position as
signed him in the procession.
1t is safe to say that 10 event of the
revolutionary period has received a
more patriotic recognition or has been
commemorated by Il more distinguished
presence. The Chief Magistrate of the
Republic and his Cabinet, the Gov
ernOr IF Vermont, Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Rhode Island, the Legislatures
of several of these States, together with
the flower of the citizen soldiers of New
England, all united in celebrating the
brave deeds and heroic characters of
the men who stepped boldly forth in
the path of the invader, and drove back
the hirelings of the British Crown.
The crowds exceeded any similar con-
course seen before in this State.
NOTABLE DISPLAY.
The scenes witnessed on Vermont's s
day were repeated, only on a larger
scale. The presence of the distinguish
ed guests, the imposing bodies of civic
dignitaries added to the length of the
procession, while the military portion,
augmented by the Independent Corps
of Cadets, constituted the most brilliant
display ever witnessed in this section
of the State.
1t was nearly half-past 10 when the
column began to move. The clouds
which had hung heavily since daylight
gave evidence of more rain, but Just as
the carriage containing President Hayes,
Governor Fairbanks and Hon. E. j.
Phelps, Chairman of the Vermont Cen
tennial Commission, wheeled into North
street, the sun shone brightly and the
overcast sky was soon cleared.
OVATION TO PRESIDENT HAYES.
From the corner of North and County
streets until the Presidents carriage
turned from North into Pleasant street
the Chief Magistrate was greeted with
cheer after cheer, clapping of hands and
waving of handkerchiefs. The military
guides and the policemen were unable
to keep the surging mass of humanity
from encroaching upon the Presidential
party while bouquet after bouquet OF
exquisite flowers was shOwered upon
President Hayes from all quarters
Graceful and manly, with no seeming
embarrassment, the President lifted his
hat and bowed to the multitudes in ac-
acknowledgement of the hearty reception
he received.
The ladies upon the hotel piazzas re-
newed their greetings, and the street
for fourth of a mile resounded with
deafening huZzas from the crowd
Above the din of music from the bands
was audible the whistles of the lOcOmO-
tives in the depot yard and upon the
side tracks ut Camp Stark as they join
ed in the salute to the Presidential
party.
INCIDENTALS.
The procession occupied an hour and
twenty minutes in passing the principal
point Oh the route, under the triumphal
arch at the Putnam House, but that was
not the actual marching time, because
there were many wearisOme delays.
AN OVATION TO THE VETERANS.
AS company after company of the
veterans passed they were cheered in
the heartiest manner, and deservedly
too, for in their rough and rugged looks
one could see the old soldier and forgot
the absence of adornment.
REVIEW BY THE PRESIDENT.
The President, upon arriving at the
camp, accompanied by the members OF
the Cabinet, Governor Fairbanks and
other digniiaries, Immediately ascended
the stand erected for him to review the
procession. For two hours a cOntinu.
Gus stream of military and distinguish
ed persOnages passed before him in re-
view.
THE LITERARY EXERCISES,
Consisted of an Grafton by President
Bartlett of Dartmouth College, (whicl
we hope to print entire), and poem
by VIC. Bryant-read by Prof. Church
, ill, and prayer by Rev. j. w. Allen
grandson of the fighting parsOn of Ben
nington battle memory. Many brie
addresses in this tent and at the ban
quet we're listened to with great pleas
ure The following is Gov. Fairbanks
address of welcome:
ADDRESS BY GOV. FAIRBANKS.
Mr.. President and Ladies and Gentle
men 1T is well and we are glad tha
f this memorable occasion should be hon