Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-20

tFas'fyi.s ce.Ais,o. Of II. M.,,. ,ru,,,.

country like our own. where the .,.ra
ing army is mere skeleton, the reliance o.
'.e people in time of internal disou;et a,
'"leatened foreign war must be placed in ,he
"n''la OF the various States. Every patrio,
s"eieioFe' feels an interest in the condition.
VI tne citizen soldiery of his State. and doc.
sruoge the amount annually appropriated
luz 'heir benefit. While the force of vo,pn.
.eef militia in Maine is numerically small, il
ven distributed over the State and is very
enective. The enrolled militia, consisting
Vi all abie-bodied male citizens between the
ages OF eighteen and forty-five years. numbers
'I.ozo,-a gain of 1882 over the last
enrolment made in 1873. The yoInn,.a,
"'i't'a consists of II officers and 9l3 enlisted
men, organized as follows: two regiments NJ
eisnt companies each and one companv of
infantry and one battery of light artillery.
Inc Reserve Militia comprises over 700 of.
ncers and men, swelling the total force of or
gained militia to about 1900 officers and
men. The State appropriates sl6 900 annu.
any Tor the militia; and the National govern.
ment apportions a certain sum to each State
according to the number of Senators and
Representatives in Congress, which can only
be drawn in military stores. COMPARED
with the large amounts expended nv
other New England States, our appropriation
OF $4,000 dwindles into insgnificance. New
Hampshire appropriates $4,000 annually
Rhode Island, 1924, 900; Massachusetts,, $780,
600; Connecticut. 100000.
The morale of the Maine militia is con.
stantly improving, and better class of
men are now enrolling themselves in the
ranks. Undesirable material is being grad
uaiiv worked out, and the recruits are most
~ young men who take pride in military mat
tiers and gladly conform to all the rules of
drill and discipline As the militia il the
only defence in times of labor troubles and
communistic uprisings, and as its prompt ac-
ton may often save millions of dollars worth
OF property from destruction, it is necessary
that it shall be composed of men rep
resenting the better elements in socie-
ty. who feel no sympathy with a mob.
and who will respond to the call of duty on
all occasions. While Maine happily con-
tains fewer dangerous elements than anv
other State in the Union, yet the same prin-
ciples hold good here as elsewhere. The
companies in the Volunteer Militia are armed
with breech-loading Springfield rifles, calibre
fortv-five, the same pattern which is used in
the United States army. The soldiers are
we'll uniformed. and the companies nearly all
have convenient armories. Regular drills
are held twice month. During the Muster
in Augusta last year, the rapid Improvement
in drill and ease in performing military evo-
lutions was patent even to unmiltary
eye. 1t is expected that the Muster this year
will continue five days. 1t will be held in
Augusta early in September.
Maine soldiers excel in rife practice, be-
ing the most expert marksman in the coun-
try. When consider how little the State
has done for her Militia in the past,
surprised to see how well the organizations
have held together. Were it not for the
natural pride and military ardor of the off,
GERS and men, and their willingness to live
upon hope, we would to-day have very in
ferior body of troops or none at all. The recent
appropriation, small though it be, for military
purposes and the activity and interest of the
heads of the various departments. quickly
raised the expectations and confidence Of all
concerned. As result, our force, though
small, is very efficient, and the material
equal to that of any other State.
The aesthetic sociable of the Universal list
parish last evening was very large, happy
and interesting affair. The vtstry was
crowded All the arrangements and perform
ancss were managed by gentlemen. The
tables were spread for $50 bat twice that
number sat down to them, the last ones we
Judge faring rather poorly. Twenty-Five
male walters, with a regalia consisting of
broad scarf over the shoulder and sun
flower on their manly breasts, poured the
coffee, passed round the esta5es and washed
the dishes in the most approved style, while
the ladies for once sat at the tables and were
waited upon. After supper the company ad-
burned to the audience room above, where
they enjoyed rich musical treat, with Sc
lect reading BY Mr.. McMurdie and recita-
lion bv Rev. A. C. White. This part of the
entertainment opened with finely rendered
piece of music by a male quartette This
was followed BY selection from Marx
Twain by Mr.. McMurde. After which came
A solo by Rev. A. c. White, followed by
duett upon the harmonica by John X. Wade
and Will F. Turner. The remaining exer-
cises were Recitation, Cato's Soliloquy on
the Immortality of the Soul, by Rev. A. Z.
White: solo by Charles b. johnson; duett oy
Messrs. White and Johnson; solo on violin
with piano accompaniment by Mr.. fuiien'
leader of the orchestra. Nearly every piece
was rapturously encored by the delighted au-
d;ence. Miss Flora Cochrane presided with
skill and grace at the piano. The enterta'n-
ment closed with ice cream in the vestry'
and though the company went home in
violent storm they will long remember the
occasion as one of rare pleasure and ENJOY
meut.
Hon. s. l.. Milliken of Belfast delivered
~ n