Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-16
At CAMP BENSON.
! CONTINUED from page ~

ma nthor features on the program
were:
Mue,o Mrs. Bragg, Foxcroft
Rema,ls Mrs. j. ID. StanwoOd
Reading, Miss Lcolt Lewis. WatcrEiilt
Music. Mrs. Alice Reed Cushman, New
York City.
'''''' Mrs. n. III. Fossctt, Riverside
Readipp Mrs Saunders, WatcrVille
Every number on the program was car
ried out most acCeptdbly, edcn pdrtci-
pant contributing an cnJoyaDle part OF
the exercises. .,
Thursday, there will be a meeting OF
those interested in the proposed soldiers
home here. Those in charge OF inc mat
ter sneak favorably of the outlook. Ger
tainIy a more beautiful location could
hardly be found
Camp Benson, Newport. Me, Aug. IA.
Especial. Delayed In Transmission
There is no event in the whole year
to which the heart of the veteran of
the Civil War turns more longingly
than to the annual encampment of the
G. A. Il. heroes at Camp Benson and
the record promises to be broken in at
tendance, this year. We expected
much but were unpreparcd for the en-
thusiasm that appears in this beauti-
full spot All day long the trains and
other means of transportation, yester-
day and today have been deposlting
the boys in blue" their wives and
families 10 swell the throns already
encamped on this enchanting ground.
Good judges say that over a thousand
people are here ana will sleeD On the
camp ground tonight. No wonder the
Old soldier IL happy, tonight, and no
wonder that the war story. merry joke
ana patriotic enthusiasm are in the air
today.
II IL little pathetic To scc that tn"
comrades are growing older ana that
some of the familiar faces ~ uld ere
missing from the groups; but as one
stands by ana listens to the earnest
patriot talk IL these wcarers of the
blue he is impressed with the fact that
these men grow more patriotic ana
stronger in tho love Of Liberty and
Justice as each year goes by, and thar
the example If their lives and teach
! ing are If the greatest value u thu
generations now coming into action
who have been born since ;he days Of
these heroes glorious deeds.
Yesterday was the first regular day
of the cucampmcnt and was ushe-ei
in by the boom Of the signal gun and
the energetic rattle of the drums beat
ing the reveille at the sound Of which
all hands turned out. although / am
afraid some Of us grumbled a little At
this unceremJnious awakening, which
may have been the proper thing in tn
old days hut a habit We have departed
from q: late.
There is a splendid new feature in
our camp-life, this year. and it has
caused an endless amount Of fun; each
day at eight o'clock there was 4 sick
call ANA those Of us who felt iii were
| introduced to Major Tabor. who felt
our pulses. examined our tongues and
generally caught such If us a. We're
Sinking or malingering ana ordered Us
| lack into the ranks. with instructions
to the officer Of the day to nut us On
| bread and water for ninety days or ~.
| But, seriously. this sick call proved a
good thing ana viii undoubtedly be
/ the stitch in time that saves nine" in
this camp. If some of the older com
rades feel ut all i'll they are attended
1 to Immediately and the dangers
I brought by delay ami inatteutiou are
avoided. There has never been any
trouble with the sanitary arrangr-
ments Of Camp Benson. but this addi-
tion Of regular sick call is grand
good thing and shows how attentive
those having the arrangements in
charge are to the welfare If the sol
der boys. Comradc g. W. Hnlikcr. the
I of l.,
| able corps of assistants have done
great work and deserve the thanks and
praise of every person who visits the
camp.
And speaking of that. | want To say a
word Of Camp Benson, not about the
beauty of its situation for we've all
read that. hut about its pupuiaritv.
There never WAS "A better idea conceived
to bring within the moderate means of
most of the comrades which would give
so much pleasure to himself and tsnsc
dear to him. Here he comes with the
family ana relatives ana meets every
one he wants to see. | mean by that cy-
eryonc in this section pf the State. for
this encampment nus become the great
gathering spot Of people i'll this part ur
the country ana the man. woman or child
IN this section who can't spend at least
one gay AZ Camp Benson certainly has the
sympathy Of all the neighbors. 1t il not
saying too much to state that nothing
could ~ more popular than this annual
meeting. ana II is particularly dear to the
soldiers themselves as a place to renew
I'd friendships ana talk over thu days
Of fire ana blood ana youth
The officers always arrange an attrac-
tive program. which is at once interest
ing ana instructive and which always
leaves good taste in the mouth ~ clean
and attractive. Yesterday we were treat
cd TO bicycle riding exhibition by Mr.
Brown and a young man assistant and
IA balloon ascension by Prof. Stevens. Both
were good and gave satisfaction. | don't
believe there is any attraction for the
average mind quite up to a balloon and
President Hilliker evidently knew what
we wanted when he was planning up this
event in his tranquil COrinna home.
Today is the first regular day on the
list and is devoted to the Sons of Vet
Grams. members OF which came from ev-
cry part of the State to participate. Col.
Courson of Brunswick, the division COM
mander of Maine with his entire staff
was present. The feature of the day was
the gathering of these brisk. alert young