Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-03-10
North Stratford.

N Orth StrattOrd.
The first anniversary of the formation
of our Iron-Clad Temperance Reform
Club, occurred Feb. 2Sth ult., and WIS
gloriously celebrated with appropriate
and impressive ceremonies. 1t had for
sometime previous been the announced
intention of the presiding officials to
make the occasion an interesting exhibit
of our reformatiye strength numerically,
charitably and morally, and the large
numberpresent, the overloaded tables and
respectable quiet which reighed through
out, doubly designating the absence Of
"old rye" fully eclipscd the imaginary
visions of its projectors. Invitations
were extended all the neighboring clubs
to attend and share with US the joys of
our first years prosperity, and the several
representatives of other similar organiza-
tions present gave ample proof of the
estimable reputation we sustain abroad,
and afforded, moreover, grand exhibit of
the strength of sacred and moral ties
which bind in fratcrnal unity the members
of so noble a benefit as temperance
reform. The ceremonies commenced
with monster torchlight procession
with four hundred members in line, bear
ing fifty superb campaign torches and
other fireworks, with about the same
number of emblematic notices, n full
band of eighteen pieces preceding all /;
they paraded from the meeting house
through all the principle streets finally
disbanding at Staples Hall, where a
Dounteous oyster supper temptingly
spread on several tables awaited them,
and gave an excellent exhibition of order
and precision, every footstep resounding
as one, the martial notes of music as
they echoed through the crisp evening air
infusing in reformers veins that exciting
energy which all feel when "battllng for
the right" Geo. Kimball, as Marshal of
the day, and James Tw obey, pilot, did
their duty III crcditable manner,
receiving the hearty thanks of their
followers, as much for their gentlemanly
conduct as for their stern dignity of
hearing upon the occasion. And the
supper The tables capable of seating
more than one hundred guests, loaded
with delicacies of every cline, were reset
and cleared for the fourth time, yet the
stock of viands doomed up inexhaustable
and none went away without nav full of
the delicious molusks, and certainly
with no cause for unhappiness. o the
inward rapacity of man, to eat without
conjunction the third quart of oysters |!
After supper the tables were cleared from
the hall, a promenade concert following,
which shortly expanded to q grand old
dance continuing till the small morning
hours. The band furnished excellent
music and those present who "trippcd the
light fantastic" hugely enjoyed them
selves in the whirls of the waltz or toeing
down to the lively "money musk" their
number being considerably swellcd by the
addition of several villagers, not mem
beers of the club, each paying an appro-
pirate admission fee, aggregating nearly
six dollars. God grant we may witness
the next.
A grand ball at the Willard House was
given by the proprietor, Mr.. Il. H..
Folsom, Friday eve, Mar. 2nd inst.
Fully thirty-three paying couples were
present and all allowed "lIcme" TO be the