The Republican journal., 1902-06-26
CO. F, 4th MAINE RECT. VOLUNTEERS

in Brooks last week for their annual re-
union. The day was fine and it proved to
be pleasant meeting, as these occasions
usually are. The forenoon was passed in a
social reunion, and old times were talked
over until the boys felt young again. After
a bountiful dinner, which the ladies had
prepared in the G. \. r. banquet rooms,
the veterans got around to business at p.
Nj. in fine shape. There was a fair local at
tendance and the hall was well filled. f.
d. Tasker presided. with VIM. C. Rowe as
secretary, Rev. David Bracket offered
prayer. NJ. j. Dow, Esq, then gave the fol-
lowing address OF welcome:
Citizens of Brooks and Veterans of the
civil War, Ladies and Gentlemen There
Is picture to be seen in many homes which
illustrates Il certain idea better than either
spoken or written language can do 1t rep
resents a boat upon d stream, floating on
ward upon the tide.
In the boat are three couples. \ youth
ana maiden seated at the bow with flowers
around them, and with animation expressed
in face and feature, are looking eagerly
ahead trying to discover in advance what
present is scarce realized in the keen zest of
anticipated pleasure. In the centre of the
boat are seated d man and woman of mid
die age. Strength, self reliance and con-
centration OF IDEAS upon the demands of the
present mark every feature. The future
Is but briefly scanned. and the past is ap-
parently forgotten. At the stern of the
boat are seated an aged couple, They are
absorbed in their present surroundings :;
neither are they peering ahead in anxious
anticipation of what may be before them.
They are looking backward over what has
n hal
for them has passed forever The intense
interest i'll the present has abated. 1t is
what they have left behind that has the
most interest for them, and as they float
dreamily along their gaze is fixed upon the
rapidly receding past.
rhetoric, can tell the story of life as it is
portrayed in this simple picture. The artist
has expressed it all in that one illustration.
one b! one the blossoms fade and are for
gotten. One by one our cherished hopes
are realized, or are lost to us forever. Lit
tie by little the present has less attraction
for US, and we find ourselves, ere we are
aware, turning our gaze backward to the
scenes which we have passed. The annoy
ances, the troubles, the diSappontments,
and even the SORROWS are mercfully tenn
pered to us as they are viewed in the reced-
ing distance, while indulgent memory heigh-
tens the pleasures and Joys that may have
been ours.
1t is this condition of life that confronts
today the survivors of the Grand Army
of the Republic.
No longer has the future of this life the
keen zest the eager anticipation of youth
full days.
\ 1ou Joined the [ nion army as Young
men, luSty and strong, with the future
bright before YOU. gu gather here to-
day feeble remnant, weak and worn, real
lzing that one by one you must soon be
mustered out to report ON the Eternal
Camping Ground in the Great Beyond
Even during the eXaeting duties and re-
sponsibilities Of every day life you find
yourselves losing the strong grasp on the
present, and for the time, memory brings
back to you the past, with It's joys and its
sorrows, its success and its failure. its
security and its dangers.
While engaged iii the ayocations of
peace, aiding the State, assisting the conf
munlly, and supporting your families, with
out doubt your memory often turns back to
the heroic days from u to 90. Above
the quiet If the country, or the hustle OF
the town, VIII in imagination be heard the
fierce call to the charge the rattle of
musketry and the roar OF artillery In
restless dreams You will again endure the
weary march, the lonely picket duty, the
suffering from heat on cold, the exposure to
the clements, and all The discomforts of
army life.
Again Will come to you the memory of
the hour Of weakness, when weary. worn
and i'll, bright visions of home and loved
ones whom you might never see again
would come to You, and when, in spite of
your determination to be brave, the feeling
of wretchedneSs and home-sicknesS would
tor the time become almost unbearable.
ON also again live, in imagination. the
reckless, thoughtless life of the young sol
dler, with all the opportunities there given
fOr change of scene, for excitement, and
for the fierce wild JOY of the rowing adven-
turer.
You will remember those stirring times
when the insult to our national honor sent
the hot blood surging through the veins of
of the loyal North You will remember
the sense of patriotism and love of country
which led you, in common with other thou
sands OF peaceable citizens, to leave all they
held dear to follow our flag to victory or to
death. ou, today, recall to memory the
comrades who SO gaily marched to the front
with you, but did not come back again.
ou have fellow feeling for cOmrade
that you cannot have for any other man.
The hardshps, the dangers, endured in
common, and the cause you suffered for, bind
you together with a cord that is not easily
broken: 1t is this feeling of fraternity
that brings you together here today. And
it is sympathy with this sentiment, and a
desire to honor the brave defenders of our
country that leads US, as citizens of this COM
munlty, to extend to you, not only formal,
but also a cordial and hospitable welcome.
Many OF our own dearest and best were
sacrificed during the fearful ordeal of the
Civil War, and We honor every man who
wore the blue and fought for the life of our
nation. 1t is, however, especially fitting
that We formally welcome the remnant of
Co. F of the 4th Me. Regt. of Vols, for
that company was recruited in our own viii
lage 1t was officered by well known citi-
zens of our town, and its ranks were filled
by representatives of our own families.
With their regiment, Co. Loyalty and gal
lantly followed the flag into the hell of war
amid scenes of desperate conflict, and only
a remnant was left when they came march
ing home again. Among the first to respond
to the call for volunteers, for three long
years they bravely battled for the life of
our grand republic. These veterans deserve
any honors which we may give them. They
have faced death for u.s.
The occasion which calls us together at
this time is one of deep interest to all who
are old enough to remember the Civil War
which, as long foretold by prophet, seer and
statesmen, drenched our land with fraternal
blood and caused untold misery and suffer
ing in every part of our grand domain.
Thousands OF brave men in both the North
ern and the Southern armies We're sacrificed
in the holocaust of blood and the wall of
the widow and the orphan succeeded the
scenes of carnage and death.
A, history recalls, and as many of US can
remember, it was indeed a terrible conflict,
embracing among its actors the noblest
manhood that the world has ever seen.
From both the North and the South went