Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-22
TWAS A GRAND TINE.
The Boys Of the Tcgus keeIey League Had at
No. Conway.

ToeUs, Sept. 2l.-(SpeciaD = Rain,
rain, rain-drizzle,i drizzle, drizzle-pour,
pour, pour. That is the story of the
weather from the time the old bows in blue
quietly routed ont Thursday morning, until
they arrived at North Conway.
Yesterday was the day sppointed for the
mass convention Of the Kelley leagues of
Maine to be holden at the Forest Glen. No.
Conway. r
At about ) O'Clock. with noiseless tread.
those who were gding, dressed and made
their way to the dining room where
Sergt. Jones hsd some steaming
hot coffee and the usual
Thursday morning hash all ready for the
boys. After breakfast the crowd went for
the depot, where Conductor Lawton was
awaiting their coming. All aboard and
away for Gardiner, where in due time Kee-
ley League No. 2 Of Togus TO the number
of about 100 boarded the re sgular morning
train and started on their journey to meet
their brothers who were coming from all
over New England to have love feast
over re-ettablished manhood and all its
consequent blessings But how it did rain,
Well, let it rain, it is pretty hard to quench
the enthusiasm of these men who have cast
aside the bondage of strong drink and have
renewed their manhood.
There were found aboard the train repre-
sentatives of different leagues along the
line of the Maine Central from Bangor to
Augusta and they were a jolly crowd, but
none of them were jollier than the Togus
vets. They sang, told stories and played
cards until the final shout of the conductor
announced North Conway. Ard here is
something quite remarkable; it had been a
steady downpour all the forenoon, but
about 10 minutes before the arrival of the
train it stopped and it did not rain drop
until the crowd reached the station to take
the train for home when another downpour
came.
Well when the Togus boys alighted from
he train at North Conway they found
crowd awaiting them. Fully 100 Kelley
graduates arrived at Forest Glen the night
before, and the special from Biddeford and
way stations had brought about 100 more.
a procession was formed with about 80,
who are taking the treatment there now, as
an escort, and next came the home band
from Togus, with Kelley League No. 2,
Immediately after, then came Painchaud's
lst Regiment Band of Biddeford, 25 pieces,
with the Biddeford boys and others behind
them. The line of march was from the
station to the residence of General Mana
ger Tucker, where halt was called and
Prof. Themes band gave the "Payson
Tucker Serenade," written expressly for
the occasion by the professor. To say that
it was fine is unnecessary. Then the line
If march was taken to the Forest Glen,'
where large crowd were awaiting the
arrival of the boys. The line was immedi-
ately broken and half hour spent in look
ing around, when the stirring notes of the
bugle called all hands to arms to the boun-
tifully- spread tables near by, in the open
air. Did they eat we'll? | guess so,
50 bushels of clans, 500 lob
sters and 500 ears of corn had
been steaming for an hour in regular clam
bake fashion, and with plenty of bread and
butter and about 100 dozen boiled eggs, if
anybody left the tables hungry, it was their
own fault. The coffee was Just delicious,
md it went, too tell you.
After sufficient time had elapsed, to
,llOw the crowd an opportunity to get over
the immediate effects of their feed, Judge
Hamilton of Biddeford, standing on the
piazza steps, called the meeting to order,
md in short, spicy speech, opened the
ifter-dinner programme. He first intro
luced Mr.. VIM. + Gould, who is at the
head of the Kelley institute there. Mr..
Gould, in well chosen words, welcomed
the guests, and though his speech was
short it was full of fire. Next came A. T.
Jenness of Cambridge, Mass, followed by
W. S. OakmaD, president of the Togus
League. Then Thos. Leigh of Augusta
gave a 10 minutes speech that was bril-
liant and effective. L. A. Fletcher of
ToQus, DIR. J. J. Mooney of Buffalo, n. Y,
!. w. Newton of Togus and others fol-
lowed. All had the same story to tell and
all were listened to and applauded to the
echo.
After the conclusion of the speaking
Prof. Themes band, seated on the lawn,
gave as fine a concert as was ever listened
to among the mountains and the six num-
bers were all received with the greatest en-
thusiasm by the crowd. Then after a short
rest the lst Regiment band of Biddeford
entertained the audience with an excellent
concert and so the afternoon wore away
until half past five O'Clock came, when the
line was once more formed, and amid the
cheers of the crowd and to the notes of
'aulu LaDg Syue duu 'lOues ONeel
Home" by the Togus band the procession
marched to the station. twas q somewhat
tiresome journey home, but when Port
land was reached the genial pro-
prietor of the West End hotel
sent word over to the station for
Themes band to report at once at his host
ery. The order was promptly obeyed, and
short concert given which brought down
the house, or at least the House came down
with the cigars.
Well, ii was good time all through des-
pite the unfavorable weather. Iwant to
90 down again. / am indebted to Mr..
Gould of the Forest Glen" and Mr.. c. H.
Bosworth of Portland, who is the publisher
of the Forest Glen Echo, for kindly courte
sizes.
Governor Stephenson was intending to
attend with the boys, but the inclemency of
the weather prevented. His private secre-
tary, Mr.. Geo. A. Mitchell, conveyed to
the guests of the occasion his regrets.