St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-07-14

- lOl NOIululSslOucI olOue anu his goo
wife at 4 a. M. on Saturday, July {
= when we were awakened from peacefr
slumbers by the rain pouring down upo
the tin roof of the hospitable home O
Hon. Frank L. Fish in the ancient cit,
: of Vergennes. The prospects for al
deliberately planned celebration looked
dubious but fortunately that was the
only shower of the day. Next, the
morning nap was interrupted by one o.
the most unique features of the day-the
salute to dawn. Four mounted heralds
Commissioner Fish leading, were under
our window giving their bugle salute to
the dawn of the greatest day that Yer
GENES ever saw or probably will see tor
centuries to come.
AS Champlain's first act when he dis
covered the lake which bears his name
was to worship God, so the Vergennes
celebration began with high mass in the
Catholic church. Here our good friend
and fellow-commissioner, Horace W.
Bailey, accompanied us, casually re-
marking that this was the first time
that he ever had to have a ticket to get
to church. Though only the commits
sioners knew it, our other companion
was Boston detective, who was de-
tailed by his chief to cover the Vergennes
celebration. All through the day he
unobtrusively followed the crowd es-
timated at over 10000, but at no time
was he called upon to make an arrest.
The solemn and impressive service was
in charge of Father Vezina of the Yer
gennes church, the priests from the sur
rounding parishes assisting in the mass.
The sermon was by Rev. FIR. J. A. Lynch
of Pittsford the former pastor of the St.
Aloysius church and wel-known St.
Johnsbury boy. FIR. Lynch gave
scholarly and eloquent address, paying
glowing tributes to the faith of the King
of France and Joan of Arc in the DAYS of
Champlain, and OF the latter's christian
character through all his strenuous life.
During the service the Rutland Court d.
Honour served as guards and just before
the close gave the salute to God, most
impressive finale to a memorable service.
For those who wanted outdoor sports
the Vergennes committees had arranged
for all sorts of races on land and water,
and with these and two base ball games,
ending with a grand display OF fireworks
in the evening, the crowd which came
from all points from Burlington to Rut-
land were greatly entertained.
Immediately after dinner came the pa
rade and nothing finer in the way of
floats was seen all the week. In fact, the
Vergennes celebration in the perfection of
its details and the variety of its enter
tainment easily eclipsed those that fol-
lowed in the larger cities of Plattsburg
and Burlington.
The city park was filled with good
natured crowd at o'clock to hear. the
literary exercises. A large chorus sang
"Champlain," the official song of the
celebration, and strange to relate this
was the only time heard it during Ter
centenary week. The address of the
day was by that distinguished Vermont
er, Hon. John Barrett of Washington, d-
rector of the International Bureau of
American Republics. Mr.. Barrett was
in his happiest and most eloquent vein
and dwelt largely upon Americas pres
ent greatness and marvellous growth
since Champlain's first discovery.
His address was interrupted by the
booming of cannon, the official signal
that the United States navy had arrived.
A 60 foot torpedo boat, the smallest in
the American navy, was the flagship of
the fleet which was in charge of Lieut..
Steele, L, S. N. Besides the grey torpedo
boat there were two revenue cutters. the
Burlington and the Plattsburg. The
feet was with us all through the follow
week, reaching Isle La Motto five DAYS
later, just as the people were at lunch.
Judge Bliss of Middlebury gave the
poem here and impromptu but very felici-
tous remarks were made by Congress
man D. J. Foster and ex-senator John
W. Stewart.
Commissioner Fish presided at the
banquet in the evening with rare tact !
and ease and the literary gem of the
evening was the toast to Champlain by
our fellow commissioner, DR.. I. NJ.
Thomas, the president of Middleburv
College. Postmaster Mack gracefully
welcomed the visitors to the smallest
city in Vermont and another Vergennes
speaker was FIR. Vezna, who has worked
for the best interests of
Vergennes since he came there. Mr. Fish
had rich postprandial program which
included toast to Vermont, responded
to by Lieut. Gov. Mead of Rutland, who
gave many historical facts suggested bv
this celebration. Congressman Foster