Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-08-22

making 3 temporary duIlness. the popularity
Of Gen. Butler was drawa upon TO keep the
crowd in good spirits. A cal for three cheers
for the Lowell soldier never went unan-
swered. The crowd used the ''old man"
handsomely, and cheered him Justify.
The decorations were incontestAbly the
finest ever seen In Boston and were well
worth coming long way to see They were
universally admired.
The veterans said that In no city 10 which
they had held an eneampment did the deco
rations approach In layishness aud beauty
those arranged for their welcome in Boston.
The business 4 the city was almost wholly
suspended. Nothing was done except what
was essentially necessary.
Altogether Il was q great day, the Ike OF
which Boston will never see again. When
her turn comes again 10 entertain the Grand
Army Of the Republic, half at least Of the
veterans now living will have made their
final march. She has had the rare felicity OF
entertaining the largest assemblage OF vete-
rams called together since the war, q proud
and glorious record for any city.
One would have thought thst the long
march Of the day would have wearied the
veterans, so that they would have had little
life or enthusiasm len for the reception OF
the evening; bit who ever knew an old
soldier TO be tired when there was a comrade
W kiCtbY " bIluNc, Ut Ou bOnNo W oihb
the chorus toy Amid the glory OF flags and
the strains Of martial music, the men Of the
G. A. X. and the women OF the relief corps
gathered by thousands in the grand hall OF
the Mechanics building, 10 receive greeting
and welcome from the Old Bay state.
The mattresses which furnished the sleep
Ing accommodation for thou,ands Of men
were piled hiL h on the sides OF the hall, aud
the floor space left free for the people. Here
. IL q La h.
pulled down, and o veteran, thoroughly
tired out, would be seen soundly sleeping,
undisturbed by the swaying, surging, snout-
Ing mass Of humanity by whom he was sur
rounded.
Shortly the throng on the floor increased
In density until only a sea of upturned faces
could be seen. And how few young faces
there were; that was what struck the look
er-on first of all they were for the most part
faces of men whose hair and boards had
grown, but whose hearts, still young, gave a
glow to the cheek and lustre to the eyes. IL
was most interesting sight and one that
touched the hearts OF those who were watch
ing them. All OF them wore the army blue
the uniform of the G. A. X.
In pause of the bands playing one voice
In the hall started the old army song:
John Browns body lies s-moulderiag In
the grave"
One ana another took up the refrain until
the very rafters rang with the stirring
melody.
Just as they finished this song another
voice began America" and the strain
swelled as before. Just as the voices had
got we'll under way, the band leader gave
the signal, and the band joined the voices In
the old hymn, and 1t was ended In perfect
burst of enthusiastic applause.
Half an hour went by, then amid cheers
and shouts Gen. Alger appeared; he was
followed shortly after by Gen. Sherman and
Clara Barton. Gen. Sherman came saunter-
ing on TO the platform, smiling welcome to
every body, aud answering the cheers with a
still broader smile, aud a slight duck OF the
head that stood in the place Of bow. Clara
Barton, who could not stay, but only came
to say chow do you do to the boys whom
she so dearly loved, said 1t with smile and
bow and retired. She was welcomed with a
warmth that left little doubt of the place
which she held in the heart of the soldiers.
Gen. Alger was received rs hero OF the
hour. After responding to tue welcome re-
ceived in Boston, he re erred TO the Grand
Army rs family of nobility. having among
its comrades men the most distinguished In
our country. His remarks were interpreted
with brightly facetious bits, and his pleasant
manner won the hearts OF the audience.
AT the close OF his address President Har-
rison was introduced. and was almost over
whelmed with cheers, and the applause rung
out again aud again in most enthusiastic
fashion. When at last he could be heard he
spoke as follows:
81 have had impressions both pleasant and
sal as 1 looked upon the great procession of
our veteran soldiers today in this grand old
historic city-peasant as contemplated the
faces OF the men who shared the perils,
struggles and glories Of the late war, and
fought for the preservation OF the Union
mournful, as l thought that we should
probably never again In so great mum bers
meet again. When, not a long time ago, |
stood in the national cemetery at Arlington,
across the Potomac, and looked upon the
silent battalions OF the dead, |
thought OF how swiftly the reaper OF
life does his work; and / thought that ere
long the scattered cemeteries throughout the
land must receive the ashes of the brave
soldiers whom now we are meeting during
this great encampment week. Yet could
not but feel, withal, that the strength of our
remaining battllions would not be withheld
even now II the emergency called for their
aid. Loud cheers And II Arlington rep.
resents the death, then the sons of the veto
rams, whose springing step we saw today
are the resurrection"