Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-05-31

and drilling. The first two lessons you had
to learn were how to cook your own food,
for an army travels on its belly like SER
pent, and secondly that soldier is not to
think but to obey. Oh the drilling and the
drilling OF those first few months in camp.
1t looked very easy but it was not. The
camp is now breaking up preparing to start
for Washington. There is the filling of
the knapsacks which many raw recruit
overdid; one fellow putting in sheet iron
stove. Then came the mothers and sweet |
hearts to see you off and one old lady in |
the innocence OF her heart brings her son
an umbrella.
The Vermont troops are now marching
through New York and what fine sight
they make. One onlooker exclaims " Fa- |
Their Abraham, amt them boomers !" Each
one Of you in that march seemed like an
Ethan Allen resurrected. But it takes
a great deal more than month of drilling
to make soldier, as the battle Of Bull
Run revealed. But the fright and irresist-
IDLE impulse to run of the fresh volunteer
in his first battle when bullets are falling
like hail, and shell are bursting and Shrek
ing over his head does not mean that he
, will not make brave soldier.
History does not record more heroic
deeds than those of our boys in blue. But
the glory Of our army was not simply the
bravery and heroism displayed, but the
high-souled patriotism that inspired it. l
know it is said that most of the soldiers
were boys who enlisted because of the nov
> city of the thing and did not know what
they we're fighting for; others went not SO
much from the spirit of patriotism as from
:, the feeling that it looked like cowardice to
!, stay at home, and have heard of man
who, when asked why he enlisted. replied
he did not like war but was a married man
! and Joined the army that he might enjoy
!, the blessings of peace. Veterans, let
fools talk and sneer, you and l know that
nine in ten Of those who enlisted did SO
from the purest motives of patriotism.
Cut open the heart of the soldier Of our
e Civil war and you would find one word and
y only one-Country. And he who sneer,
IS at the soldier or imputes wrong motives to
e him in enlisting and fighting for the old
'r flag has mean disposition; why, he is SC
n mean verify believe that the arch temptel
IS himself would be ashamed to keep com
Ipany with him.
l.. Thus we are glad to keep this day. We
81 have no shattered, blood-stained battle
Is flags here, but we have what is thousand
le times better we. have you veterans, the
d Royal Remnant of the Loyal Hosts, ane
N your presence brings up sad and tender
memories, memories that we shall always
% cherish because Of the inspiration they
'e bring, and we say to you from our heart o
I'd hearts, we love you, we honor you ant
Of when you one by one fall from the rank
rs and are with us no more because called tt
the eternal camping ground, we will Al
lovingly decorate your graves with flowers
10 as we have those Of your comrades who to
day sleep the patriots sleep.
IL At Saxtons River.
D. The day was fittingly celebrated at Sax
as tons River. DIR. Ellery was president, A
ryl H. Sabin marshal, Rev. G. F. Chapil
It. chaplain, Rev. Albert Hammatt orator ant
It Miss Deborah A. Cory poetess. The lin
Oh of march formed at the corner Of Main an
d, Pleasant streets, the Vermont Academ
ly cadets acting as escort. The address wa
of delivered in Odd Fellows hall.
US Below is given brief Of Mr.. Hammatt
excellent grafton:
ee 1t seems to me that the best Grafton ha
Id already been uttered, when you veteran
he with your battle scars, with the stars an
ed and stripes, with fragrant flowers and wit
ry soldiers love and devotion, decorate
he the graves OF our heroic dead. For 20
lal know that it is one of the touching thing
it which has come down to US from the olde
IL time, that when venerable soldier desire
IT. to move vast multitude to the perform
ed ance of some deed as great as it was gran
en- and god-like, that he uttered no word
be made no attempt at clear and commanding
e. oratory, but there he simply stood, holding
d. aloft the NAMED and mangled limb from
be which the hand had gone in the defence o
lis their homes and instantly they were LITE,
u into the purpose and the power of a new
ne conservation, ready to perform the valor
j. Gus deed that was required OF them. Fo
lie what did you fight the southp That yol
s. might emancipate the slave and make way
D. for liberty. And that is my subject,
D. want to talk to you about the American
20 idea of liberty. What is that ideap Here
J. Mr.. Hammatt went on to show that il
ID wasn't autocratic. Secondly that it WASH
N aristocratic. But thirdly that it was demo
Of cratic, that is ga government of the people
ID by the people and for the people,"
st What of it? How has this principle O
is liberty for which you SO gallantly fought
~ how has it PANIED QUIT Here Mr.. Ham
+ matt dealt with the fruits Of our American
o liberty. first along the line of religion. ar6