The Worcester spy., 1898-11-01
Thousands Cheer the Boys in Line as They
Paraded for the Last Time as yolun-
teers Of Uncle Sam--Young and
Old Join in the Evening Feto
at Mechanics Hail.
The Speeches.

! The fairest, the bravest. the wittiesk
of Worcester were gathered in Mechan-
lfcs Hall last night. Beneath the glare
of myriad lights, amid the applause
/ Of the hundreds Of admirers in the ball
comics. with the starry banner of the
republic floating over them, and the
stirring, familiar strains Of the ma
tional airs thrilling ther hearts, the
soldiers of the city partoolx of the
gratefully rendered hospitality Of the
heart of the commonwealth
To say that the banquet last night
was the gTandest occasion Of the kind
that has ever occurred IN Worcester
within the memory Of the present gem
GRAFTON, would be putting IT feehly.
Immense" does not express the mag
nitude of the affair when ono regards
merely the meoha nical fact Of 50 great
a number of people having been served
with so lavish an entertainment in one
body, and grand" and "awe-inspfr-
ing'' are all too weak TO express the
effect produced when the vast throng
of people arose as they did at the con-
clusion Of the toast. ITO the president
of the United States" and with one ac-
cord made the very rafters ring with
the soul thrilling music Of the national
anthem sung with AN enthusiasm that
only burning patriotism and a pro-
found thankfulness for the blessings Of
peace restored and loved ones returned,
could possibly inspire
Lest there should be any doubt in the
minds OF the volunteers Of this city as
to the gratitude of the municipality for
what they have done in the service Of
the country, lest the interest that was
manifested in their homecoming and
the great wave OF sorrow that swept
over Worcester when the plight in
which they returned was known,
should not have proven the people,
sympathy and regard for their soldiers,
lest the tender care they have received
during the tedious days Of their con-
valescence should not have convinced.
them of the place they have in loving
hearts, the citizens Of Worcester last
night testified by the most splendid and
impressive public function that the
city has ever seen, TO the honor and re-
spect in which the heroes of the city
will ever be held in the esteem OF a
grateful community.
All Worcester feted the volunteers
last night. Rich and poor alike Joined
hands in making the affair a success,
and all kinds and conditions of men
sat side by side at the banquet board
side the beardless ooy volunteer Of the
past dreadful summer, sat the grizzled
veteran of 81, both young in the spirit
of patriotic devotion and loyalty to the
land they served. And if there has
ever been any one so minute in men,
tai calibre as to believe that jealousy
of the young soldiers existed in the
breasts of the old, they must have haG
their heads bowed IN shame when to-
gether veteran and volunteer stood arm
in arm and raised their voices in glad
acclaim for the old flag. above them,
each with the light in the eye that tells
Of the dauntless hear within.
1t was "a feast OF reason and dow
of soul,' although the material good
things Of the occasion We're nonef tha
less appreciated from the high pa
triotic pitch Of the whole affair. The
post -prandial exercises Were model
ones, with speeches OF the most elo-
quent nature By the best ofs tors ana
wits OF this section. The audience waD
the most distinguished that Worcester
could produce, and the fairess ladies Of
the city graeed the occasion With their
presence and frNn the balconies shed
the radiance of their smiles that
diramed the less brilliant illumiEatioyi-
Again and again the speakers awolSa