Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-12-26
Life in Libby Prison.

Chaplain McCabe successfully accom-.
pished his lecture engagements in Yer.
mont last week in the order given in our
last issue.
The Burlington Free Press Of Saturday
gives the following report Of his lecture
in that city, which report will doubtless
apply equally well. as representing the
favor with which it was received else.
where:
CHAPLAIN MCCABE'S LECTURE on IT'S
BgIGHT SIDE.
Chaplain McCabe was listened to by a
full house at the Winooski Avenue Meth
odist church last night, and well were
his hearers repaid. Thoroughly live
thoroughly in earnest. opinionated. conf
dent, relating the merry side of personal
experiences in that infamous den, Libby
prison. aided By manly physique and
voice, the Chaplain's story caused time TO
pass UNDECIDED, and the audience applauded
and laughed most heartily as their
patriotism and sense of humor We're
touched. The horrors of life in LIBBY
Prison had not been exaggerated, said the
speaker, but he proposed TO show how the
prisoners made bright side. This side
was forcibly made apparent TO him on
taking up his residence with them by the
iJvia cry OF Fresh fish, and the offer,
to send their baggage to their rooms with
which the old prisoners greeted the new
corners. The bright side was MOI
entirely coored BY joke and song. Kindly
friends outside procured books for the
boys and large classes in French, German
and other languages, were carried on,
and they combined to make the study
effective by refusing food to those who
could not ask for it in French. etc. The
Iawyer soldiers ins,t ted a law $1,000
and a graduate OF their course is now an
eminent member OF the profession. A
newspaper was made up and read weekly
10 the soldiers; the capture of Vicksburg.
The victory OF Gettys burgh, and similar
occasions were celebrated BY speech max
ing and the singing OF all known songs
Thus the unfortunate men, almost eaten
alive bv vermln, wretchedly clad, sleeping
packed on the floor so closely that when
one wanted to rest his aching side bt
turning over he had to shout 10 Inc other.
"R GIT wheel also, rose superior to
the wearlsome days and nights bv pun
j ke and song, serious study and con inu4
planning to escape. determined not TO dt
before their time and to laugh while they
could
The spesker frequently wandered from
his theme to launch out with others,
which weren't to his lecture bu. he
put them in He declared himself for
prohibition of the liquor trade, emphatic
ally. He expressed unoounded love and
admiration for General Grant He men,
toned as an offset 10 JEFF Davis's boast
that mot q woman in the south is recon-
structed" that we are rocking cradles in
the north too, and protested against the
doctrine tn; the glorious deeds OF ihe
civ! war should be forgotten, No sensible
Englishman would ask Scot 10 forget
Bannockburn and cease singing Scots
VIVA Haze wi Wallace Bel." and no
sensible southerner would make like
demand concerning our boys brave deeds
The chaplain led in singing before and
after the lecture. julia Ward Howe :
stirring Battle Hymn of the Republic,
Mine eyes have seen the glory OF the
coming of the Lord" being among the
songs.