Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-06-06
Memorial bay,

were OF u high order, and will DO re,
membered by the Post and Corps, and
citizens as more than ordinarily inter
esting aud impressive. The weather
proved most suspicious and every de,
tail OF the programme, as published
last week, was carried out in o. most
satisfactory manner. The Post and
Corps met at their headquarters in
Fraternity Block, and'shortly after
0 o'clock the procession was formed
and headed by the band, marched to
the cemetery where the graves OF the
departed comrades were decorated
with evergreen and flowers with tho
customary ritual exercises peculiar To
snch occasions. A select choir nn'
der the direction OF Mrs. W. b. Cause
brook rendered appropriate music
during the exercises, likewise the band.
At the close OF the services ut the grave
the procession returned TO headquar.
tiers where Il sumputous repast was
served by the ladies to the veterans
and their families, and invited friends
to which ample justice was done.
In the afternoon a large audience
assembled in the opera house to listen
to the literary programme arranged
which included the reading of the
general Orders and such exercises pre-
scrlbed by the Il. A. X. on this Day
These were interspersed with music. by
the choir, and very pretty little ser
vice entitled THE Memorial OF the
Flowers" participated in by u NUM-
Der OF young girls representing the
different States OF the Union, each
repeating little sentiment US she de
posted her Offering upon the altar
raised " to the Memory OF the unknown
Dead" This pleasing feature closed
by the singing OF America, aud a
tableau ia which Miss Maud WilmOt
was tha principal figure, representing
the Goddess OF Liberty, the whole
calling forth uubounded applause and
enthusiasm.
Then came the GRAFTON OF the day
by Capt. Blodgett Of st. Johnsbury
which, we regret to state, was poi ton
OF the time rendered inaudibie by
people continually leaving the hal
during its delivery, the annoyance
at length becoming SO great that q
member OF the Post finally interrupted
the speaker and demonstrated against
the disturbance, which had the desired
effect. Capt. Blodgett spoke first o
causes that led up to the war, quoting
statistics and tracing each year III
course, showing that at the close thu
North had only just commenced ,hav
ing then n million men ready to defenI
it. lie next made an earnest uppea
for honesty towards the government
and closed by paying high aud feeling
tributes to the memory Of those wht
sacrificed home, comfort, aud all thai
was near and dear to them to stanC
in defence of the Union. His addres
was able and patriotic, and although
not al easy or fluent speaker, wha
he lacked in this respect he fully made
up in earnestnesS and enthusiasm tina
at times amounted to vehemence. A
the close OF the address, the benedictiol
was pronounced by the chaplain auc
the assemblage dispersed, oil seeming
ly having II keener conception OF thu
Significance of the day aud its purposes
NOTES.
The band boys made their first ap
pearance on the street, and a credit
able appearance it was too, and thei
playing astonished and delighte'
every body. 1t was excellent, ant
Island Pond is to be congratulated ii
the possession of such a band.
The change in the customary pre-
gramme, bringing the literary exei
cises at the opera house in the after
noon. instead OF at the cemetery
| seemed to give general satisfaction.
The contributions OF flowers an
wreaths were this year unusuall
large, and worthy OF especial mention
The decorum of the day, so becom
ing to the sacredness of It's character
WAS carefully maintained and prac
tieed throughout the town. The bus
moss places were generally closed, an
there was not the slightest appear
ance OF levity or disorder.
The band gave an open air concer
In the evening which was greatly en-
joyed, the excellence OF the playin
being heartily applauded and CON
Iplimented.