The Somerset reporter., 1909-04-15

Skowhegan Citizens Entertain the
"Boys in Blue" in a Royal
Manner.
Continued from first page.)
the states, amply justified his selec-
tion as the first speaker of the
evening.
George w. Cover, Esq, followed
Mr. Phillips, speaking on 1.-THE Battle
OF Gettysourg.n In this, Mr.. Cover
had subject that can never grow old
and is of inexhau stlbl, interest, es
pecially when, as on this occasion,
the listeners are those who partici-
pated in that great contest or those
who were then and are still, in full
sympathy with them. In listening to
Mr.. Cover, many appreciated for the
first time to what extent the Maine
regiments participated in the Gettys-
burg fight. Mr.. Cover had been
charged with a duty in addition to
that of instructing and entertaining
the guests of the evening, and at the
close of his address, in behalf of the
citizens of Skowhegan, he presented
n picture of the Gettysburg battle
field to the Post.
Hon. S. j. Walton stood sponsor for
Russell Post in the acceptance of this
gift and made brief address, based
upon some of his war time observa-
tions. Mr.. Walton was a member of
New York regiment, the 23d Ma
tional Guard, and with this organi-
cation was in the vicinity of the Get
tysburg battlefield. He recalled hav-
ing seen some Maine soldiers, who
had been taken prisoners and paroled
and he had since learned that one of
them was Lieutenant Nathan Fowler
of the 10th Maine.
L. L. Walton was called upon by the
POSTMASTER and in reply recited a
poem, "The Yankee Who Went to
the War" The verses were faultless
in their appropriateness for such an
occasion and in Mr.. Walton's skillful
rendering, served to entertain as well
as to give variety to the program in
contrast with the speeches and story
telling.
j. Wallace Blunt spoke briefly, in a
vein which might have appropriately
answered to the toast, "The Occa-
sion," and then called upon Comrade
Chas Smith. Mr.. Smith thanked the
citizens for their courtesies to Russell
Post, discharging this duty for him
self and his comrades very gracefully
This done, and full expression of sem
timent being extended for the ban
quet and the good time he and the
other veterans were enjoying having
been made, he seemed to have plan
ned on story or two as his full share
of the evenings program. His audi
ence, however, found his style too
attractive and his narrative too in
teresting to be abbreviated and COM
PEELED the speaker to continue for an
hour or more. During this time Mr..
Smith took up the most prominent
incidents of the war period in which
he had part, commencing with his
flight from home and following
through muster field and march, bat
tie and camp, capture. Rebel prison
and escape, to the end of the war.
The test of utility in this world is said
to be"fitness or adaptability to cir
cumstances," and measured by this
standard Mr.. Smiths address was
perfection itself. He brought with
him, as none but veteran could do,
the style of speech, the gesture, even
the expression of countenance, in
dellibly stamped nto his nature by
the very scenes of which he spoke,
and the result was an hours tale of
absorbing interest, impossible to a
noncombatant and even to veteran,
in measure, except on the anniver-
sary of the great Surrender Day.
Toward the close of the evening
there came a demand for a story of
the participation of the 10th Maine
in the Gettysburg battles and Lieu
tenant Nathan Fowler, the only mem
ber present of the regiment named,
replied. In Mr.. Fowler's remarks,
which dealt chiefly with the events of
the first day, so far as the battle was
concerned, II came out that he re-
called meeting the 23d New York Ma
tional Guard, of which Mr.. s. j. Wal
ton had spoken earlier i'll the even
ing. Neither realized on that day in
July, 1868, that there were, III the two
bodies of union troops, which passed
each other on the Pennsylvania road,
two men who were afterward to meet
and know each other in Skowhegan,
and who were to be speakers at the
44th anniversary of Lees surrender.
The bringing out of this incident was
one of the most striking events of the
evening.
Through the courtesy Of Messrs.
Lees Hall and L. j. Friedman the pro-
gram had just the right proportion of
song, the selections being apt in
every feature. Mr.. Hall sang 1.-THE
Good Old U. 8. A." and in response
to an encore that could not be denied,
gave the National Emblem Song.
Mr.. Friedman's first number was
"You're a Grand Old Flag" and the
demand for an encore in his case was
very neatly met by Raymond Hitch
cocks Tropical Song.
The committee are to be congratu
lated in the happy manner in which
the events of the evening were Or
dered, and the company who partici-
pated are under obligation to them
for several very pleasant and profit
able hours.