St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-09-07
The Campfire.

The Campfire held in Music Hall last
Wednesday evening by the surviving vet
Grams of the Sd and 18th regiments was
a very entertaining and profitable gath
ering. Capt E. L. Hovey presided and
introduced each speaker with appropri-
ate remarks. The stage was attractive
" decorated with ferns, gift from the
Pinehurst conservatories.
The meeting was opened with prayer
bv Chaplain !. E. Wlnslow and the first
speaker was W. P. Stafford, who pre-
sented greetings from the town in
short but eloquent speech. He also spoke
upon the new duties and added RESPONSE
bilities which the newly acquired terri
tory has placed upon the United States.
His alusion to Admiral Dewey called
forth a storm Of applause which plainly
showed the feeling in the hearts OF the
veterans of'61 towards the hero of '98.
He referred to the sufferings OF the soldier
boys and said "Let us get down to per-
sonalities. Do you suppose II Senator
Proctor had been at at the head OF the
war department that those boys would
have been starved ?" (cries of mo, no, !"
from the audience.) He also called upon
the people to see that the one RESPONSE
bic should get his deserts.
Congressman w. W. Grout was the
next speaker. AS colonel of the 18th
regiment he was received with loud
applause and he warmly greeted his old
comrades in arms and eloquently referred
to the departure of the Sd and 18th reg
iments. He spoke of the sufferings OF the
Vermont boys at Chickamauga and COM
pared their condition with that of the
bows under Gen. Grant in the Civil War.
Hesaid, "We have shown foreign nations
that the Americans are as terrible in war
as industrious in peace" AS the speaker
was leaving the stage one of the veter-
ans in the audience shouted, What
about the Philippines ?" This seemed to
give the congressman new theme, and
his response left no doubt in the minds Of
his hearers as to how he stood upon
that question. He said, II am not going
to give up one foot of the Philippines
We sought to give liberty to the Cubans
How can we turn our backs on the PEG
pie in the Philippines? These islands
were won by our own Vermont Dewey
and the Americans can govern them in
diligently and successfully. 1t is part
of this countrys destiny to let its light
shine, and in order to do this we mus
let our flag fly in the Philippines"
Prof. D. Y. Comstock spoke on thu
relation of education to military life in
brief speech which was eloquent and tt
the point. He said that the Anglo
American alliance must come and tina
in the battle.cry of intelligence we shall
VIM"
Rev. Thomas lyric spoke on the infu
ence of Christianity on present nationa
affairs. He said in part as follows: "Neve
in history were there such victories wit
such results. There is religious duty t.
be performed in the Philippines, Cuba an
Q Porto Rico and God has chosen tn
American people to plant churches an
J school houses in all these islands"
W.P. Smith illustrated the spirit tina
j has pervaded and pervades today tn
hearts of the American people. b
!. said, 1.-THE work OF destruction is dom
: but the work Of construction is but jus
! begun."
); Little Margaret Robinson Of Lyndol
e vile, granddaughter of Commando
Matthew Robinson Of Chamberlin Pos
!. gave recitation entitled "You Put N
! Flowers on My Papa's Grave" whlc
. well deserved the applause it received
Z Prot. H. H. May sung two patriot
! songs, which were much enjoyed by q
. present. The principal feature OF II
: evenings musical programme was tt
: reunion of the Cecilian Quartette, whie
E tor many years delighted the hearts
: St. Johnsbury audiences. The quartet
3 consisted of Mrs. Ellen Ely Kyburg. Mi
9 Emma L. Shufelt, Mrs. Ida Pennima
Z Brooks and Mrs. Edith Hovey Moor
= They sang 1.-THE Blue and the Gray, al
several other songs which used to deligl
Sc their hearers, and they never sang to
better pleased audience than on Wedne
dow ayau;un