The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-09
CANTON REMINGTON

This body of uniformed Odd Fellows
made a pilgrimage last week to The
Weirs, N. H., and attended the brigade
Cantonment of the Patriarchs Militant
at that point. The Wers is an assembly
ground provided with several auditor
ums in the woods and commodious no
tells with ALMOST OF cottages, and lies upon
one bank of the picturesque Lake Win
nepesaukee. Steamers and row boats
are in great demand end give thousands
of visitors daily sails upon this body Of
water which is 35 miles in length. The
brigade comprises the Cantons in New
Hampshire, Vermont and Province Of
Quebec, under command OF Brig. Gen.
II. A, Harrington. New Hampshire was
generously represented by the chevaiers
of that State. Vermont was solely rep
resented aside from Maj Puffer's staff
and few line officers) by Canton Ben
ningtOn, which mustered % out Of their
total 81 swords. Considering the distance
and size of this Canton, the record of at
tendance is hard to find eqnalled. The
p. Q chevaliers contented themselves
with sending couple of line officers and
tlrO out of the promised ttCelUe Highland
pipers. However the Cantonment was
was grand success and the Boston
Journal says fully ten thousand people
were there on the day of the grand re-
view and dress parade Aug. I'd.
The Vermonters went over in special
car through the courtesy OF Supt. Ben
nett and General Ticket Agent Spafford
and gave an exhibition drill at several
points, attracting much attention. They
were highly complimented by Gen, Far
rington and other distinguished officers
Of the Patriarchs Militant. The outward
journey was begun Tuesday, July 3lst,
and on the evening of that day at Rut
land, Canton Rutland No. 0. was mus.
tered as stated last week From there
the route was via Burlington Montpelier
and Wells River to The Weirs via Plym-
outh. The Wells River Railroad had
been promised two car loads OF excur-
sonists and as it proved but a little more
than one quarter Of that number appear
ed. Notwithstanding this Supt. Stowell
hitched to the special B. & Rear Zone of
heir new and elegant coaches), an en-
CINE and took the party to Wells River
in double quick. 35 miles Of the distance
being made in 80 minutes, and the whole
length of that road in 40 minutes. The
Chevaliers of Canton Bennington wish
10 express thanks for these courtesies
shown by the several railroads over
which they passed ALSO to the steamship
company OF Lake Winnepesaukce.
The Vermonters were quartered on
the grounds OF the N. II. Veterans Asso-
citation which are to the north of the
camp meeting grove, and which is all
shaded by large pines. This was also the
auditorium used at the close for the
speeches, poems, etc,
The prize drill was reluctantly given
up, and as Canton Bennington did not
enter for II our State was not very much
interested therein. II is safe to say that
| il NO.4 had entered they would certainly
have won one or more Of the elegant
prizes offered by the cOmmandant. Mai
PufTer has reason TO feel honored by the
way his efforts at organizing the Dept.
OF Vermont are being met and Capt. Tiff
fanny of No. 4 has as fine body Of men
as will be found anywhere. The roster
Of the brigade. regimental and line off,
GERS, with stats, occupy too much space
for our columns, making nearly col
umn of fine print In the New Hampshire
dailies. The list OF names includes many
OF the leading lawyers, physicians, bust.
ness men. manufacturers, State and 9TH
or officials of the political divisions re.
presented.
One Of the pleasantest features Of the
occasion was a dress ball in the spacious
Music hall Wednesday evening. The
grand march was a very imposing spec.
tacle the chevaliers in their gorgeous
uniforms and ladies in elegant costume
wearing d. Of r. regalias, together with
other ladies and gentlemen in full even.
ing dress, furnished altogether a mos
unuaual sight even for gay summer
watering place. A genuine novelty tC
all present was the dancing of the High
land fling in costume by G. NJ. Walker