Connecticut western news., 1898-06-02
GREAT HARRINGTON.

Memorial Day with all its sacred as- socistions has come and gone again. With the weather. the finest we have had for several weeks. the attendance was excellent and the hsllowed occasion was observed in this town in the usual befitting manner. Previous to 10 |. m. a goodly number of people of this town, Afford and vicinity, gathered near the Town Hall. Soon after that hour the line of procession which was to march up Main street and dec ,rate the graves of the soldier dead in Water street aud Elmwood cemeteries. was formed. The grand marshal of the day was George Baker, assisted by Fred. Treat, both on horseback. The officer of the day com msnding the firing squad of five wss Hugh O'Neil. The commander of the D. c. Anderson Post c A. R Is Charles Bentley of this village. At the head of the firing squad was Alexander Beck with of Afford, who carried the flag which has been used on all like occa- sions for many years. The village band furnished excellent music at intervals throughout the day. The memorial offerings were strewed on P graves in the north cemeteries before the dinner hour. At noon about 50 veterans, their wives, children and out of the village friends, including invited guests, were entertained to a bouutiful dinner at Grand Army hall. The women of the Relief Corps superintended the arrange ments and good variety of food was spread on the three long tables in the hall. In the afteruo on between 1 and o'clock the procession, in which were several carriages, proceeded to Mshaiwe | cemetery where the ritual of the Grand Army was read and benediction pro- nouuced by Rev Martin B Snyder, pas. tor of the Methodist Episcopal church iu this village. ca returning to the | Tow Hall large audience quickly oc- cupied seats and the literary ex areises began. Commander Bentley was chair man and Adiutsnt Fred. Treat read the orders of the day. Prayer was offered by Rev NJ. B Snyder. Frederick De- land, chaplain of the post. read Lin coln's immortal speech at the dedica- | tion of the national cemetery and monu- ment at Gettysburg. A recently pub lished poem or rather dislogue between a veteran of the gray and the blue was read by Commander Bentley and Chap | laia Deland. Then came the addresses | by D J. Coleman, clerk of the district | court of Southern Berkshire; Rev c. A. | Copper of North Egremont, and Lawyer | A. c. Collins. The speeches though brief were all of high order They recounted the glorious deeds and the | greatness of our country aud approved of the present war which is being con- | ducted for the liberation of an oppress- | ed people not only in Cuba but in other possessions of Spain in the Western hemisphere. After the addresses vote of thanks was given the speakers and the Relief Corps, the band played America" and the benediction was giv- en by R;v Mir Cooper. At Housatnnic | in the afternoon there was interesting services and floral offerings under the direction of E. T. Dresser Post while over in Afford the children of tha pub. lie school rendered an excellent program of selections appropriate to the ocea- | sion.
 Several of the schools in town had memorial exercises Friday afternoon. If the weather continues pleasant the almost discouraged farmers will plant their corn this week. At this writing many gardens are not entirely planted ana with the exception or the grass crop and oats, all farm crops are about two weeks behind the usual time.
 Summer guests are fast arriving and the boarding season promises to be both profitable and lively.
 The members of D. G. Anderson Post attended service at the Methodist church at North Egremont Sunday morning and in the evening at the NJ E. church over which Rev NJ. B. Sny- der is pastor. The evening text WAS, "He hath not dealt SO with any other nation."
 William B. Taft and family of New York arrived last Thursday at Hamilton Grange, their summer home on South Main street. Judge Justin Dewey and, family of Springfield have also arrived at their summer residence.