Connecticut western news., 1896-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY. 1896.
Ceremonies at the Cemeteries.

ceremonies at the decoration of soldiers graves.
 Promptly at 7:30 a. m., ten members of David s. Cowles Post, No. 60, G. A. R. and several members of the Woman's Relief Corps left Canaan and drove to the lower cemetery where few citi- zens were waiting to receive them. Reverently, sadly and silently, without the usual accompaniment of muftied drum, the garlands were placed on the graves of 22 soldiers and two members of the W. R. O. The ritual service was read at the grave of General Harden bergh. It was tender and impressive scene as the ten comrades with fearful eyes stood in line while Commander Sackett read the ritual. The comman- der's voice faltered, and frequently his emotions overcame him.
 At East Canaan and other points on the route more comrades fell in with the post until they numbered p com rades in the ranks; and other members of the W. R. 0. also joined those mem- bers who started from Canaan. At East Canaan cemetery 23 school children from District No. l. and l3 from Dis trict No. met the veterans, and both schools gave recitations. No. recited Decoration Day" No. reoited "The Blue and the Grey" Eleven graves were decorated, and then the ritual ser vice was read previous to the recitations given by the children.
 At Canaan Valley cemetery eight children met the Post. A number of children were not present on account of 8 misunderstanding in regard to the time of meeting. The children gave six different recitations, and also sang. Five graves, and the mound for the "unknown" were then decorated.
 At Clayton the Post was met by 23 children from the Clayton school and by g children from the Sodom district school. The Clay ton school gave seven recita- tions, and the Sodom school gave six recitations. The graves of three soldiers and one member of the w. R. O. were then decorated. Mir and Mrs John Jackson gave the Post and W. R. 0. a surprise by inviting them to their home and treating them to hot coffee, biscuit and butter. cake and ice cream. MT Jackson's father was a veteran, and Mrs Jackson's brother was 8 soldier and was killed on the battle field.
 At Ashley Falls took place the ban ner exercises or demonstration on the route. Fifty five scholars with their teachers, Miss Devine and Miss Brad ford, all decorated with red, white and blue, had assembled at the cemetery near the church. where they waited un- til the Post Grived. Then they gave eight recitations. The graves of nine soldiers in the cemetery were decorated. aud then all proceeded to the new cemetery where 24 scholars. under the direction of Miss Devine. went through with beautiful marching drill and tableaux which were greeted with g grand round of applause. The graves of three soldiers in this cemetery were decorated, then the Post and ". R. 0. proceeded to the grove east of the school house and partook of the basket lunch which they had brought with them Hot coffee was furnished them by citizens of Ashley Falls.
 After lunch the Post and W. R. 0. returned to Canaan and formed in g group in front of Armory Hall, and several photographs of the group were taken by H. B. Mcfarland. Then al formed in line and marched to the fowr Hall where many citizens had already assembled. The stage in the hall had been elaborately decorated witt flags, bunting, evergreens and flowers
 EXERCISES AT TOWN HALL.
 At 2:30 p. m. every seat in the hal was occupied. Commander Sacket called the assembly to order.
 After the ritual exercises the Rev B Seeholzer offered prayer.
 The choir, composed of the fifteel persons whose names are mentioned elsewhere, sang "We Come Again" | The Rev B. 0. Warren, pastor of tn, M. E. Church at Pawling, N. Y, de livered the oration. It was most elo quent, patriotic and instructive pro duction, replete with gems of wor. painting. No outline report can d. justice to the speaker or convey an ide of his lofty flights of eloquence. I should be remembered that Mir Warrel is a southern man, and such patrioti words coming from such source gay them double effect with northerl audience. Without attempting to re produce the word painting or eloquenc we mention few thoughts as follow which MT Warren presented: "I makes a great difference from wha point you view mountain, whethe you view it from distant plain, o from it's base, or whether you stan
 amid the mountains or stand upon tn
 summit of one of it's peaks and loo
 down thousands of feet into it's yawr ing chasms. Likewise 1t is far differ ent thing to view from 8 distance tn
 affray that occurred in this countr about one-third of century age
 or to bare your breast to the bullet l and run the gauntlet (
 death issuing from the mountain ( hate" MT Warren then recounted tn
 events of 35 years ago that brought ou
 the true test of valor, but he remarke "the present is no time for trottin