The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-01-13
The South r1ontvilIe Club of 90.

To THE EDITOR OF THE REPUBLICAN
JOURNAL The South Montville Club of
80 had its animal meeting Dec. Is, 1897,
in Grange Hail. 1t was conceived to be
something of a romance to fix the date in
winter month, and enjoy the beauties
of the moonlight reflected from the first
fallen snow, The moonlight, however.
struggling down through rain clouds pad
ded with dense fog, and reflected from
brown fields and brown and gray mud,
proved not greatly enhancing, but it fav-
ored weak (tendeT eyes, SO common
among the youth of our day. The Presi-
dent of the Club and Chief of Boguesdae
Clan came from the Hub to Union by rail,
from Union to South Montville by mud.
and returned the same way As he APP
preached the Dale from the south under
cover of mist and darkness and the great
military road that has been the scene of
so many warlike movements of the Clan,
lie saw lights moving from every quarter
and converging in the Grange, and became
at once convinced that the Lords and
Knights We're astir, notwithstanding the
inclement weather, and that there would
be great meeting, and such it proved to
be When the Dale gets its mind on a
great public question, nothing in the line
If weather can deter it from asserting it
self IN 4 public meeting. The titled gen
ttemen were among the early arrivals.
The Dukes of South Ridge, ohadagee,
Edge Hill and Woodman Mills; the
Earls of Truetown and Cartersburg, and
the Marquis Of East Ridge were present,
each in Lis Characteristic simplicity of
manner and mien, So creditable 20 their
lordships Their ladies were also very
unassumlpg in their bearing, attending to
many details for making the occasion
fully the equal, and in some particulars
the superior, Of its predecessors.
There was one notable absence. 1t was
inexplicable and seemingly inexcusable.
In this age, when san Francisco and the
Hub exchange voices by wire, when the
ends of the earth are brought together by
scientific means, how it could happen that
connect between Friday and Wednesday
night, five whole days, is a mystery So
our Military Peer, Sage and Prophet was
absent, The Chief of the Clan on arriv-
ing and shaking the mud Of miles OF road
from his person looked around, greeted
all with his wonted cordiality, but noting
the absence of the Sage suffered for a
moment poItentious storm cloud to
gather on his brow, and verify 1t bespoke
devastating tempest, Cne that wonId
sweep everything before it; but it soon
gave way to look that bespoke a sense
Of loss and loneliness. for indeed no meet
ing of the Peers could be quite complete
in the absence of his highness, the resi-
dent by the Quantabacook. A courier
would have been despatched on horse at
once, but the terrible condition of the
ways made it impossible Ton him to convey
intelligence of the meeting to the Hermit
age in season to enable the Sage to attend.
Nothing remained then but for each
one present. and there never were 50
many before, to try and make up for the
loss by doing some specially entertaining
thing. Sin John Sukeforth and lady were
in attendance and specially happy in their
4 ~,
other person on the North American con
tinent besides President Phillips who
would induce him to come out on sucl a
night aud that was the Honorable VIM.
j. Bryan, late candidate for President of
the nited States. Lady Sukeforth dec
grated the President with the Order Of
the Rose. Sir William Prescott was in
attendance for the first time, to the great
satisfaction of ALL though legretably he
did not tarry long. He was given he
title of the Duke OF Bagleyville, and is
expected to be irregular attendant i'll the
future. The house of HoNes, Lord Ev-
erson, was nobly represented, sens,
QduSuIeI anu SlduuCuliuIeD BIdciuS Lit
occasion most becomingly. One is the wife
of Sir Martin, legislator of no mean
parts.
First in the order OF the evening was
the banquet. The board stretched the
length of the hall and fairly groaned IN
der it's load of substantials and delcacies.
| fancled that there was some groaning,
too. above and around the board before
the festivities We're at a. end. Conner,
the South Ridge Duke, sat next me, but |
make no specific charges. Advancing
years are conductive to caution i'll words,
though not SO apparently in acts-of eat
ing. Good Duke Ripley was out from
Edge Hill, and cleared his share of space
Oh the table. 1t was expected that he
would bring his hair cut this time, but if
he did, he must have eft it outside to
gather moisture and nourishment in the
nists, for it was not in evidence.
The banquet being ended the lords and
knights and ladies repaired to the great
NJ per hall, the president giving three lit
tie traps on the desk, he Scribe taking
his place at a small table close by, and the
meeting of the illustrious elan was offici-
ally annuiinced An election of officers