The Portland daily press., 1884-09-25
GRAND QUALIFICATION.
The Continental Guards of Ferry Village
Entertained by the Portland Pioneers.


Last Saturday evening the Pioneers and
Blaine Guards of this city visited Ferry Viii
lsge on the invitation of the Continental
Guards Of that place, and were most royalty
entertained. The boys were very much pleased
with their VISIT and with the manner in
which they were received. Not to be outdone
in hospitality, the Pioneers last night made
arrangements for grand parade and collation.,
and had as invited guests the Continental
Guards of Ferry Village, with the Blaine
Guards, Plumed Knights and Black Eagles of
this city.
About o'clock the Blaine battalion formed
In front of Storer Block and marched to Gus
tom House Wharf, where the guests from
Ferry Village were received. The line of
march was then taken up in the following
order:
Torch Guides
Blaine Pioneers 48 men.
Rising Cadets-35 men.
Portland Drum Corps-8 men.
Blaine Guards-20 men.
Plumed Knights-35 men.
Black Eagles % men.
Cape Elizabeth Drum Corps-10 men.
Continental Guards-10 men.
The weather was threatening and the streets
80 fsarfully muddy that the parade was neees-
sarily somewhat shortened. The route was as
follows: Pearl, Middle, India, Congress, st.
Lawrence, Fore, Atlantic, Lafayette, Quebec
and North streets, countermarch on North to
Cumberland, Franklin, Congress, Exchange
and Middle streets to headquarters in Storer
Block. Notwithstanding the bad weather,
the battalion and their guests made very
attractive appearance, and the illuminations
along the line were very general. On st.
Lawrence and North streets, especially, there
was considerable attempt at decoration, and
festoons of Chinese lanterns and showers of
fireworks greeted the boys, who cheered the
occupants of the residences most heartily.
Meanwhile great preparations had been GO
ing on at the Pioneer headquarters. The
chief event of the evening was the collation.
and this had been taken in hand exclusively by
the "Young Ladies' Pioneer Club" a society
OF about twenty-five young ladies. The quail
fcstions for admission to this society, we un-
derstand. is relationship (as sister, wife or
cousin) to some member of the Pioneer COM
pany. This club had taken the supper entirely
In hand and scored grand success. Tables
had been spr' ad on one side extending the
whole length IT the hall, and tastefully dec
GRATED with flowers, besides being loaded down
with bountiful supply of baked beans and
brown bread, doughnuts, cake and water
melon. The young ladies of the club them
selves acted as mattresses and quickly supplied
the wants Of the boys.
The most pleasing event of the evening oc-
CURED shortly after the supper. This was the
presentation to the Pioneers of beautifu flag
from the Young Ladies' Pioneer Club. AS
none of the young ladies themselves had the
courage to present the flag in person this task
fell upon j. d. Printable, Esq, who per-
formed it in very able manner alluding to
the young ladies in whose names he presented
1t a very pleasing manner, and exhorting the
boys to be sure and remember the donors when
they celebrated the great Republican victory
next November. Captain Bean returned
thanks for the company. The flag is beauti-
ful one, three and one-half feet by seven, at
tached to black walnut staff, which is sur
mounted by gilded battle ak, from which are
suspended several red, white and blue stream
ers. The fair donors were cheered again and
again by the companies, and shortly after the
line of march was again taken to the ferry
where the Pioneers bade goodnight to their
visitors, who expressed themselves as highly
leased with their visit.
It Is understood that the Blaine Guards will
give another reception to the Continentals
aona avanin0 next Ueak