The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-06-01
THE VETERANS DAY.
The Weather fine, Attendance
large and Memorial Exercises
Successful.

weather more favorable and, aside from
the dust which made the marching a
triile uncomfortable, there was not one
unfayorable condition to mar the enjoy
ment of the occasion.
The procession was made up of Co +.
2nd Maine Militia, Capt. Alonzo \ ork
Canton Somerset, |. o. Of, Capt sum
ner {. Ward; Skowhegan Uniform Rank
knights of Pythias, Capt. Forrest Good
win; Russell Post No. 96 G.. \. r., Com
mauder sumner \. Patten; with Water
willie Military Baud. Prof. Hall. leader
all under The marshallship of Gen. Isaac
Dyer. The Canton and the Uniform
Rank IL. of T., had not appeared before
Decoration Day, and in their new uni
forms and with their precision of move
ment, constituted an important part OF
the column and We're highly appreciated
by the veterans and our citizens gener-
ally. They are fine bottles of men, made
up of cur best citizens.
The procession moved fist to The
North cemetery where prayer WAS offer
ed by Rev. {. V. Hanson and the graves
of soldiers decorated after which the
column moved to the South cemetery
supported by the other companies, and
the G. \, X. ritual decoration services
were performed in an impressive man.
ner by officers of the Post under dircc-
ton of Commander Patten, Mrs. IL. \.
Dinsmore read Il brief poem from Long
fellow, the graves were decorated and
the column again formed aud returned
to Water street and broke ranks.
The Waterville Band performed their
part to the highest satisfaction of all
and contributed very materially to the
enjoyment of the occasion.
The Women's Relief Corps furnished
an abundance of wreaths and bouquets
Tor decorotion purposes although the
backward season made this somewhat
more difficult than usual.
l Hc fAtICl>c> III NbDuIH HAN ucSildN
evening were in the following order;
Singing, Male Quartette
Reading of Orders, +, K. Buck, Adjutnnt
Ritual service and Short Address Of Welcome,
Commander
Music, Orchestra
Prayer, Rev. 5. c. Fletcher
Selection, Qnartette
Address, Mrs. Ella Jordan Mason
National Hymn by the Congregation.
The address of Mrs. Mason was re
ccivcd with unmistakable evidence Of
satisfaction and, At times, her eloquent
and impassioncd utteranees would elicit
hearty applause. The closest attention
WAS given throughout by one of the
largest audiences ever gathered in Co
burn Hall, Memorial Day. The speaker
was thoroughly filled with her subject
and her graceful presence and patriotic
enthusiasm put the audience and speaker
Immediately in accord and this continued
to the end.
We make the following extracts from
the able and interesting address OF Mrs.
Ma-,n,
We come together again to pay tribute
to the nation heroes, to express graft
tude to the living and Irvine the rose and
laurel in memory OF the dead.
Memorial Day is :. fountain OF patriot
ism from which the loyalty and lif of
the nation may be replenishrd and re-
freshcd. 1t lifts Us out of the rllts of
ind.vidlIall>m into which we gradually
drlit in the pursuits of peace, and SETS
again before our aspirations those sub
lime ideals of national greatness which
burned in the hearts of our fathers. 1t
is to the veteran and his family one OF
the most important days in our calender,
and it ought To be in a large degree the
same to the \atiol but gradually there
has been creeping into the minds of our
Young people feeling of Indifference, u
doubt IL to whether these men deserve
all the glory which is claimed for them
whether they suffered rs much pain, en-
dnrcd rs many hardships, sacrificed rs
many aspirations. achieved a. many
brilliant victories. \ question has arisen
to their minds if this war was really nee
cssary: if it could not have been preyen-
ted without all this loss of life, and cost
of treasure if the demands OF the south
were not just and reasonable, aud if the
North could not in honor have acquicSced.
or at Last, have waited patiently for The
problem to have been solved in some
other way.
God deals with nations rs lac does
with individuals; He gives to each some
peculiar mission. the working out of
which tends to the uplifting and advance
ment of the race. History has proved
Ibis TO be true Jewish history show
the unfolding of religion; Roman. ideas
of law: Greek. artistic culture, aud in
the Saxon race. especially in America,
it i, the development of c institutional
law. The grand bond of cohesion be
tween the different States is the consti-
tuition of the United States.
Absolute equal ty Of rights was the
first principle Of the ncw government.
They declared that ''a,l men are born
free aud equal and alike entitled to life,
liberty and the pursuits of happiness:
then with most wonderful inconsistent
CIV. sold into bondage human beings in II
manner which would have put to shame
the most cruel, savage people. 1t has
been said that it were better if nations
had no history: it would he we'll for us
generations which we allowed il to 90
on We shut our eyes to its growth un-
til the poison of its influence menaced
the very life of the nation,
We preached free dom and liberty we
practiced oppression and slavery. II
was these discordant notes which clash
ed aud rang. stirring up strife, which
from tiny cry swelled to roar that