Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

more in them, and she has a vastly
greater future as a part OF this imperial
nation than she ever could have enjoyed
as separate country. hampered by n
relic Of the outgrown past. The country
OF George Washington consisted of thir-
teen States, with a population OF three
millions and an area OF 3723G5 square
miles, besides vast territory fraught
with dangers as well as with bright pos
slbilities. Since the civil War we have
annexed ten States with n present pop
ulation million and half greater than
That OF tho original thirteen and with
an area more than twice az great. and
this very month Congress has provided
Tor the admission of two more. In every
material sense. our inheritance and all
It's additions have undergone such growth
ana development ~ tho world had never
seen BEFORE, thus continually adding fresh
laurols to the brow Of Washington and
Lincoln, and giving us, MS humble nstru-
mentaHties in n part OF the great work
all tho serene reflections that over come
10 solace advancing years and all the
nr'Sht hopes that nation builders see
through the golden twilight of u glorious
day.
CAPTAIN MEIGS.
Following the address by Colono,
Clarke, brief remarks were made b., ex.
GOV l. A. Woodbury. Of Burlington and
he Rev. Il. j. Ranslow OF SwAnton. Cant.
Henry H. Meiss who came to Colchester
from baltimore, was called upon and re-
sponded III tho following words:
Comiados:-1t was my pleasure to lard
on the shores of my native Green Moun
tain state few hours since where skseo
several generations of my soldier ances-
tors We are heirs, joint heirs with the
republics children in the Inheritance Of
freedom left by our sires We are proud
iof all the pat: and. although we are fac
ing future pregnant with tremendous nos
sibilities, yet we tace it with strength
,of hope and assurance born of an un-
sworving purpose. aud IT. tho belief that
the generation that comes after us will
measure up to their standards and as we
80 hence, we will calmly drop our mantcls
on the shoulders of the boys who VIII
worthily wear them, and doubt not our
country will find in them nothing wanting.
When | awOke this morning looked out
of my chamber window, and on near by
roof l saw the pleasing sight of some
doves billing and cooling, and immediate-
lily thought, those doves love one another.
and how typical they are of my comrades
of the old 18th, and there came into my
mind visions of Marsh, Allen, Clarke and
others Of the old guard.
| bring you greetings from the south
land, from Maryland NV Maryland" one
lof the States kept in this mighty Union
by tho valor of your and your comrades
,arms | am very. very glad 70 be with
you-to look Into your faces-the maps of
which have vastly changed since the days
when we drank from the same canteen.
l. feel that It is a great privilege to be
here to-day, to grasp the glad hand and
look into your Windows that are growing
dim: indeed It IS a great thing to live in
this. the most wonderful, the most enlight-
ened age Of all the world. II is a great
thing to have been a member of the old
18th Vermont, a regiment that made so
much Of history, and did so much TO turn
back TIE tide of rebellion at its high
water mark at Gettysburg. 1t is great
thing to have lived more than two score
of years after the close of that great war
in which we were participants. war that
cost mountains of gold and rivers of
blood. and to see this. our nation. two
score of years after the stirring events
or our young lives, lle ltTfillbNt VI 'll
the nations. 1t Is a pleasant reflection
to think that We have lived in an age
of the worlds very greatest progress; all
or nearly all of the great modern inNen-
tons have been conceived and brought
brought forth within our lifetime.
I esteem it "A very great privilege to
return here to tho old Green Mountain
State annually for a few weeks of rest
and recreation. I believe it is true that
a son of Vermont never forgets to think
with JOY of his hoyhood spent amid these
mountains and hills,
But fervently while life shall last tho
wide our ways decline.
Back to the Mountain-Land, our hearts
will turn as to a shrine!
Forget Vermont? BY her cliffs, her
meads, her brooks afoam,
BY all her hanowed memories lode
star whils We roam
Whatever skies above us rise, the hills,
the hills, are homc"'
My path in life has led me far from
the home of my hoyhood, but my ten
derest memories are associated with it,
and anything that concerns it has never
been, or can be a matter of Indifference
to me, When your summons came to me,