Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-18

vantage because while l have been
listening to the mayors eloquent words
of welcome | have been looking over
this great audience and trying to pick
out the city people from the country
people There may be a difference but
| cant see it. Anyway. you all look
so much alike that if the city people
should go out into the country they
would surely be taken for country peO-
ple. In listening to this speech of well
come | am reminded of the story of
the deaf man who was present when
Patrick Henry made speech. L cant
hear Il word he is saying said the deaf
man. but he does go through the mo-
tons SplenGidly.' Now | do not mean
this as a reelection on Mayor PlaiSted'S
style of oratory. but | mean that Au
gusta does go Splendidly through the
motions of welcoming us and enter
| tanning us Words of welcome are
| scarcely needed after one has walked
Through your beautiful business street
! The spirit of welcome is in the very
latmospher" here. We appreciate your
praise OF our order We are proud Of
| it and of its work with the church and
| the school the Grange stands as the
great tienity which protects the cOun-
| try homes of New England and ad-
vanccs the welfare of our people. The
Grange is doing much to make and
! hold public opinion. From the farms
| of Maine there comes no desire or ten
dency to tear down. but only the am
btion to build up. Our State is better
| off for the existence of tho Grange.
We are glad to meet here I'm Augusta
again. The order remembers pleasant
| ly its earlier meetings here and we all
know the reputation Of the city for
hospitality. We knew before we came
that you would make us feel at home.
We thank YOU sincerely for your cor
dial welcome and hor" YOU will have
no reason to regret II t+-ing invited us
here
| With the Speechmaking over, the sec
ond part of THE program began with a
song by the Augusta Festival Chorus. J.
Francis MacNichol conductor. This was
| followed by the appear: nee Of Mcandcr
bennett of Lewiston. favoritc enter
| tainer at the meeting of tho Stat.
| Grange. He made IL .cr"rt hit and the
| crowd could not get enough OF him. The
| Book Canvasser" was followed by
| f'TotHcT w Farewell. anu when
tho assemblage demanded Stll NOR" IL
gave it neat little charii,- sermon in
| verse. 1t was now the turn nr tho chorus;
! again and the beautiful waltz song
Morning" by BenoSt was rendered This
time the chorus had something ready for
the encore which was insisted on. Mrs.
Atkins of Gardiner sang til, Rejoice
Greatly" from the "M"ssiail'' in superb
| fashion. and for an encore gave them a
beautiful little song Singing of You"
1t was now up to Mr.. bennett once
more and when he meandered from tn,
stage after telling Mark Twain's famous
! story of Jim and the ttomcats on the roof
and the andy-pullinG rarty below, the
audience lacked but little of being in
| commissions. He made their sides :lch
worse with his recital of Aurelia's lover
whom she lost piece by piece. but when
the crowd clamored for more he modest
ly stuck to the background. The clos.
ing number on the program was the
polka song "a Vision by Nentwich and
when it was over nobody showed dis
position to regard the entertainment as
concluded and another very pretty song
was rendered by the chorus.
At $50 the hall was cleared for dane.
ing or at least an attempt was made in
this direction. 1t was slow work for all
were having a good time and nobody was
In hurry to go. 1t was impossible to
get floor space enough for dancing until a
thousand or more had gone, and then
: an or6er Of eight dances was enjoyed by
rs many couples as could crowd tn,
floor.