The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-09-01

Mr. Chairman, Ladies, Gentlemen
and Comrades: A short time since
Maj D. H. Miller, president. and Capt
James II. jenkins, vice president of
this organization of Veterans of the
Civil War, extended, with their CON-
pliments, a cordial invitation to the
members of the 23d Regiment, G. ",
to be their guests at banquet to be
given our regiment on it's annual re-
union at the hall of Elias Howe post,
G.. A. T., of Bridgeport, Conn, August
II, 1905. AS an additional inducement
to be present we were told the ladies
of Lincoln Circle would serve on the
occasion. Upon our arrival, in compli-
ance with the invitation, out few Of
US knew that our beloved Capt Jen-
kinS lay dead in. his home at Mount
Vernon, N. Y. We felt bereaved and
SaddeSt of all that in our annual re-
unions here we should see his face no
more. We may be thankful that for
so long a time we have seen and known
and loved Capt jenkins. Our loyalty
to him is in response to his loyalty to
US. We have known for long time
at least that he had it in his heart to
get all the boys of the 23d together
he could and give them day long to
NC lCLuCLu LID Jay Will uOU
soon be forgotten by US. In our an
shall be our silent reminder. l cannot
but think that in taking upon himself,
in connection with his accustomed
duties at the Custom House, the addi-
tiOnal labor of forwarding the interest
Of this, by him, anticipated occasion,
Capt Jenkins unsuspectingly exhaust
ed bis treasury of vitality and SO yield
ed up his life. This event calls to mind
the case of a mother and child over
taken when far afeld by furious
storm. The tempest past, the peace
full look and quiet composure of the
dismantled mother indicate that she
would be we'll. We read that Mary
Queen of England, when near hel
death, said to those around her
"When l am dead and my body is
opened We shall find Calais written up.
on my heart" l imagine if one haC
the power to look into our hearts at
this time he might see the well-knOwr
features of Capt Jenkins pictured
| there. In the garrets of the homes OF
our boyhOod, doubtless many of you
have seen the spinning wheels ano
reels our mothers used in spinning
and Keeling the thread to be used ir
preparing clothing for her children
She was necessarily limited in her sup
ply of material. Surely, fguratively
speaking, there is no limit to the va
riety and abundance of the materia
out of which we must make choice O.
what we will offer to the spinner al
the wheel of time to spin for US. W.
can only choose the material. Tht
spinning, the weaving and the tittins
Of the garments belong to unseen ye
not altogether unknown cO-worker
with US. The life thread of Capt Jane
II. Jenkins has been spun and reeled
Let us examine it. We notice runnin,
through it, three lines of special i'm
port. First, strand Of gold. Golt
is rare substance. 1t is suited t.
many purposes. 1t Symbolizes sun
shine, goodwill, fellowship. 1t is
medium of exchange everywhere. 1
affords firm basis for individual ant
national integrity. Capt Jenkins wa
a man among men, he readily adapted
himself to any occasion. We observ,
next, strand of silver. Silver comes
more readily into the open field. 1t i
OF universal utility. 1t is remarkab]
for it's ca pacity to r. ceive high polish
Capt jenkins has stood before the nc
bic in life ana literature and caugh
their lines of excellence. He has stoo'
before Him who was chiefeSt anon
ten thousand and reflected near an
far his Masters grace and loveliness
Finally, we make note of a strand c
white. White here sym bolizes purity
In all our fellowship with Capt Jer
kins we never saw or heard, in word G
deed of his, anything unbecOming tn
the dignity of noble soul. For m
own part, on occasions like this, | e1
pectantly awaited in Capt jenkins
/ words of greeting and cheer this trul
sincere utterance: 81 thank God fC
His kindly dealing with the 23d reg
ment."
The little maid still insisted, "W
are seven" The little maid was right
By our constitution and endowmer
we are citizens of every cline, of ever
land under the whole heaven. We ar
contemporary with the people of ever
age. We speak the language of ever
tongue, ancient and modern. A la
stands by my side. He is my brother
He passes into the next room. the neX
town, the next state, the next worlt
, He is still very present brother.
the crisis Of our Civil War Abraham
Lincoln called for volunteers. "Fortf
with, on all sides, to his aid was run
by the 23d a thousand strong, wit
captains, with banners, with music
with shOutingS. By reason of GU
! presence and our memories we music