The Newtown bee., 1879-06-17
TUESDAY. JUNE i7,
Address of Wm. cothrcn, Esq. DRLIvERED AT SOUTH BRITAIN MEMO
 RIAL DAY.

mon Downs,
 ne anu hay, grown old as you surely have heard And see b, thcso locks and gray growing beard. For many n year we we been in the race. And met lio's hard struggles in every place. Tho good people of Britain desire to show, That their hearts with kIni thoughts were ever
 asiow Tor the bold sol tier boys who weat to the fight, And gave up their lives in main aiming the lsht. Proposed to show honor tnis bright blooming year, To the dearly beloved who He sumherlng here' No Amon, my friend, at quite rec ,ht date, Dropped q line to me ask 'pg if would relate A few words of the boys who went to the war, Or something that might be q substitute therefor You can see. my kind friends, was placed in
 "hx," - Like minute man, young in the war Seventy Who was commanded to answer at tap of church
 bell, And go to tho battle whether sickly or we'll All this may well seem like valla excuse For poor con.ng sermon, for which their is no So we'll stop this introduction and come right To the particular business which engages the town. Iris to honor tho men who gave up thor life In the great moral contest when treason was rife; 'rs to place on their graves tribute of flowers; A mark to their houor and remembrance of ours. The glad vrrua season with it's bn and perfumes, Hss opened the year with the brightest oi blooms. Glad nature rcjoices, and beauty appears
 In all oar sweet valleys ths latest of years. The carol of birds at tho break of day
 Is n sound that now choers us. and will do so
 always.
 Our old earth itself with naught to annoy. Awake and responsive is trembling with joy.
 
 Has enchanted the scene with marvellous power, But the time is fast passing. and this now must
 close.
 And you be contented with most common prose. It was a beautiful custom of the aboriginal in hnbitants of this lovely valley when the chief Of their people a distinguished brave, died, to make his grave beside some ripping water. some ever murmuring cascade and lay their forest paths beside his resting place. and after each hunter tn pursuit of game. and each warrior on the war path cast a stone upon 1t, as mark of reverence and respect to the hOuOreu dead. Thus, i'll process of time, Il notable monument arose from these in- dividual revcrential offerings In like manner do we cast moro lovely and more sentimental tribute of affection on the graves of our beloved in these peaceful wales today. It Is sublime-a glorious honor, when whole commantty assemblies with It's noblest and lovliest onss to do honor to it's martyred dead. It is q scene sublime, and an act historic, that will be handed down through ages Co those who shall come after us It shall sand as an example of all that is tender and noble in peo- plc's gratitude.
 It is with solemn awe that approach the cere- monies of the day. We would do fitting honors to the loved and lost. We would tread lightly over tho sacred dust of slumherinnp heroes. We would perpetuate their doubtless lame We never forget what they dared and suffered for us. They have written their names on scroll of bright memories, We will those who fell or fought in tho strife. We will enshrne their names in our heart of hearts Never till the hills melt with feryent heat, will the children forget their glorious deatE.
 We would gladly call your roll of Sonor but it is engraved in your hearts, and SO it is unnecessary But there arc some things we can never forget No patriot has ever forgotten the murderous con- hict in tho deadly gorge of Cedar Creek when glorious Phil. Sheridan after his desperate ride from Winchester rallied his men, and wit h clarion voice utter that electric. prophetic command: Steady boys you are going back to your camps! For ward. march - Has any one forgot that the vic- tory that followed saved our national capitol 1? Some woodbury boys and your own George E Jud. son gave up their lives in that deadly charge to aid in the great salvation. We shall never truly appreciate all that soldiers did for us. We shall never get true idea of the man who placed his hsart In front of n bullet. The soldiers whose sravos we decorate to-day, nobly dnr, to do that duty. have not tho list ot those who fell in their duty rom this noble old town. But one or two of them were personal friends of mine and I will refer to them in passing. One of. them Ser geant William Canfeld, son of your late respected citizen, George Canhed He was active and efficient in raising the company to which he belonged but he died of fell disease before he received record of fame in the hour of battle During the brief space he permitted Co live, he wrought well. Almost the last words ho wrote to absent friends were am willing to die for my country" When the hour of d"sth came he met it in the same spirit, sinking to the nnsi .leep like weary child. The God of battles called him home his work half begun. youthful anectionate son-a beloved brother wont to his rest.
 Another soldier of your town Frederick Whit lock, who received his lientenants commission while in the article of death, though younger in yc%rs than your speaker was a consistent and trusted friend. He true genial and faithful to all. His countenance and life were ever sunny is with full heart that your speaker alludes to him hero. Hc went into the war from the most patriotic of motives stin he had ambition, as was right, 1T he did his duty. Although commission wssproperly his due he enlisted ns a private He insisted on doing the duties of vate but he i'll sick and was sent to Trinity General Hospital .. wa4hinSton. Your speaker had bren in recent correspondence with him. He desired greatly to nce him, as important matters were to be spoken of. but 1t was fatcd we should never meet. While was trying to go to him. he passed me on the way to the hospital He died within almost a stones throw from mo, I have never ceased to regret could not have soothed his last moments with such friendly offices as friend could offer as he was go ing to the other aide of the river" We may fondy believe that so great, kind. SO good n heart has found comfort and rest beyond the portals of death ATn4a If tIrp n honor. Time would fail mo to go through tho whole list. we meet to-day honor the memory not only Of those who9e remains were permitted tn be returned to their native vales but to thos, other heroes whose mortal remains peacefully on many glorious battlefield of the Union care fully guarded by the eye that never sleeps Sol diers of Cluster Post the fame of your com les s secure and that secures your own. Their re ward is on high as yours will be.
 They've mustered out; the grizzled sire
 Ths son in boyish beauty
 Frotn lifc's forced march from battle fire,
 They're resting after duty.
 We will say Q word to our duties this inter esting hour. We are in this beautiful valley witi ita lovely outlook. We are standing tn, peaceiul city of tho dead It Is the ire hour--i is tho day of sacred memories
 With uncovered heads
 Come we with our offerings
 All our dear and holy things
 to decorate the owly graves of the tried the true and the brave, It is sad but pleasing duty Beautiful and graceful is the act, when blooming youthful forms strew the graves with flowers eheered on by the approval of an en tire community Row appropriate to revive each revolving year with the fragrace of flowers, and the fragrance of perennial honor, q fond remembrance of those w loved in life. who wrought well and have ascende, into glory. In doing this prove the saynl true:
 "on tho cold face of death the roses are blending
 And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb"
 We come with floral offerings and tributes e praise to honor the heroic men who gave their live for us.-who stood like wall of fire between u end our foes; who saved the nation life. wecom Co honor the men who went out from our pleasan hills and sweet valleys. leaving fathers, mothers brothers and sisters. wives and children the en doarments and comforts of home-all that wa held doar in lifeto battle for the right to execut the will Of God, to wipe out glaring niquity fron the face of tho earth. No venial men were they All that loving friends and the government coui do nero trife compared with the great sacr hccs they willingly made. No malcc no thirst fo blood. no love of caruage entered their manl bosoms: They went forth with high resolves. in dueneed alone by stern and honest sense of duty which no tongue can tell. and no pen adequatel describe. 'On tho perilous edge of batte,' tn muskets of their foes puiiing sulphurous death an deadly missiles into their faces amid the storm Hhot and shell in the desperate charge-stee clashinR with steel. while eoeh second com rad dropped silently or mourningly down in the dcat agony; In the exhausting march in the hast bivouac. resting on their arms in the woods upo tho open plain in tho loathsome hospital; in tn horrid prison pon;-these gallant men breathed ou their lives in noble cause, and obtained martyr crown.
 We mirs theHe gallant men from our social gatf wrtngs and from Aresides We have no nor their pleasant greetings in the hustle of active But we place thrm on our roll of honor. We Ra land their memories magnify their fam, We'll have they earned the guerdon we so gladl sccord to them. while they find other and mo1 glorious employment on the heavenly plains.
 Bring flowers, bright flowers, friends of the heroi dead. Bring garands. fadeless garlands, and dec the graves Of the martyred heroes who have passe away to the bluo empyrean. Embalm their memo fcs In floral shrouds Never for moment let the good their immortal deeds, glida from your men rrt0 IN m raat aa in ha1n nf s,Inx you pathways in life. And thus we leave thel eioriousy rosting in silence in peace, in the smi