The Portland daily press., 1878-05-18
OUR RUSSIAN VISITORS.
They Look Over Cur City aud Epjoy a
Grand Camp fire,

The afternoon train from Bangor yesterday
brought to this city Mayor Hamlin of Bangor,
Department Commander of the Grand Army
and number of members of his staff and
three Russian officers. Ia the party were l. s.
Bangs, Waterville, Inspector General, Comrade
Atkins, Chief Mastering Officer, Comrade
Foster, Assistant Quartermaster General, and
Comrades Thompson and Buswell of the Coun.
Gil of Administration. Comrade Buswell is
also member of the Bangor city government;
Messrs. N. Ivanoff. n Yavoronkoff aud Shool-
gin, from the Cimbra The visitors were met
at the train by committee from Post Bos-
worth, consisting of Past Commander ingalls,,
81. B. Cleaves and R. K. Galley, and Post
Commander Laug, chairman of the campfire,
and escorted 10 carriages to the Falmouth
| Hotel.
The party were quartere1 in rooms No. and
| s. Dinner was soon announced and the party
repaired to the dining hail, where grand
dinner had been prepared. Dinner over, the
party took carriages for de about town.
The Russians were evidently much pleased
with their reception. They are young men
about twenty-five years old. They do not oc-
| cupy very high positions in the Russian navy,
being what corresponds to eusigns io ours.
One of them in conversation said he was the
son of an Admiral. One of them halls from
Odessa, another from Caucasus and the third
from Kronstadt. They are not arrayed in their
navy costumes, but are dressed like private
citizens. One of them talks French quite
well, another so that he can be under
stood part of the time, while the third can
not speak hardly any. They have leave Of
absence for few days from the Cimbria and
are taking little excursion to see the country.
Mayor Hamlin acted as interpreter in French
until they arrived here, when Gen. John M.
Brown assisted him. Fortunately, however,
both of these gentlemen were relieved from
duty soon, for young Russian named Rosen.
berg was found who could talk both Eoglsh
and Russian very fuently. The visitors were
very much gratlfed to fnd fellow country
man who could show them about the city.
The carriages containing the party drove up
Middle, Free and Congress streets to thu West
ern Promenade, where they had 6ne view.
They then entered the grounds of Hon. J. B.
Brown and were shown about. Taking the
CdIIidSco dSdtu ,tuoy uIOto uOWu 0ls
to the City Building. There they were pre-.
sented to Mayor Batler and other city officials
and then shown the hall. From here the car
riages were driven to the Eastern Promenade,
and they again got a foe view. They visited
the Observatory aud spent some time in looking
over the city and harbor with the glass. After
leaving the Observ atory they returned to their
hotel, " here they remained until o'clock.
At that hour Gen. Brown called and escorted
the party to the Cumberland Club, where an
hour was spent in social manner. The Rus
slams inscribed their names pom the books of
the Club From here they visited Grand Army
Hail.
Bosworth Post met at 8 o'clock and hell
short session. When the visitors arrived half
hour later they were ready to receive them in
right royal manner. They were shown over
the hall and were evidently much gratfed to
see the gun which had been captured from the
Boxer. The interpreter related the incident of
the capture.
At about o'clock the invited guests with
large number of the members of the Post re-
paired to the banquet hall above for the camp
fire, which was the event Of the evening. Long
tables covered with army ratioas we're stretch
ed across the hall, which was finely decorated
with flags and bunting, aud represented fine
appearance. When the party had surrounded
the tables prayer was offered b. Major Ala.
Nckerson. Post Commander st. John then
requested all to help themselves. One order
was sufficient for all fell to at once When all
were satisfied pipes aud toba go were brought
out and all proceeded to smoke the pipe of
peace. Dick Galley was announced as toast
master, and he assumed the position with his
usual diffidence. Upon his calling for cheers
for the Russian visitors, Mayor Hamin of Ban
gor called attention to the position Russia had
taken during our late war, and seconded the
motion, and called for three cheers for Russia
and civilization, which vera given with will.
"Marching through Georgia" was then sung
The first toast of the evening was to the Cav
airy, aud WAS responded to by w. B. Smith,
who read very amusing poem full of Bangor
hits for the benefit of Mayor Hamlin. The
comrades then struck p"John Browns Body"
which pleased the foreign visitors so much that
they joined in the chorus.
Col. G P. Mattocks responded to a toast to
the Infantry. He referred to the attitude of
Russia when every other European nation was
threatening to destroy this nation. Russia was
determined to ses fair fight even if she had
to take hand herself. For this she deserves
the thanks of this country. We do not take
part in this present trouble, but when any rep
resentatives of that country arrive on our shore
we will welcome them with open hands. In
closing he referred to Russia's acts of freedom
and said he hoped the presen visitors would
visit Portland again, "Amercs" was sung by
the comrades, and Gen Brown was the next
speaker. He thought that Gen. Mattocks had
expressed the sentiment of the country in re-
ferring to Russia and he was glad to be able to
welcome her representatives.
John o. Winship followed 10 ths same
strain. Dick Galley sang co nical song pro-
vided for the occa sion.
In reply to the toast Memorial Day" Chas.
w. Bean read very appropriate poem. De-
partment Commander Hamlin was the last
speaker. He referred to the pleasure he had
experienced in his visit aud closed his reGnarks
with the recitation of portion of Bayard
Tay lor's poem rected at a reunion at Pfovi-
dence last year.
The gathering broke up With a soag and the
visitors were escorted to the hotel. From there
| they were driven to the steamer Lewiston
which they took at II o'clock.
1t was merry occasion to al ard will not
soon be forgotten. TIE Russians we're much
pleased with the novelty of campfire, and the
| good feeling expressed toward their govern
ment was received with evident signs of satis-
| faction.
Camille.
The. representation of the title. in
"Camille" by Miss Thompson at the Museum