Connecticut western news., 1889-06-05
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 5. 1889.
MEMORIAL DAY, 1889.

II
 Kind Words, Music and Refresh-
 ments for the Living.
 The decoration of the soldiers graves in this town and at Ashley Falls and Clayton, Mass, also the memorial exer- cises at the town hall in this village last Thursday were under the auspices of David s. Cowles Post No. 60, G. A. R. The Post assembled at a. m. at Armory hall Promptly at 7.30 they entered their carriages and proceeded to Ashley Falls, Clayton, Canaan Valley and East Can- aan, in the order named, and then to the lower cemetery near this village At each cemetery the soldiers graves, in- cluding the graves of soldiers who served in the Revolutionary war, were profuse- ly strewn with earth's fairest flowers.
 From the lower cemetery the Post re- turned to Armory hall which, during their absence, had been transformed into . banquet hall by the wives and daugh- ters of the veterans, assisted by other patriotic ladies who voluntarily contri- buted generous supply ofrefreshments. A double TOW of tables extended the en- tire length of the hall and groaned be- heath the weight of viands that would tempt the palate of an epicure. Hard tack was conspicuous by its absence, for Canaan ladies believe in giving the vet erans the best the larder affords. The hall was tastefully trimmed with the ns- tional colors. and ut F. 30 p. m. the vet erans and their families sat down and enjoyed a good dinner beneath their own roof, so to speak.
 At 1.45 p. m. the Post formed in line and marched to the town hall, but be- fore entering the building they halted long enough to have photograph of the Post taken by ". D. Lawrence, of East Canaan. They found the hall crowded, every seat being occupied ex- cept those reserved for the Post.
 The Exercises.
 Rev Hiram Eddy, D. D., who Is the department chaplain as we'll as the com mAnder of David s. Cowles Post, read the ritual service for Memorial day. Ad- jutant Roberts read the general orders of the commander-in-chief concerning Memorial day. Commander Eddy de- ivered an address of welcome. Rev H. 0. Hoadley offered prayer. The choir sang "Heroes, Rest in Peace" Com mander Eddy made brief but soul stirring speech and acknowledged his reverence for soldier who had stood amid the whistling bullets even in Q skirmish. He called attention to the battle of Gettysburg and to the famous charge of Pickett's brigade, and said 2 that he was happy to state that one of our townsmen who participated in that gallant charge and was where the bullets flew the thickest, was here today and would give glimpse of army life. He then introduced Col J. B. Hardenbergh, who was received with tumultuous ap- plause. The Colonel proceeded to review the preparations made at the commence ment of the war-how each soldier car ried two-story trunk, pillows, mattress, blankets, household goods and firearms and knives enough to be walking arse nal. He showed how cumbersome and useless the outfit was and had to be abandoned when they got right down to marching and fighting, the actual busi ness or reality of war. He called atten. tion to the early superfuity of red tape and superabundance of military tactics, all very fine on dress parade, but an in. cubus in battle. He said time does not diminish the interest in Memorial day. He avoided the distressing scenes of the var, but dwelt on its ludicrous features. In closing he alluded to the battle oi Gettysburg as one of the decisive battles of the world, the turning point in the struggle between the north and the south, but the contest Is not yet decided or the question settled whether ''a gov esnment of the people, for the people, and by the people" is firmly established and we must remember that there are yet battles to be fought to preserve our Institutions from political corruption : and the dangers that beses our pathway
 Commander Eddy responded iu a few vell-timed words and quoted the famil < jar passage, Eternal vigilance is the Tprice of Liberty" The choir sang 5sss Marching through Georgia. The ssnore drum and the bass drum coming IF on the chorus aroused much enthu
 nGm.
 RN Rev D. 0. Stone spoke of the battles VI to be fought. one of which IS be
 voen the home and the saloon. H'