St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-02

to 5000; this figure had not quite been
reached but the incoming commander
might reasonably hope to accomplish
it and more. The subject of pensions
came in for vigorous treatment at the
hands of the Commander. The nation
had been liberal with its veterans but
but it was debt of honor. That a
soldier who had suffered in Anderson
Vile and was now suffering in conse-
quence should receive but a paltry 50
month he pronounced shame; no
wounded soldier should receive less
than SO a month. Even-handed JUS
tice was all the soldier asked and this
he would have. These sentiments
were wildly cheered by the audience
and Commander Blodgett was repeat
eddy interrupted with signs of approx
al during his address.
Gen. Stephen Thomas, ga grand old
man," was called for and as he ad-
vanced to the platform was welcomed
with three rousing cheers and tiger.
He spoke briefly but with good deal
of spirit and stirred the boys up to a
high degree of enthusiasm. "We gath
er under different circumstances to-
day." he said, ethan 20 odd years ago.
and then he proceeded to compliment
the ladies, to recall scenes of war times
and specially to urge every honorabl y
discharged soldier to enroll himself in
the G.. A. r. He concluded with the
statement that if he had the ability he
would make a better speech than. he
had heard that evening. The general
was as lively as any of the speakers
and made things lively for the hearers.
In response to loud calls for Col. g..
w. Hooker, of Brattleboro, that wor-
thy stepped forward and proceeded to
convulse the audience with laughter
while he told half dozen stories such
as the Col. only can tell. He paid the
audience a we'll deserved compliment
for the patience with which they had
listened to the speakers and condOled
with the many who had been standing
for hours. In closing he turned about
abruptly and made an earnest plea in
behalf of higher ideals on the part of
the Grand Army comrades, urging
them on to heroic lives and noble ac-
ton. There is but one Col. Hooker
and one must be present to get the
best of the Colonel's brilliant efforts of
which his speech Tuesday evening was
good example.
Col. Mansur of Island Pond respond
ed to loud calls with a brief address,
relating thrilling incidents of war life
that came within his own observation,
and even at that late hour, for it was
after ii 80, held the close attention of
his audience from the beginning to the
end of his speech.
The last speaker was Major Circuit OF
Derby, who spoke of the heroism OF
Gigs, of the brave deeds of brave he
roes and of some of the lessons to be
drawn therefrom for the people of this
day and hour.
1t was close upon midnight when the
encampment closed. The manner in
which the large audience of from 1900
to 1900 people remained in their places,
many of them standing throughout the
nearly five hours of the encampment,
was a notable feature of the gatheiting.
Even at the late hour of closing many
comrades preferred going to the town
hall, which was open for their recep-
ton, to continue the talk of war times
and war scenes to retiring, and it was
in the small hours of the morning be-
fore some sought their beds.