The Somerset reporter., 1886-02-17
G.. A. r.
Tho State ElCanDm0lt tho
Very Best on Record.
EVERYTHING LOVELY.
THE BOYS HAPPY
AND GAY !
BEANS AND HARDTAoK IN The
ASCENDENCY
THE CAMPFIRE A GRAM
SUCCESS !

SUCCESS p!
skoWHEcAN LADIES RECEIVE
HIGH COMPLIMENTS.
The G. A. r., Encampmcnt held in this
village last week was Il grand success IN
every particular with nothing to mar the
enjoyment of the occasion.
The weather was as pleasant as heart
could wish just right for temperature
and the scighng the finest for the seas
on. The trains were run with the regard
for the requirements of the gathering
usually observed by the well equipped
and ably managed Maine Central; the
comrades came in good time, in the best
of spirits, were happy while here and APP
parently departed as happy As they came.
The most perfect good feeling pre-
vailed and the best of order and decorum
maintained. Never did more orderly,
intelligent respectable and fine looking
body of men ever assemble in any town
in any state. Maine may well be proud
of such body of men representing
the patriotic defenders of our Nation in
the dark days of the Rebellion, and citi-
zens of Skowhegan were proud and graf
flied to have the privilege of entertaining
such men.
| TIE PROCEEDINGS.
In addition to the proceedings given in
our last issue we give the following de-
| tails.
The convention met In Coburn Hall ut
II O'Clock, Department Commander Hall
presiding. A detail from Russell Post
No. DC of Skowhcgan, under the COM
mand of Capt. Wing as officer of the day,
were posted as guard, and other details
of getting the machine in running order
looked after. Commander Hall delivered
his address which was brief and forcible.
| He reviewed the success of the National
encampment at Portland. He paid tribute
to the late Windsor Is. Smith. General
Grant and General Mcclellan. To the
latter he was especially complimentary.
Commander Hall referred to the Soldiers
Home at Bath, and said legislation was
needed to overcome difficulties in the way
of placing children in the homes of good
families. lie refers the subject to the
next department commander. lie spoke
of the rapid growth of the order and its
good condition generally.
INSPECTOR NICHOLSON
reported that he has inspected 40 of the
l43 posts during the year. As to the
question, Is the work Of the ritual com
mittcd to memory and properly per-
formed, "a posts answer yes; SO, no; and
80 partly. "A posts report that the of
ticcrs and guards are properly uniformed.
In AZ, the members are uniformed and
equipped. $50 muskets are owned by the
various posts. Many posts have the use
of arms owned by private parties or the
State. In l04 posts, the officers are rcgu-
lar in their attendance. The average at
tendance of members, throughout the de-
partment is about 40 per cent There are
only posts In which Il lack of interest is
reported.
The inspector Is assured that there has
been marked improvement in the work.
Chaplain Howard reported, that 1900
graves were decorated In Maine on the
Both day of last May. ur 1854 more graves
than ever before. These figures ut onl,
are significant of the rate ut which the
conf AIDES are going to their last great en-
campment, but include many Dew-found
graves.
Eight hundred and forty .eiehC cemetcr
les were visited The services were par
licipated In by 8, 113 comrades In liue or
detached service. They were escorted ny
&C banus, % drum corps, 20 military COM
panies and 35 civic organizations. Th'
children Of IL Saba h schools were In the
processiuns, Oralions were delivered
under tue auspices o. SO posts.
The cost of The ceremonies was notice
able less than last year, being 81 1873 10,
against 1914 9G for 1854 or Ibis
amount, the sum of 81, 835 was appropri- |
ated by cities and towns, or over 81 pei |
cent OF the whole. In six Towns, the cit.- |
zens betrayed tn fun cost of the services.
The average expense Is about $40 per
post, or Sl5 less than last year. The
Chaplain gives II complete list OF the Me
mortal Day oralions In Maine. Eighty
posts held special memorial services on
the Sunday precee ling Memorial Day.
The Sons Of Veterans do not make the
showing they did last year, only Ia camps
being rep Jrted; but the Relief Corps are
In excess, their aid havin! been specially
reported IN 81 cases, In some OF which
they march in line. The smallest lumber
of graves fell to the lot of an Aroostook
county post to decorate only four.
The report of the committee on Gre
dentists showed eleven past department
commanders, 1913 post commanders and
2O4 delegates, u total OF 5S8, entitled to
seats.
The quarter master general reporte |:
Receipts, $l0,504. AZ.
Expenditures, IS, 1888 SO.
Cash on hand, SO, 725.52.
Col. Burbank, of Saco. presented rcso-
lutions on the death of Gen. Mcclellan
as follows:
BE it resolved by the Department of
Maine G. A. r., that the Encampmeut
bears cordial testimony to the acknowl-
edged military and civil ability of this
distinguished soldier and citizen who so
often led troops to victory, and would
render it's grateful tribute to the memory
of our deceased comradc, beloved by
those under his command, honorcd by
the government, the press and the people
He has received his formal discharge.
Thus dying he leaves to us legacy of
words and good deeds, the fruit of pen
and sword, which his comrades may pro-
titably cherish and emulate until they, al
so shall join the rapidly increasing host
of veterans whose warfare Is ended and
who are welcomed to the army "beyOnd