The Republican journal., 1889-09-05

To TIE EDITOR or TIE JOURNAL. The 3lst
day Of August, l>e9, will long be remembered hy
the members ot the First Maine Heavy Artillery,
one Of the plcasantest in tile list Of past re-
unions. Occurring Is it did during the state en-
camlncnt of the q. A. K. it served the double
purpose Of renewing Old friendships and making
new friends. | had heard something OF Camp
Benson before, but had no conception Of it, beauty
and magnitude. If you will allow me space will
give [or the benefit of Your rparr, ;iHd soldiers
in particularly brief description of the place.
left home on tn" 10Th bound lor the reunion ana
on arrival at Newport cnquircd for Camp Benson.
The Way was pointed out, amt after Il ride of a
mile and faif up the beautiful Hike Shore road
arrived at the Camp. Now, Mn Editor, il -'r,u}d
say WAS surprised as entered the gate anil Tie
lovely view burst upon me, should lac putting. it
mildly. | was simply delighted, and the more
Inspected the place the more liked it, for Camp
Benson well bears acquaintance. Imagine, il you
please beautiful, and ari>tcully laid ont park Of
p acres or more, fringed with natural trcr- ana
beautiful cottages surrounded hy beautiful drit tr-
and With a fine parade felt for centre and a
lovely lake for Il background, ami yuu Nave the
picture. We were received and most Hospitality
entertained at Cottage Europe by Mr.. and Mrs.
Bennett, assisted by their beautiful and accom-
plished daughter Grace and their niece Miss Cora
Ross. In fact they kept open house, where ali t.
A. r. men and soldiers generally were made wei
come, and right royalty dit they entertain. By the
way, Mr. Bennett is one legged veteran ana
Of Viewpoints business men. Cottage Europe Il a
beautiful cottage with Il two story veranli;t en-
chcling the whole and commenting line view Of
the whole park from the front. From the rear
You have view of the lake where perch and
pickercl sport in large numbers. y nice little
steamer plies back and forth from tho village.
MIR Bennett informs me that this cottage WAS the
first 20 he built on the Ground and might he called
the nest egg from which spraug the whole move
ment which has made Camp Benson What ii il TO-
day, one Of the finest among the many me SPOTS
which our state affords for summer resorts. We
predict for Camp Benson brilliant future. 1t
was our good fortune to arrive just before tie
Governor escorted on the ground by a com.
pany of young ladies, all dressed alike am. bear
ing wooden guns which they handled with much
skill. 1t was q pretty sight and ii was amusing to
see how the old vets crowded around the Governor
and with what familiarity he received them, shak-
ing hands With all and huvin. Il pleasant word for
many. The neNt day the reunion Of the tir-t
Maine held, anG some 230 of Them wcrc
present 1t was said there wa~ 5000 people on the
ground, MT no drunkenness rowdyi-m Of any
Kind was observed. The police regulation. we're
perfect and the officer Of the day told me that
there was secret service of police and at given
signal twenty men good and true could be collect
ed at any given point in five minutes. But they
were not called into requi.iton for everything
went merry marriage beIl. The day Wore
away and all too soon evening came and the vets
separated with many hand shai>ing- and nothing
but words Of praise for Camp Benson. seven, IN
cluding Your scribe, staid over night and until
noon the neNt Gay, when started on - mile
ride home, parting with many regrets from our
friends the Bennctts and their beautiful Cottage
Europe Wedo not know what action the ,tssocia-
tor took IN regard to the next reunion, hat Ger
tany think they could not Ito better than to adopt
this regular place of meeting.