Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-16
HAD A FINE TRIP
DR.. Failing Tells His Conn.,
rades
ABOUT MERlDEN'S WELCOME
To Hs Party On It's Recent Vlss 10
That Csfy-A Cordial Wclcoms
Extended 70 All.


grand army boys Of the east, especially
OF Msriden, Conn, receive and enter
IAN comrade guests. / will give = brief
description OF our recent visit with
shem.
our party consisted OF my family and
the wife Of W. Z. Barrett, the whole
sale lumber dealer OF our city, Mr.. and
Mrs. Leayensorth, Mrs- j. snashaIl,
wife Of the pastor of Calvary Baptist
church, and Mr.. aud Mrs. F. Z. Bridges
aud myself.
After visiting baltimore. Washington
and tho battle field at Gettysburg and
attending the encsmpment, which. by
the way. Vas one OF the grandest and
largest ever held since the organization
OF the q. A. r., and probably will
never again 90 equalled, &c. 900 old vet
Grams marching through Pennsylvania
avenue IN the most beautiful city of
oar beloved country, was q sight never
TO be forgotten by all who had the
pleasure OF witnessing il.
cassr. For General Butler
From Washington, ID. c., we started
Tor toe east, spending one day IA the
Quaker City to visit the United states
mint, Independence hall and Postnas-
ter Wanamaker's store, which is said
10 be the largest IN the United States.
From mere We went 10 Jersey City,
wnere We took passage on the Puritan,
beautiful steamer on the Fall River
line, which was crowded u the utmost
~. 4
sons returning from the encampment,
including Gen. Il. r. Butler, accom-
panied by his daughter. lie does not
look much like the general of 1861 and
800. being very feeble. tie was hear
uly eheered by the G. A. X, boys. We
had \ most delightful trip on Long
Island sound TO Fall River, Mass, the
great cotton factory city. At this
point al our party, with the exception
of Mrs. Barrett. had left US. being as
the boys say played out" We did
net visit the city, but proceeded At
once 10 our destination. Bristol, r. l.,
the most ancient looking village of
5000 inhabitants We had ever visited,
situated on the bank of the beautiful
Narragansctt bay, midway between
Fall River and Providence. It 10 ked
for ali the world 200 years behind our
western cities ana villages. The most
noticeable features were its narrow
stone streets and old moss-covered
houses, churches and school houses,
one of the latter being over 200 years
old.
Another noticeable feature was that
almost without an exception the
front" lawns were in the rear of the
houses
This is the town in which General
burnside lived for many years and died
there think IN 1888.
The people are very hospitable and
many OF them very wealthy.
Newport by the Sea.
Three miles from here we visited the
historic spot, Mt. Hope, where King
Philip was slam by the Indians through
the treaenery of his own men. Here
rest his remains marked 10y q boulder
half as large as an ordinary house. on
which IL chiseled the date OF his death,
August IL, 1886.
From Bristol we visited Providence
and Newport, passing Crescent park.
Rocky Point, Narrsgsnset river, which
are among the more notable resorts.
while Newport. the most beautiful city
bv the sea, - the aristocrs,Ic home of
tine wealthy people of New York and
Philadelphia.
In the newer parts of the city the
avenues are broad and well kept.
Many OF the houses are real palaces
with beautiful lawns and strawberries
with gates open. But the wonderful
palace OF W. X. Vanderbilt ~ a city by
itself. Mr.. Vanderbilt seems to be un-
usually exclusive IN his ideas and
wishes 30 sbut ms elegant home from
the vulgar gaze of the common people.
It "a surrounded by wall partly of
marble add partly of iron psDels, set
so closely that one can nowhere see
through them, and isst least twelve feet
IN height. II IL sad that It's beautiful
bronze doors cost $50, 900, but ia sp-
pesrance reminds one Of soma great
asusoleum.
In the old part of the city. the streets
are very marrow. They are SO mar
row IN fact, that the street
railways run close 10 the sidewalk, tho
coaches Oysrhsnging them. Ins ola
state house snti-dates the revolution.
Ii j. of brick brought from England.
The original furniture - still retained,
it having baen recently newly uphoist-
cred. In the senate chamber u a full
length portrait OF General Washington
taken from life: $500 was paid for IL
and $50. 900 has been offered. The old
Trinity church still displays the crown
Of England on her spire.
The old mill salso one of the curl
oslties OF Newport, and the good peo-
pie ike 90 believe e vas built by the
Norsemen. bat | am told that Il vas
undoubtedly bult aud kept by Bene-
dlct Arnold. not the traitor. but toe
first governor Of Rhode Island. 10 q
looked after and kept ~ tue state.
welc~r,es, e. Providence.
At Providence We were taken N
charge by theverv hospitshfs comrsde.
Capt George II Psstis, whose Office =
ln the Sl.eo0 0u0 CITY naN We were
introduced BY him % the mayor and
city ofNc'sls. and we're bv them most
cordially received. We we're gwen the
freedom of thls great manufacturing
city We visited all the departments
Of the city nall, we're SHOWN the mo-
dns opersnil ot tne IRE alarm system.
detecuvs and poirce departments, snd
al the departments of the CITY oH.
erals. AMI iss-. hos net ieast. W were
shown the city records from she wear
ies0. written upen parchment with old
stvie letters. te the present date also
an Official document signed ~ Roger
Williams. the founder ef Rhode Island
dated 1885.
W aIso visited IRE hesutfa fSrk
donated 6v ard namesi Ia annCr of
E.sanr ~ llfafr= having life xfa