Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-13

marched out of the old armory and saw
the flag over it hauled down to be
broken out a little later over the new
structure. These commands with the
remaining companies of the First in
fantry under command of Colonel
Hickey, with the First and Second
company, Governors Foot Guard, and
the Horse Guards, escorting Governor
Frank B. Weeks, held a street parade
with review at the city hall by Mayor
Hooker. Then came regimental dress
parade on the armory drill grounds,
the Foot Guards being extended along
the edge of the grounds as picket,
Ceremony of Turning Over the Build
ing.
After this ceremony the military and
thousands of spectators went into the
huge drill shed of the armory to wit
ness the ceremony of turning over the
building. From $50 until o'clock
concert was given by the band. Pres
ident Taft and his party arrived short
ly after 6 o'clock and was at once es-
corted into the building, being greeted
by hourishes of the bugles and the
Star Spangled Banner by the band.
The president was escorted by COM
mittee which had gone down from
Hartford to Middletown for that pur-
pose The exercises opened by prayer
by Chaplain De Mel of the First regi-
ment. Ex-Governor Henry Roberts,
chairman of the commission, turned
over the building to Governor Weeks,
who accepted 1t in behalf of the state.
Gov. Weeks Introduces the President.
The immensity of the drill shed was
borne home to the great throng when
President Taft was Introduced by Gov
ernor Weeks. The president from the
rear of the hall seemed a very small
figure. Under the foliage canopy of
his box he was scarcely discernib1e
from the galleries in the far-away end
The president, realizing this, stood up
on chair and held up his hand to
secure silence. He spoke very briefly,
as he had to shout in order to over
come the great space of the hall. The
exercises closed with the band playing
My Country, 'Tis of Thee. The presi-
dent was then escorted from the ar
mory and taken to his car. A little
later he went to the Hartford club for
dinner. He returned to the armory at
o'clock to open the BALI of the First
infantry.
Reception Of President at Armory.
3 Fle dedicatory exercises were fit,
ting for the occasion, but were lost
to thousands Of those who attended.
There was great jam at the door to
get in and the reserved seats, holding
several thousands, i'm front of the pres \
ident's box were quickly filed. This
was true also of the galleries. which
held hundreds of others. Two-thirds
OF the floor space was open and over
this walked thousands of people.
crunching under foot the fine sand
which had been spread, to smooth the
surface These people could scarcely
see the presidents box or hear the
speeches of Mr.. Roberts and Governor
Weeks. The result was that there
was great commotion in the rear OF
the armory, but this did not detract
from the attention of those who had
seats near the front. The president
was received at the westerly entrance
and passed through a double file of
soldiers, to his box. This box stood
at the northerly end of the hall and
was extended like dias. 1t was arch
ed by a canopy of foliage coming to
point which bore the device of arms
used by the president. On the top of
the arch also was the shield of the
United States surmounted by a gold
eagle. At each corner of the box was
pillar of green with trellis of cleo
trio lights and state flag on the top
of the pillar. Far up on the wall Of
the shed was shield in electric lights
outlining the words:
First Infantry,
e. N. G..
1672-19O9.
Frcun either side or the presidents
box g other boxes led away. a pref
W Dlending OF the regimental colors |
which were light blue, dark blue and |
yellow, high up on the truss work Of |
the roof was stretched great stream |
ers of the same colors bordered with
strings of light. Hemlock and ever
green were used for banking the boxes |
while the band stands on either side |
were more gaily decorated. Some of
the private boxes were decorated with |
tri-colors and the general color effect
was relieved with line Of pure white |
After the exercises the drill shed was
cleared and preparations made for the |
ball.
Dinner at the Hartford Club.
At the dinner given TO the president
at the Hartford club there were about |
rs guests. President Taft held a. short |
reception for the guests prior to their |
taking seats. Those at the presidents |
table included former Governor Rob- !
erts, Major Leonard Wood, u. S. A., |
Colonel Scott u. S. A., commandant,
at West Point; Rear Admiral Cowles |
U. s. N. Charles F. Brooker, Ansonia !
and Charles Hopkins Clark. Among
those at other tables were members of |
the governors staff and number of
state ana military off1cers.
The Armery Ball.
From the dinner President Taft went
directly to the armory, where a very
large gathering and one of the most |
brilliant ever seen in the state, was in
readiness. A double file of soldiers |
extended from the entrance to the |
presidents box. and up this aisle first |
marched about 200 of Hartford's most |
prominent citizens Through this dou- |
BILE line the president entered, accom- |
panied by Governor Weeks, and fol- |
lowed by a large number of military |
officers. The bugles gave four flour |
ishes while the band played Hail to |
the Chief" AS the president entered |
his box the band played the national |
anthem, and every soldier stood at at |
tention. All the lights in the building |
were flashed on, bringing out in re- |
lief the great picture, the coloring of |
which was made by the uniforms of |
the soldiers and the gowns of thou |
sands of women. The dancing began |
at once. and the scene on the floor |
almost surpassed description.
The president took his departure in |
very much the same manner as his |
arrival at 10 On He want immediately |