Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-19

": II want to say to You people that
place"
Then came a special opening song, a
tribute from the Ladies' Auxiliary to the
Sons of Veterans, written by Miss N.
Neale Russell of Portland, Me, and sung
by the Salisbury Quartet. The song was
sung to the air of The Flag OF the
Free" and with fine cffect-in fact the
singing of the quartet was one Of the fea-
lures of the program. At its conclusion
Mr. Libby gave the signal, the buSle
sounded reveile, and as the band broke
into The Star Spansled Banner Miss
Bcyden and Mrs. E. c. Mcintosh of vi
nalhaven, Me-, performed the unwilling
ceremony. AS the Stars and Stripes which
had envelored the stately shaft fell away,
the multitude broke into applause. The
monument is a work of art and the State
of Maine has every reason to be proud
of It. 1t is 45 feet in height and six
square ct the base, chiselcd entirely of
Maine granite. with polished black mar
BILE columns on either corner. Surmount-
ing the massive base is the heroic figure
of Il soldier at parade rest" At the SOL
dcl's feet. on four sides, is the word in
huge letters, Maine" and at the base,
on the north side: lone country-one
flag"
On the north side is this inscription:
Names tribute To her soldiers
Who ded, while prisoners Uf
war, at Salisbury, n. c.
1S64-1SG5.
On the south side.
10 live in hearts we leave behind is not
to die"
On the east:
Neither hunger. third. nor offered brides
affected their loyalty.
On the west:
They fought for peace-for peace they
fell
They sleep in peace and all is well.
The coat of arms of the State of Milne
in bronze, stands in bold relief on the
north side.
Following its unwilling the monument
was presented to the State of Maine by
Chairman Thomas G. Libby of the monu-
ment commission, who briefly set forth
the history of the movement by which
the State, through act of legislation, has
provided for it. The monument was ac-
cepted for the State by Adjutant General
Augustus E. Farnham of Bangor. and
rendered to the custody of the United
States. General Farnham is grizzled
veteran, upon whom rests heavily the
weight of years, but he made one of the
best speeches of the day, and his greet
ing to the men in gray brought tears to
their eyes and sympathetic applause from
the audience. His peroration was most
happy: Il have met you all before to-
day" he said, but under less pleasant
circumstances"
The custody of the monument was ac-
cepted on behalf of the government by
Capt. r. f. Fonda superintendent of the
cemetery.
The dedicatory song, a tribute from the
Daughters of Veterans. written by Miss
Ada Motley Hartman of Portland. Me.
and sung with fine effect by the Salisbury
Quartet, was followed by the dedcatory
poem. written by Miss n. Neale Russell
and read by Miss ALA A. Libby of Port
land. Me. The poem-a delightful and
most appropriate epic-follows:
A TRIBUTE.
Cur honored dead lie sleeping
Beneath these sunlit Southern skies
Still and calm:
flushed now the stirring battle-crieS,
The laundering of the batteries,
And each alarm.
Once alien ground-'tiS hallowed now,
BY deeds whose ia ne shall spread
Through endless years;
Till Justice. long-delaycd. is led
TO this fair CITY of the Dead
With muffled cheers.
These nameless graves to us shall stand
For all that makes for fair rcnoWn
And dauntless energy: /,
High today is raised for ev ry m5und
A fttin~ monument to crown
Their memory