The Portland daily press., 1892-07-16
BlDDEFoRD's GREAT DAY.
How the St. Johns Society Celebrated Its
Silver Anniversary.

BIDDEFoRD, July 15.-This has been
great day for Biddeford. The st. Johns
Society has celebrated its 25th anniver-
sary and French Canadian societies from
Lewiston, Auburn, Waterville, Bruins
wick, Westbrook and other parts of the
state have helped make the affair the
grand success which everybody pro-
nounces it tonight. The visitors, in
Guiding the Governor and his staff, ar
rived on the early forenoon trains. The
organizations marched to St. Joseph's
church, where services were conducted
by local and visiting priests. The SER
mon was preached by Rev. 2. A. Dupre
of Springvale. AT noon the procession
was formed on Elm street and the line
of march extended through the principal
streets Of Biddeford and Saco,
which. thanks to the profuse decorations
ON business blocks and private houses,
presented a gay appearance. There
were many interesting features in the
parade Miss Fannie Cote, representing
the Goddess of Liberty, and Miss Mamie
Leblanc, as the Goddess of Music, won
much applause. A Canadian farmer,
Uncle Sam, Bonaparte and two Indians
formed mounted squad of imitators
that preceded six Lewiston policemen.
In the trades procession were many
handsome floats and the fire companies
were out in force. The military escort
was commanded by Col. Kendall, Lieut.
Col. Choate also being in line. The es-
cort consisted of companies A, B and E
of Portland and G of this city. Capt
George A. Dow commanded company A,
Lieut.. Charles Collins company B and
Lieut.. T. j. Hogan company E. Cover
nor Burleigh and staff rode by in car
riages. With His Excellency were May
or Staples, Daniel Cote and G. M. Moses
of Saco. The Governors staff officers
were Gen. John Harper, Lewiston; Col.
George A. Philbrook, Augusta; Col. E..
c. Stevens, Augusta; Col. George L..
Thompson, Brunswick; Gen. II. M.
Sprague, Augusta.
During the brief halt of the procession
at the Biddeford High school grounds,
Governor Burleigh delivered this adj
dress:
s'iMr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
thank you sincerely for your kindly
greeting. 1t is pleasure to be present
with you upon this anniversary occasion
of an organization that is worthily rep
resentative of large and growing body
of Maine citizens. The French Canadian
people have already contributed gener-
ously to the material growth and pros
perity of our state, and will undoubtedly
play an important part in the future de-
velopment of these great natural re-
sources of Maine, the full scope of whose
possibilities we are beginning to under
stand and appreciate. 1t has been a
| pleasure to me to note the increasing
readiness of your people to assume the
responsibilities of citizenship and to full
| ly identify themselves with the commu-
nifty interests of the localities where they
| reside. 1t is movement that merits
| the most hearty commentator and en-
couragement. The people of Maine have
| been glad to share with you these most
| cherished rights, and rejoice to see you
so freely mingling with and becoming a
| part of our organization. We trust and
| believe that these rights and immunities
of citizenship will be carefully cherished
| by YOU and transmitted to your children
as a priceless privilege to be guarded
| with Jealous care.
| But my friends, I did not come here
| to weary you with nay extended remarks.
| [ assure YOU I shall remember this occa-
sion with genuine pleasure, and trust
| that it may mark milestone in the Wig
orous and healthy growth OF your asso-
ciation.n
| Late in the afternoon battalion drill
| was given by the military companies.
| Tonight there was reception to the Gov
ernor at Biddeford House, followed by q
concert at the Biddeford Opera House