The Press., 1891-06-18
the soldier patriot could pay to save the republic from dismemberment

the soldier patriot could pay to save the republic from dismemberment. And so, when the Grand Army post was established here, where he has lived and prospered, he mentally resolved that at the proper time, and in some way that time and thought would surely develop, he would redeem long felt, self-imposed obligation and pay a loving tribute to the spirit of self-sacrificing patriotism on the part of those living and dead, who bore the brunt of the terrible struggle to pre- serve the nations life. .tEt. tr' As a preliminary measure, and having in view the uncertainty of life, he first of all made generous provision in his will for the erection of a soldiers memorial; and as the matter was thought over and brooded upon in his own mind and in con- sultation with others interested in his his purpose, there was gradually evolved | the conception which we see realized to- day in this architectural gem, a perma- nent and striking landmark of beauty in this portion of our beautiful river valley. And now, MT. Commander and con- rades of the J. H. Converse Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the name of MT. Chaffee and at his request, I pre- sent to you this building, this Memorial Hall, to be yours and your successors. It is built upon land which you already hold in fee, and your title to it is there fore legal and complete. Every bill in cured in it's erection that has matured has been paid, and provision has been made for the payment of all bills yet to mature.
 ] It is gift of love for cause which you and your deceased comrades worthily sustained, and of gratitude towards all | who contributed to make the cause tri- umphant.
 The large sum of money that it has cost has been given freely unreservedly. If MT. Chaffee was to be reduced to poverty tomorrow and by a wish could reconvert all the thousands of dollars this building has cost him into cash and into his pos session, the wish would be strangled in it's inception.
 ] It has been a pleasure to him to give, and that pleasure can be enhanced only by his knowing that you will find pleas ure and benefit in the gift.
 | And now have another pleasant duty to perform before my part in these cere- monies is ended.
 l In the hall of the memorial building stands beautiful and valuable upright grand piano, and I am commissioned by two ladies, the wife and the daughter of MT. Chaffee to present it to the Grand Army post.
 | Sympathizing most heartily in the feel ing that prompted the husband and father to bestow the larger gift, they yet desire to emphasize their sympathy by adding this gift of theirs to his.
 Certainly nothing could be more appro- priate among the equipments of a Grand Army post, where deeds of loyalty are to be commemorated and lessons of patriot ism taught, than such an instrument l MnSia hao haan ha mi, ant of patriotic emotion and patriotic en- deavor, and when the heart of nation Is so greatly stirred as was ours during the civil war, 1t Is just as natural and inevita- ble that along with the thunder of cannon and the rattle of musketry there should mingle, not only the notes of the bugle and the roll of drums, but also the peans 1 of triumphant song, swelling upwards from the myriad throats of embattled hosts. And does not tradition affirm, and have not millions of voices singing the old army songs ever since the war, swelled that tra- dition into roar like Niagara, that our boys in blue not only fought their way, but sang their way through the Wilder ness to Appomattox, and from Atlanta to the Sea?"
 | Veterans of the post: In imagination I can see you in the near future at your so- cial gatherings, when memories of days in camp, or on the march, or in battle, come thronging quickly about you and your hearts are beating with thoughts of
 "Auld Lang Syne," and then some gifted
 one among the company will strike the
 harmonious chords and lead the melody
 as you again roll out with old-time fer
 vor the stirring songs that fired your
 hearts and nerved your souls ''in the
 brave days of yore." At such times I am
 sure that this melodious gift of these
 most worthy ladies will receive it's due need of appreciation.