Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-31
TABLETS UNVEILED.

r1ss General meryvtn, Admiral wells and Judge Baldwin Patriotic Scenes at the Soldiers Monument Singing by 300 School Children an Important Feature of the Exercises The Evening Fireworks Display l at East Rock-A Brilliant Scene | Events of Memorial Day.
 Memorial day dawned bright and clear, md early in the day all the patriotic citi- zsns of New Haven, or at least as many as could get away, prepared to do honor to the day. The principal public exercises of the day were at East Rock park, and to that natural garden spot the people of the city repaired in crowds from early morn ing until late in the afternoon. Until at the time of the unveiling exercises fully ,, 900 persons were on the summit of the rock.
 The exercises at the rock were both i'm posing and impressive. and were fully par ticipated in alike by the 300 school chil- dren, the veterans of tho late war and the public generally. Promptly at l o'clock the veterans assembled at the green, and while the chimes of Trinity church were ringing out the national airs embarked on the CATS of the New Haven Street Railroad company and proceeded to Rock lane, from whence they were transported to the summit of East Rock in barges specially chartered for the occasion. Upon their arrival there they were escorted to the base of the monument, where they formed @ circle and remained during the entire ex- ercises. After the unveiling exercises the veterans were brought back to the city In like manner.
 The scene at the monument was one of picturesque grandeur. The monument it. self was everywhere resplendent with the "Stars and Stripes" floating from every conceivable space. while from the top to the base of the monument were hung long streamers of the grand old s'Star Spangled Banner" Seated upon the steps at the bass of the monument were Governor Morris and his entire staff, the several members of the city and town govern ments, the chorus of 300 school children, all dressed in white, with blue sashes across the breast and each carrying small American flag, the speakers, the Second company Governors Foot Guard band and the presidents of the several Woman's RelIef corps of the state. The children's chorus occupied the west and north steps of the monument. Around the entire monument were seen the blue suits and Grand Army badges of the veterans of the civil war, many with aged, wrinkled coun- tenances, others minus arms or legs, but all thoroughly imbued with that patriot ism and love of country which thirty four years before had impelled them to the front at their country's call, to lend their efforts to the preservation of the U nion they go dearly loved.
 Owing to some slight but unavoidable delay, the unveiling exercises did not com meEcs until shortly after o'clock. Ad- miral Foote post occupied position at the front of the monument, facing south, the rear bringing up at Fsrnam drive. Henry O. Merwin and Won Steinwehr pests were on the west center of the shaft, the left resting on Farnam drive. General s. E Merwin, the presiding officer of the day, sat at the west corner of the monument, and on his right sat Judge Baldwin, with the chaplain, President Dwight of Yale and Rsv. Dr. Juatin E. Twitchell of this city. On the right of the clergymen were Gov ernor Mer win and staff, and on the left of General Merwin, Mayor Sargent end the officers of the city government, W. w.. Fsrnam and Henry F. English of the park commission, and State Commander S.. G. Blakeman and staff, the tablet commit tee and invited guests.
 The exercises were opened with an over ture, "A Day in Camp" by the band un- der the leadership of Fred Magee, after which the invited guests were presented by Comrade John Mccarthy, chairman of the G. A. R. joint tablet committee. This was followed by the opening address of the presiding officer of the day, General s. E Merwin. He pronounced a clear and able panegyric upon the brave men who fougat, bled and died for their country, and at it's conclusion he was roundly applauded.
 Next an invocation was offered by Pres ident Timothy Dwight of Yale university, followed by that grand old anthem ''Amer- ics," rendered by the chorus of 300 chill dren under the direction of Professor Ben jamin Jepson. The children showed care. ful and conscientious training, and 1t is doubtful if ever the inspiring strains were heard under more propitious circum' stances. Truly 1t was an inspiring mo. ment. As each word of the famous anthem came from the throsts of the 300 children they were taken up by the people and sang until the very tTess seemed to reverberate
 with the strain "God Bless Our Native Land; Firm May She Ever Stand Through Storm and Might"
 Then followed tue historical address, giving complete history of the memorial tablets, by Comrade William s. Wells, pact national commander of the Naval Veteran association of the United States. This was folio wed by the singing of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by the children'a chorus. Governor Morris then made a short patriotic address, after which the chorus "Red, White and Blue" was given. Folio wing that, Judge Simeon E. Baldwin spoke at some length.
 Judge Bsldwin's oration, which will be found in full upon our fourth page, was followed by the principal event of the day, the unveiling of the tablets. At given signel the coverings were unloosened and taken of by Miss Ruby Osborn, assisted by Pages Paul s. Thompson and Arthur w. Fox, amid prolonged cheering from the five thousand throats in the immediate vt- c!nity. The tablets are of bronze, eight and are placed in the panels on the east and west sides of the monument, forming handsome historic addition containing as they do the list of 526 New Haven soldiers who perished in the war.
 Almost before the prolonged cheering had died away the patriotic strains of the "Stsr Spangied Banner" were heard upon the air, the solo being exquisitely sung by Mrs. S. s. Thompson, and the chorus by the children and the entire congregation. Then followed the closing exercises con- duc:ed by the following comrades, using the beautiful G. A. R. ritual:
 Comrade Selah G. Blakemsp, depart ment commander of ths G. A. R.
 Comrsde Theron R Hull, commander Admiral Foots post, G. A. R.
 Comssde Joseph D. Plunkett, past com mandsr Henry o. Merwiu post No. 52.
 Comrads Wiegand Schlein, past com- msnder General Won Stienwehr post No. 7s.
 Comrade William H. Singleton, assistant chaplain Admiral Foote pest No. IT.
 The services concluded with the anthem "On Fame's Eternal Camping Ground, :" and bsnediction by the Rev. Comrade Jus tin E TwitcheIl, D. D.
 At exactly 5:30 o'clock the exercises were brought to close by the firing of the national salute. Forty-four times, one for each of the states in the union, the cannon belched forth its noisy report, uu- der the direction of the members of Nathan Hale Camp, No. 1, Sons of Veter- ans, and the unveiling exercises of the memorial tablets on the Soldiers monu- ment at East Rock park had become q matter of history.
 The large crowd quickly and quietly dis perssd and wended their several ways homewa1d. Notwithstanding the large throng present there was not the slightest disorder or any incident to mar the general enjoyment of the occasion. The police ar rangements were perfect and reflected great credit upon the department. Six teen patrolmen, three sergesnts, Captain O'Keefe aud Superintendent Smith were