Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-09-21
THE VETERANS REUNION.
ROusing Camp. Fire in Bellows Falls
Saturday.

ConRressmsn-E Elect HaskIns Promised
10 Vote for Pension for Every Vet
crane Speeches by Hugh Henry and
Hon, j. G. LInehan.--Company Re-
unions, Election OF OfficeFs, Notes.
Saturday was veterans day in Windham
county-the day Of the annual reunion of
the Windham County Veterans associa-
ton. Two years had elapsed since the last
meeting, consequently there was an in
creased desire ON the part of the old sol
diers to meet their comrades in battle, to
he Young again for day and, mentally, to
traverse again the battle-felds of 80 to 40
wears ago. Interesting as the camp-fires
ALWAYS are, the old soldier will tell you
that he derives more genuine pleasure at
the reunion from losing himself in the lit
tie reminiscent groups of men which dot
the temporary camp ground than from all
the rest of the program, and Saturdays
exercises were we'll arranged for these
pleasant little gatherings.
The reunion was held in BARRIERS Park,
which is situated between Bellows Falls
and Saxtons River on the line of the cleo
trio railroad. The park is we'll adapted
for the purpose of a reunion, being fur
nished with a rustic theatre and pavilion
and having admirably located picnic
grounds, The weather was perfect There
were about 800 persons present, including
MANY visitors besides the veterans and
members of the Woman's Relief corps.
A special train of eight cars left Brattle-
boro at 9:1O o'clock carrying those who
attended from the southern part OF the
county and from some OF the towns on the
line of the Brattleboro d whitehall rail-
road. These passengers rode from bellows
Falls to the park on the electric cars Vls-
tors from some Of the northern county
towns went to the park In teams:
Wheelers band of Bellows Falls gave
concert in the pavilion from II o'clock un-
til noon. PLAYING some stirring selections
which compelled one to listen. The COM
mand to "fall i'm was then given and
procession was formed to march to the pic
mic ground for dinner. The dinner con-
sisted of baked beans, brown bread, cold
meats, watermelons, and various side
dishes, and it was eaten with relish.
About $50 we're without knives and forks,
but fingers and spoons were brought into
use successfully. An ample supply of
knives and forks had been ordered but had
failed to arrive. Nobody found fault, how
ever.
After dinner several company reunions
we're held, mention of which is made else
where. Then came the campfire in the
rustic theatre. Capt. W. ID. Taylor OF
Bellows Falls presided, and he kept the
audience in good humor. The campfire
opened with a business meeting. Capt.
TAYLOR said the suggestion had been made
that the dinners at future reunions be
served on the basket picnic plan in order
to save a large amount of work, and he
wanted to hear from someone in Putney
in regard to the matter as he could always
RELY upon the Judgment of the Putney con-
tingent The members from Putney en-
dorsed the suggestion, and it was voted 10
make the change. 1t was also voted to
hold the next reunion in Brattleboro.
These officers we're elected President,
Col q, E. Taylor of Brattleboro; vice
presidents, Gen. G. a. Bond OF Brattle-
boro, L. p. Bailey of Putney and Col. j.
H. Goulding of Wilmington; secretary,
Col. Thomas Harmon of Brattleboro.
After prayer by Rev. @. r. b. Dodge OF
Bellows Falls G. II. Williams, first select
man of the town of Rockingham, made
short address of welcome, which was fol
lowed by a selection by the band. The
chairman introduced as the first speaker,
Principal Edward Ellery of Vermont Acad-
envy, who expressed the gratitude OF the
present generation for what the veterans
had preserved for them in the United
States. Rev. Albert Hammatt of Bellows
Falls kept the audience in prolonged out.
burst of laughter, following instructions,
as he said, to say something as 'sad and
sombre" as possible. Judge l.. NJ. Read
of Bellows Falls drew a lesson from the
thought of what might have happened had
the Union not been preserved. Following
\ Judge Read Miss Deborah Cory of Saxtons
River recited effectively the poem "ROll
Call of the Dead"
Col. Kittredge Haskins of Brattleboro,
congressman elect, expressed his conVic-
ton that every veteran of the Civil war
was entitled to a certificate OF pension, that
he expected TO see the day when all citizens
would feel that the veterans were deserv
ing of pensions, and he pledged himself. as
representative to Congress, TO vote In
favor of such a proposition should he ever
be given the opportunity. Col. Hasklns's
sp 4ech was followed by song, 1.-The Vet
Grams Lament" by Mrs. j. X. Thayer of
SaXlons River.
There was round of applause when
Hon. Hugh Henry of Chester came for
ward For 10 minutes Mr. Henry kept
his hearers convulsed in laughter, and then
he took occasion to emphasize the value
of the assistance which the veteran contin-
ualy receive from the Woman's hellet
corps. The last speaker was Hon. John
c. Linehan of Penacook, N. 81. Mr.. Line
han spoke of the double duty of the vet
Grams in fighting for the Union and in try
ing to p " the bills contracted In that con-
fljct. He was loudly applauded when he
said that five presidents had worn the
Grand Army button and that the Grand
Army could furnish five more presidents
before the last veteran will be laid at rest.
The exercises closed with a recitation by
Miss Cory.