News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-10-01
Vacation Notes.
DETROIT AND THE NATINOAL EnCAMP-
MENT


erything was done by the city anC
individuals that it was possible fol
them to do in the way of lavish dec
orations, public and private, in tn,
furnishing, free in some instances anC
in others very cheaply, of excursions
+ on the river and lake, in free quarters
. with excellent accommodations fO1
all who wished to 90 into camp, in /
most magnificent display of fireworks
on one evening and a grand welcom
ing assembly on another and fin,
camp-fires on both, in q splendid ban
quet to the officers and members o
the encampment with all the delica
cies of the season at which eleven hun
dred plates were laid on a third.
The citizens, headed by that fine
soldier and generous man, Gen. AL
ger, did all and more than all that
any reasonable man could ask tC
make the meeting the success that il
was and to make all enjoy their stay
in the CITY of the Straits"
In passing | may say that Gen Al
ger seems fast taking the place in the
affections of the Grand Army which
Gen. Logan, of lamented memory
held so long, as could be seen by his
welcome whenever he appeared where
the "boys" could greet him.
The streets of Detroit, especially
those of the newer portion of the city
are straight and wide and many O
them finely paved, severalw a ma
terial newfor the purpose tome being
with hard burned red brick, laid Oh
edge, a good pavement it seemed
too.
In some portions of the city where
there is little heavy traffic they are
still laying some of the "DeGolyer'
wood pavement which proved a fail
ure in Washington and here it is not,
as it seems to me, good investment
for there is an unsavory smell about
it that is absent in asphalt, granite
or brick, and doubt if it is good in
sanitary point of view.
In many places the city shows that
it is in transition state, fine streets,
and fine buildings on the same street,
standing side by side those of earlier
period of it's history and which are
far from ornamental.
The residence streets are very nice,
those of the more unassuming, even
being broad and well kept and many
of the dwellings, of the better class be-
ing fine examples of taste.
A fine park and circle with fountains
is near the upper part of the business
portion of the city and is an admir-
able breathing place Belle Isle Park
a few miles out, an island in the lake
connected by a bridge with the main
land, and accessible by street cars
and numerous excursion steamers, is
a beautiful place to say nothing of
the benefit to health it must be with
the fresh breeZes from the lake and it's
sheltering trees.
The encampment met in large hall
of abominable acoustic qualities and
to add to it's discomforts was fanked
on one side by a street paved with
granite blocks along which heavy
wagons rolled with a sound as of
thunder, this last being such a nui-
sance that the street was closed to
teams much of the time during the
sessions. COMMANDMENTS chief Yea
zey's fine voice was tried to its ut
most to be heard amid the confusion
caused by the street, the hall and the
unnecessary noise many in attend
ance made. Why will men do the very
actions which, if those of others, they
themselves would be the first to COM
plain of? Some always have done
such things and | suppose always
will
The sessions of the encampment
were peaceful with few exceptions,
there was an active canvass for Com
mander-in-chief, but when it became
known that New York for once was
united in her choice it was virtually
settled as it has been said for several
years that when that state was unit
ed on any good man he should be
elected.
There was brisk but good natured
struggle for the place of meeting of
the next encampment between Wash
ington and the young but rustling
city of Lincoln, Neb., but the strong
desire of most of the members and
the great "outside house" to once
more march through Pennsylvania
Avenue and to the Capitol carried the
day. The time of the greatest excite
ment came when an attempt to estab-
fish the "color line'' by establishing
departments in the same territory
composed exclusively of white or col
ored membership was made, but the
way the proposition was "sat down
upon " showed that the Grand Army
still believes that a man . good
enough to fight for the Union is good
enOught for membership be he white
or black or any intermediate shade.
Service and an honorable discharge
are the only requirements
A motion in accordance with a re-
quest from che Young Woman's Chris
tan Temperance Union, to dispense
with wine at future banquets was
negatived but with so strong an af-
firmative vote as to show that the
sentiment in favor of such action is
growing all over the country. On the
first morning of the session, while the
legs of many were still tired from the
march of the day before, it was voted
that the parade at future encamp-
ments should not exceed two miles
but the chair will probably be stretch
ed to reach from the Capitol to the
White House next year. The action
is right, we are too old to take long
marches to crafty those who are
pleased to watch our ageing steps.
And so the twenty-ffth national en-
campment with its pleasant memo. les
and greetings of old comrades long
separated but not forgotten is a
thing of the past. Elegant jewelled
badges were presented to Comman-
der-in-chief Yeazey and past Comman-
der Alger by the members of their re
spective stats, the presentation in
the former being made by Ex-Presi-
dent Hayes, a member of the staff, in
a nice little speech.
The attendance and parade were
very fine though not equal to Boston |
last year when call New England was
there" in addition to great delega-
tons from other sections, Michigan
and Illinois, and Massachusetts ofthe
more distant departments, had splen-
did turn-outs this year.
Although the Oklahoma Indian re-
opened to settlement the