The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-06
T%%HP BRADFORD, VERMONT, SEPTEMBER g. 1885,
"Orange County War Veterans.

Tuesday, the Sd of September 1895
was red letter day in the history OF
the Orange County Veterans Associa
ton. Their annual reunion was hello
at Morey Lake on the date above nam.
ed. Nature smiled its grandest ap.
proval, for the day was perfect, SC
was the machinery which moved the
affair from first to last. A more de-
sirable locality for such a reunion
could not be found this side of the
shining shore. A business meeting
was held at the Glen Falls House in
the forenoon, at which time, upon in
vitation of Daniel Taicy, backed by
the solid Newbury delegation of vet.
Grams, it was voted to hold the next
annual meeting at Newbury, probably
at the village. 1t is an established fact
that Newbury village people entertain
the soldiery with a willingness and
spontaneity born of true patriotism.
Mr.. Taicy was chosen chief executive
officer of the organization with title of
Colonel.
A grand picnic dinner was enjoyed
by the multitude, also an excellent
dinner was served by landlord Bishop
who was untiring in his effort to make
everyone feel at home and happy.
After dinner the delightfully."- cool and
restful reception hall of the Glen Falls
House was filled to the overflow.
Seated ON the platform. was Col. Solon
X. Berry of Thetford. master of cere-
monies and Captain General of the oc.
casion. (After bestowing these re-
served titles prefer to speak of him
as "Uncle Sol'0 "Uncle Sol" was at
his best and turned off his part of the
program with zip. The speakers
were General Thomas, Revs. j. 5.
Tupper, H. T. Barnard and ex,Gov.
Farnham, al! comrades, and Mrs. New
comb, representing the W. r. G. The
speakers were patriotic in their utter
ances, entertaining in their subject
matter, and did not tire the large au-
dience Strange as it may seem, Col.
John G. Stearns, veteran always will
ing with hands and pocket book, but
ever silent as an orator, did speak to
his comrades on the subject of pensions.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: Col, ID. Taicy;
= lent Colonel, W. II. Munsell; Vice
President, Major L. w. McAllister;
Adjutant, r. G. Brock; Quartermaster,
N. H. Hunter; Chaplain, j. S. Tupper;
Surgeon, j. G. Stearns.
l may be pardoned if cannot write
of this occasion without speaking in
particular of General Thomas, Orange
County's tried and true war horse and
VermOnt's esteemed and patriotic citi
zen. There are doubtless scores of the
Vermont soldiery as deserving of fame
as he, but to me, as l become better &C.
qualnted with his history, first as "a cit
izen, then legislator, then soldier,
now grand old man, the more l see
in Stephen Thomas my ideal of true
man. I have his promise and that of
his estimable daughter, Mrs. Newcomb,
that if Providence deals kindly with
them they will meet the Orange County
Veterans in Newbury next year.
A trip around Lake Morey with the
genial Capt. Lucas with boat load of
nv kith and kin and near neighbors;
visit at Birchmere, the most delightful
of summer homes, where Squire and
Mrs. Chapman made me feel as though
| had reached Beulah land; a visit
with Mr.. and Mrs. G. F. Bracy, vino
are not amateurs in making one feel at
home; a cell to rest, drink some of
that spring water, pop beer, ETC., at the
Pavilion presided over by Mr.. and
Mrs. Sawyer, and all the while within
the sound of patriotic and appropriate
music furnished by the ever-on-deck
West Newbury Drum Corps; and to
crown the whole thing a ride to and
from the depot in one of II. P. War
ren's comfortable carriages and visit
with "Kerb" himself; chat with Gen.
Gilmore, a man who can do more exc
cution and make the least noise and
spread about it of any man in Yer
mont. All these things | say to which
add the pleasant meeting and greeting
of a hundred acquaintances. leaves an
impression in my mind that when | die
| should rather go to an Orange Coun-
ty Veterans reunion at Lake Morey,
down in the modest unpretending town
of Fairlee than to run many chances
for long trip in an unexplored coun-
try. HORACE w. BAILEY