Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-05
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
PUTNEY.
Impressive Memorial Exercises.

Impressive Memorial Exercises.
The Memorial day exercises conducted
by W. II. Greenwood post, No. 90 G. A.
R., were carried out as outlined week he
fore last and were very interesting and
well attended. At Dummerston. in the
morning, Comrade r. NJ Pratt was officer
of the day and had charge of the program.
After prayer by Rev. p F. Barnard an adj
dress of welcome was given by Mrs. Mil
Ter, followed by song by Mr.. Miller which
was well rendered and warmly applauded.
REGULATIONS by Ethel Knight, Periey Lynde
and two little girls followed and then
came the address of the day by Rev. F. M.
Wiswell This was brief, scholarly and
thoughtful and commanded close attention
and many expressions of commentator.
Another of Mr.. Miller's songs was followed
by recitation by Miss Maggie Spauldlng.
After the singing of "America" by the au-
dience procession was formed and
marched to the cemetery. Here the SOL
diers graves were decorated with baskets
OF flowers provided as usual by Mrs
Greenwood. The post had furnished an
elegant flower piece for Col. Greenwood's
grave, which was in the shape of a four
leaved clover, the corps badge of the 4th
army corps to which he belonged. After
decorating the graves the comrades re-
turned to Putney, where dinner await
ing them and their friends was served in
the lower Masonic hall by the ladies of the
Relief corps. Soon after 2 o'clock the
post, preceded by the Brattleboro High
School drum corps, marched to the town
hall The exercises there consisted of
singing by a male quartet, prayer by the
post chaplain, an Introductory address by
the officer of the day, comrade and post
adJutant M. II. Pember, and the address
by the orator of the day, Rev. H. D. Max
well. The latter was one of the finest ad-
dresses ever given in Putney, one of an
hours length delivered in 80 minutes, a
perfect torrent of eloquence. Sorapid was
the utterance of the speaker that it was
difficult to applaud him, as the audience
frequently attempted to do. At the con-
clusion of this address the audience sang
America" and procession was formed
and marched to Mount Pleasant cemetery.
There prayer was offered by Rev. H. Z.
Parker, the soldiers graves were decorated,
and the procession reformed They
marched next to Maple Grove cemetery,
and after prayer by Rev. E. F. Mitchell,
decorated the soldiers graves there. Re
forming the procession the post marched
to Masonic hall and disbanded after giving
three cheers for cold Glory"
The program for the schools on Pre-
Memorial day last week Friday afternoon
at the town hall could not fail to impress
lesson of patriotism upon the children who
participated in the exercises. 1t was red
letter day for them and one that they will
long remember. After march and sing
ing "The red, white and blue" the flag
salute by all the schools was given and
formed pleasing and fitting introduction
to the exercises. A quotation from each
school was followed by flag drill by No.
l school. Then came a long and varied
program of exercises, recitGtions and es-
says, interspersed with singing. Nos. l, 2,
3, 3 and 6 schools had exercises especially
prepared and adapted to the occasion.
Eleven Rotations, some of which were in
ordinately long although perfectly COM
mitted to memory, were given, and two es-
says by scholars were read. Mrs. Plantz
on behalf of the Relief Corps then pre-
sented patriotic charts to the teachers, one
for each school. Mrs. Washburn, superin-
tendent of schools, accepted the charts,
and then as mistress of ceremonies called
upon M. II. Pember for short address.
Mr.. Pember gave one even shorter than
anticipated and introduced Comrade Peter
Chase, who, with Comrade Sturges, had
come from Brattleboro to attend the exer-
cises.
Probably Mr.. Chase did not appreciate
how tired the children had become and his
efforts to interest them were not so sue
cessful as they might otherwise have been.
A pleasing feature of the occasion was
the presentation to each scholar of a card
inscribed with the motto "Dare to do
right" and also "Teach Old Glory aright,"
a surprise prepared by Messrs. Chase and
Sturges. Only one fault could be found
with the program-its too great length
but perhaps on that very account the OBJ
ject of the observance, the teaching of pat
riotism and love of the country's flag was
all the better secured. The day, its exer-
cises and their meaning will not be forgot
ten.