Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-08-27
Gsar$ County 9trala.
ISLAND P0Np. IT. AUGUST Is, 1897
vERMoSr's GREAT cExrEN>r,L.


porous and powerful governments. Yer
mont's great occasion presented historic
material and features of rare uniqucneSs
and solid grandeur such us are seldom
seen and appropriated as they were at
Bennington. In ito nature the material
that made up this celebration was, alb
stractly considered. grand and interest
ing. Beyond this as heroic events, great
struggles and issues of life and death
move nearer to ourselves they constantly
increase in interest until they become ST.
zcstiul to us that we seem to be a part of
them and that they become realities to
us. Among the peculiar features OF this
occasion was the Importance OF the po-
sition of the American and British armies
in the country; the immense Importance
of the junction undertaken to be made by
Burgoyne; the entire absence OF any mo
tivcs of personal ambition i'll the minds OF
the hardy defenders OF their homes; and
above all the bold and daring position
Vermont assumed as an entirely indie
pendent sovereignty i'll and by herself.
And this rare opportunity, SO rich i'll his
toric material was most completely inn
proved to make the rugged little com
monwealth, for day at least, the central
thought and admiration of the whole re
public. And SO with all this, and thous-
ands and thousands OF hearts tuned to
the highest and incest degree by all the
soul-stirring emblems and notices
through which they moved with music
and song, the people OF the country, cs-
pccially of New England, had come, and
were waiting to see or hear their emo
tons and thoughts put i'll symmetrical
form by the genius OF Oratory.
1t was distinguished gathering. Was
there one there who had seen with his
own eyes any of the heroes of the Battle
of Bennington? The valor0us actors i'll
this Thermopylr of the revolution are all
gone, and the military Splcndor Of our
last heroic age shCne forth brilliantly,
but did not dim the lights of history
which revealed the heroic virtues so in
Vinciblc at Bennington. Living heroes
We're there in all the enthusiasm of life
Contrasted with the memorial forms Of
the warriors of former days grown yer
cradle in time and richly clothed By his
Ia, al,
the way from Gettysburg, where, by a
skillful manUuvrc, he twisted and turned
the tide of battle and saved to the cOun-
try brave man and a good Judge and
scores of good citizens. Proctor was
there, fresh from national counsels where
he holds position in which he lifts Yer
monters into higher life. Wells and Pin
gree were also there, and host of other
Nermontcrs to give military zcst to the
occasion. Blatch!ord and Miller, Morrill,
and Edmunds, Grout and Powers, and a
long line of such were there to give civil
dignity to the occasion. The President
was there, invoking by his presence the
characteristic courtesy Of Phelps, not
only of expressions of loyalty TO that
great office, but of respect for the
incumbent who filled it SO we'll" Such
scene was there presented, such a
vast instrument was there TO be played
upon, such sensitive hearts to be moved.
requiring the most delicate touch so as
not to disturb the harmony to which
they were attuned, that any performer
might well shrink from the task lest he
should disturb the harmony of the occ&-
sion. VIII the audience be moved with
out embarrassment or abruptncSs into
the exercises In a moment, with very
appropriate illusions to the occasion and
knightly reference to the pleasant lady
love- remark of Gen. Stark, the exercises
were introduced. Through all the cxer-
c'seS the audience were looking and com
ing to the important feature of the day
The Grafton.
Cnriously enough the event which was
being celebrated, although almost within
the life OF the present generation, is suhi-
GENTLY obscure i'll its details to render
the subject somewhat novel, and curious
expectation was on tiptoc to hear what
Phelps-of whom much was expected
would say. The flying report we get OF
IT Ill the papers shows it to be a model
from the genial and almost jocund style
i'll which Col. Veazey brought him for
ward and introduced him he gidcd easily
through pleasant and howcry illusions
to the occasion and directly to his sub.
jcct, The Historic Significance of Battles
His contrast of battles of ambition and
tyranny with those whose smoke went
up like incense; cOnsecrated in the sight
OF heaven by the cause they maintained "
was the touch of 4 master hand. The de-
scription OF Burgoynes victorious march
from Canada to the Hudson; the stua-
ton OF the fleeing and pursuing armies
and the critical situation of the nhabi-
tants OF the grants is done in the most
simple, clear and pure style, apparently
as artlcss as the narrative Of child Ars
est cclarc artem. The military work OF
Gen, Stark is presented to the eye Of the
nearer and reader so that it can be seen
IN gross and in detail as distinct as though
it had been sketched on canvass. The
gallant charge 'up that hill " was bril-
liant, and so was the description of it
tastefully brilliant. One can see the
noise, the stern courage and the tumult
uous noises of the charge through modest
and unpretsntious language which de
scrlbes without initiating them. That