The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-14

Banquet-Notable Speeches-Notes, etc.
French proverb; and now that the legisla-
tive reunion of 1885 is a thing of the past,
living only in the recollections of those who
participated in 1t, 1t can be truthfully SAID
of it that it was in all respects a complete
success tmay be safely said that this is the
sentiment voiced by the nearly one thousand
ex-legislators who were present, the ladies
who accompanied large number of them,
the spectators from abroad and the resi-
dents of Montpelier. The latter, in think
ing of the success attained, may also take to
themselves the thought that they con-
tributed in no small degree to that consum-
nation. Trains on Tuesday morning, the
first day, brought fair number of people,
which was largely augmented when the fast
train from the north came in. The con-
tinued increase was sweled to much larger
numbers at five P. NJ, when the train from
the south contributed eight carloads of re-
unionists. Most of the arrivals, IL not all,
seem to have had their quarters already
provided for them, and there were but few
who appeared ill at ease in this regard.
Those who had not made previous arrange
ments in this respect were taken in hand by
the reception committee (James w. Brock,
chairman and their wants speedily removed.
The corridors and offices of the hotels,
particularly the Pavilion, were thronged by
the visitors, and the time was spent in cor
dial hand-shakings and greetings, the re-
ing of old friends.
PROMENADE CONCERT.
In the evening many attended the prom
enade concert in the hall of the Golden
Fleece and enjoyed the well-played and eX-
cellent selections of the Montpelier military
band. Thus the first days order of eXer
cises came to close.
RECEPTION AT sTATE-HoUsE.
On Wednesday, the 18th, the already large
number in attendance was increased by the
influx of arrivals on the half-past nine train
The main feature of the morning was the
reception in the representatives hall by
Governor Pingree and the eX-governors of
the state. At ten o'clock there was a gen.
eral move in the direction of the capital.
Surging up the stairs of the state-house was
dense crowd that moved with the pro-
verbal slowness of large bodies. The pas
sage up the stairs was somewhat impeded
by the coming down of the weak-hearted
d" tender-foots," who We're dismayed by
the close packing of people on the floor
above and would not risk themselves
in the crush even for the reward of
shaking hands with their governor and
five eX-governors upon one OCCASION. AT
the door of representatives hall was Mr.. H..
j. Soper and Captain Coffee, who awaited
the guests and ushered them in. The APP
proach to the gubernatorial presence was
narrowed by the placing of cord down
through the center of the hall, and along the
lane thus formed the people moved in single
file until they reached a member of Gov
ernor Pingrees staff, by whom they were
introduced to his eXcellency, and in turn, by
other members of the staff, to eX-Governors
Barstow, Farnham, Proctor, Stewart and
Smith, each of whom cordially shook hands
with those who were thus introduced. The
military magnates and gentlemen of the staff
acting in the above capacity were Judge
advocate General Carmi l.. Marsh, Adju-
tant-general 7; s.. Peck, Quartermasterr-
general lde, and Colonies E. Curtis Smith
and Alfred A. Hall of St. Adams, W. p.
Fairbanks of ST. Johnsbury and w. b.
Wright of Orwell. The last end of this re-
ception procession passed through with the
ceremony about noon 1t commenced about
fifteen minutes past ten and, by actual count
for several minutes, went along at the rate
of ten to twelve per minute. "A calculation
on this basis would make the number pres
ent at the reception somewhere in the
neighborhood of twelve hundred. During
the reception the Sherman and Montpelier
military bands played selections in front of
the Capitol.
THE PROCESSION.
After dinner, under the direction of Will
lam II. Fullerton of Manchester, marshal
and Colonel L. S. Peck, assistant, a process
sion was formed, and, headed by the two
bands, it moved along State street towards
the hall of the Golden Fleece, to hear an adj
dress of welcome from George w Wing
Esq, and hold legislative session. This
building was erected for a skating rink, and
is large enough to seat twenty-five hundred
persons when filed to its utmost capacity
Its interior had been prepared for the occa-
sion and was handsomely decorated with
flags. AT the upper end was a raised plat
form for the speakers of the occasion and dis
tinguished guests. In front of the platform
was mitre-shaped shield of flowers, about
three feet high and two and a half wide
crested with tiger lily and bearing the
motto, " Liberty" in white flowers running
diagonally across its surface. Shortly after
two O'Clock the doors of the hall were thrown
wide open and disclosed the procession, APP
preaching in the following order: Marshal
W. III. Fullerton, Hon. l.. II. Thompson OF
1rasburgh and Sergeant-at-arms Hon. Her
bert Brainerd; General Pitkin and George
w. Wing, ESQ; Chaplain w. S. Hazen and
his excellency, Governor Pingree: the gov
ernor's staff; United States Senators Ed
munds and Morrill,; ex-Governors Stewart
and Farnham Ex-Governor Barstow ant
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ormsbee State Treas
urer Dubois and Auditor Powell; and ther
long line of lesser luminaries. In the alb
sence of the president of the reunion or
ganization-Hon II. G.. Abel, who wa!
called away on the business of his .profes
sion-Judge L. III. Thompson was invited
to preside. He, together with the COVER
nor and staff, members of the executiv,
committee, the secretary of the reunion so
ciety, w. q. b. Stickney George W. Wing
Esq, and others took seats on the platform
among the audience, near the front of TIN
hall. Senator Edmunds was fianked by
eX-Judge Barrett, and Senator Morrill, b,
Chester Dow of STAFFORD. But our repre-
sentatives in the National Senate were no
permitted to hide their light among a bushe
of heads and they, as well as Judge Bar
ttwere quickly brought on to the platform
The large hall was filed to overlooking
Such number of bald heads and gray beard
could only be assembled at legislative re
union.
MR.. WINGS ADDRESS.
The Sherman band played the over
ture to " William Tell" and then, it bein
about three o'clock, President Thompson
called the meeting to order and requested
attention to prayer by the chaplain. Ate
music by the Montpelier band, George w
Wing, ESD, was introduced as the speake
of the occasion. He modestly stepped for
ward amid a shower of applause, and said
Mr.. Chairman, Gentlemen Of the Legisiatire Reunio,
Ladies' and Gentlemen;
nouncng me as the speaker of the occasion, becaus
such was not the contemplation. | am simply to Civ
you formal welcome TO the hospitality OF the tow
of Montpelier. There cometh on the morrow on
mghtier than |, and he will deliver to you a speed
1t Is unnecessary for at this time to thing
you In relation to the hospitality of the people
Montpelier. You are all acquainted with it-sone
you, have doubt, from your early advent to III
Capital, because as the devout Moslen always goes
Mecca, the good citizen OF Vermont (f lie ca
prevail upon his constituency comes to Montpelier.
When bid you welcome 10 our town pronoun1