The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-05-05

| this Visit, Tor everything In Brad1OfC
is dear to him. Here he first saw the
light of day and here were spent the
bOyhood years, which he remembers
as the happiest of his life. After al
absence of rs years since his last visit
he had no idea that the people would
turn out and give him such a splendid
welcome. He could not understand ii
unless, as he frequently remarked with
the modesty that is characteristic OF
him, it was because they were so fond
of Uncle Sans most magnificent bat
tleship. the Oregon. He could hardly
believe that the reason the people of
this town, county and state followed
the Oregon with such interest in its
$4,000 miles trip around the Horn
and at Santiago was because 1t was
commanded by Bradford boy. When
the gentlemen at Wells River told him
that he was the pride of Bradford and
Orange county, and that he must stay
day longer than he intended to in
order to give all an opportunity to
shake hands with him and his wife the
noble Captain was deeply touched and
tears came to his ewes.
Notwithstanding his log absence
Capt. Clark found several old friends
here whom he recognized at once and
others he knew as soon as he heard
their names and listened to word or
two of cordial greeting from them.
EX- Gov. Farnham, his old school teach
er, he was especially glad to see, and
many were the questions and answers
that passed between them about the
boys in the old Bradford Academy.
When he took the hand of an old ac-
quaintance his genial face lighted up
with pleasure. 1t took him back to
his boyhood days and he was happy
in talking to those old friends about
them. Mrs. John @. Stearns, teach
er Of the Captains in his Primary
school days, remembers him as frank,
genial boy, bright and quick to
learn, good scholar and full of
pranks. Everybody liked Charlie
Clark and had a good word to say for
him. He comes back to his native
town for a short visit, older in years
and experience, famous the nation
over, but still the same Charlie Clark,
and every one who grasps his hand and
hears his cordial glad to see you" is
his friend at once.
Tuesday afternoon Capt. and Mrs.
Clark made a'short call on a few rela-
tives in Oxford and visited Fairlee and
Lake Morey. They spoke enthusias-
tically of the Lake. thinking it one of
the most beautiful sheets of water
they. had eyer seen, In k,he evening
they were the guests of eX-GOv. and
Mrs. Roswell Farnham.
Wednesday morning Capt. Clark
visited the Woods School building.
The scholars of all the rooms, includ-
ing the Primary school, had assembled
in the hall. A few remarks were made
by Principal Prichard, who told the
Captain how glad they were to see HIM
in the same school that he had once
attended, the only difference being
that it was a new school house. Capt.
Clark had told him that no place oc-
Supied so much of his mind as Yer
mont and especially Bradford, and he
could not say how glad he was to see
these scholars who were receiving their
education and having their frolics and
fun in places so familiar ana dear to
him.
Rev. H. T. Barnard, at the request
of Capt. Clark, told the scholars that
the famous commander could not
make them a speech, that he was a
sailor not speech maker. Mr.. Barn
ard made few appropriate remarks
and closed by asking the Captain how
much there was to that dispatch he
sent to the department at Washington
telling them Don't tangle me up with
not afraid of the
whole Spanish fleet" This brought
the Captain to his feet. He said that
such dispatchwas never sent, that the
between himself and the
Washington officials were always har-
monious and friendly and they did not