Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
GREAT BENNINGTON.

Ten members of the New York riding
 club who made horseback ride from
 Bridgeport through Berkshire county
 into Vermont and then over to Saratoga
 the last of the week received hearty
 welcome in this village last Friday af- ternoon. Your readers may have mo-
 ticed that the club left Central Park
 Saturday afternoon, May 22, for the
 aforementioned tour. From Bridge
 port they passed leisurely up the Hous
 atomic valley by way of New Milford
 and Falls Village, and when the news
 of their approach was received In this
 village preparations were at once com
 menced and in brief time completed
 whereby the club were to be conducted
 to this well-known and popular summer resort. There are Q number of good riding horses and several excellent rid CTS in this village and club called the Berkshire riding club, embracing IS gentlemen of the place. was quickly or ganized with Col Henry w. Wright as commander and Farley A. Russell as president. Friday about 3 D. m. this club gathered in front of the Berkshire House and, the command being given to ''fall in,'' the march towards Sheffield was commenced. Passing over all the unimportant incidents of the trip, it is only necessary to state that as the New York tourists came in view near the line between this town and Sheffield, Con- mander Wright formed his men in sin gle file and saluted. The New York club also formed in single rank on the opposite side of the road. They then cheered the Berkshire club and received cheers in return. Col Wright then in- troduced F. A. Russell as president of the Berkshire riding club. MT Russell with 8 few remarks presented President George Clausen of the New York club with parchment containing the names of the Great Harrington club. MT Clau- sen made brief speech and the march was begun for this village. Arriving here the party went to Berkshire Heights where bountiful champagne lunch was spread in tho grove. Speeches were made and the New Workers, escorted by their entertainers, returned to the vil- lage where in the evening an organ con- cert was given them at the Congrega- tional church. That night they lodged at the Collins house and the next day departed at II. .45 m. for the north.
 Tomorrow evening the Lee dramatic club will appear at the Town hall in the play of My Opinions and Betsey Bob- bett's.'' The new scenery will be brought into use for the first time.
 James c. Dennis, who committed sui eide by shooting himself through the head in the yard of the Grand Central depot at New York last Thursday, had been steward for Mrs Mark Hopkins in this village and elsewhere for some years. No cause, unless 1t be ill health, is assigned for the rash act
 Daniel Shean from Brush Hill was brought before the district court Satur- day for being engaged in a drunken brawl. As he had no money to pay fine and cost he was sent to the house of correction at Pittsfeld for 60 days.
 Memorial day was appropriately ob- served in this town Monday afternoon. At 12.3O o'clock the procession formed at the Town hall and in the following order marched to Mahaiwe cemetery: Cavalry, IS in number, commanded by ID. D. Hurlburt; Col Henry w. Wright, grand marshal of the day, and aids John Harvey and H. A. Bristol; E. T. Dres- ser Post, No 158, G. A. R, com mprising 34 veterans and 10 sons of veterans; fo- ral car with six young girls dressed in white; fire company, commanded by w. H. Broderick; carriages and citizens. In the carriages were the town officers, clergy and choir, with aged veterans. At the cemetery the band played dirge and the choir sang "Silently, Tenderly, Mournfully Home" During these ex- ercises the flowers were placed on 28 graves The procession then reformed and returning to the Town hall, which was filled with people, the chief exer- cises of the day occurred. Prayer was offered by Rev R. F. Elsden of Housa- tonic and addresses were made by Judge Shores and Rev Horace Winslow. The grand army post then went to the upper cemetery and Housatonic, where the graves of the soldiers were decorated Music was furnished by the Housatonic band throughout the day.