Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-06-06
Observance Of Memorial Day.
FITTING EXERCISES FOR THE OCCASION
HELD AT SOUTH PARIS.

A perfect day, such Is the season fire
| quently gives us, aided In the prOpe
observance of Memorial Day at Soutl
Paris, and the exercises OF the beautiful
annual occasion were carried out I'm
pressively and in the spirit which mus
increase respect for the nations heroes
and love for our country.
At 10 O'Clock Tuesday morning the
line was formed In front of the hall Of
Vim. K. Kimbsll Post, G. A. r., to pro
coed to Riverside Cemetery and decorate
the graves of soldiers there. The Nor
way Cadet Band headed the procession
and though 1t was made up of only about
a dozen pieces, gave excellent music fol
the day.
Following the baud were twenty-si1
Of the veterans on foot, while some half
dozen others who were infirm were car
ried In autos to the cemetery. A num-
Der of Sons OF Veterans were next in
line, and they were followed by about
$50 school children, of all ages, each car
rying little flag.
At the cemetery there was prayer by
Rev. A. T. McWhorter, and the reading
of Lincoln's Gettysburg address by DR..
r. W. Rounds Then, while the band
played softly, the veterans placed flag
at the grave of each soldier in the ceme-
terry, and laid on each bouquet OF
flowers.
The return was made by way of Moore
Park and the soldiers monument to
Grand Army Hall. Here the Ladies of
the G. A. r. provided a dinner for the
veterans, the Sons Of Veterans, the
speaker, and the band.
At about IL o'clock Co. D, Second
Regiment, n. G. S. NJ, arrived from
Norway, and marched to Riverside Gene
terry to attend to its ceremonies Of dec
Grafton.
The afternoon exercises, though ad--
vertised for 2 o'clock, actually began
nearly half an hour earlier. By request
Of the commander OF VIM. K. Kimball
Post, John N. Murcb, the adjutant, Fl.
q. Maxim. took charge of the pro-
gramme. Prayer was offered by Rev. j.
True Crosby Of Auburn, the speaker of
the day.
The preliminary portion of the pro-
gramme included duet by Misses
Marie Newton and Doris gilbert, a song
by each Of them individually, reading,
"From Reveille to Taps" by Miss Airline
Croker, reading, "Our Soldier Dead"
by Miss Nettie Newell, and poem by
Mrs. Alice Elizabeth Maxim. Mrs.
Haxim's poem is of special interest, and
is here given in full.
MEMORIAL POEM.
TRIBUTE TO THE HERoFs OF PARIS WHO DIED
IN THE CIVIL WAR.
o. bloom, ye bright daisy, and sweet-scented
violet
Deck out with your beauty each sime.sunken
gravel
o, marmur. ye grasses of Natures green cover |
prayerful chauut DER the dust Of the brave
o. sweet birds of summeri help tell the grand
OF the heroes of Paris who died In the wsri-
Of those who were blessed that they died meath |
"Old Glory"
Or linger'd in hospitals in Deaths dread ave- |
They fought for the fss-the grand flag of our
And risked their young lives that it lose not
nd each youthful heart held the duty true one
To leave home and lov'd ones to battle afar.
The years e, have been long since those dark days
And loving and grieving have Joined in their
flight,
since Paris was stirred by the booming of Sam.
And stout hearts made ready to help in the
fight.
For stout hearts were needed to leave fathers
and mothers,
And hard were the parslngs from sweethearts
and wives,
And sad the last hand.clasp tween sisters and
brothers,
Unknowlng what wars chances held for their
lives.
All, well remember those partings Of sadnessl
The heart break! The weeping! The hours Of
suspensei
And when. the war over. we met In such glad.
That lifetimes of joy seemed in hours to con-
dense.
Thew made brave showing. our heroes Of Paris,
Where'er they were given chance at the foe;-j
The grand boys at Port Hudson, and those Of
Isle Morris.
When they forged far ahead of the order to 90.
Sol. McKenney. at winchester.-wouldn't sur
render
Though cornered, and giving In forfeit his life;
And brave Chafles Ryerson failed not to render ,
His best at Cedar Mountain, and died in the
strife.
Ripley aud whitcomb both fell at Chancellors.
willie,
The "Balaklava" of our own cruel war!
Loading their cannon they stood, with valorous
will,
True as any martyrs the world ever saw!
Poor Henry Durell. how hard was his portioni !
On Misery's Island 70 suffer and die!
But surely the Great Leader gave him promo
ton
In that grand company of brave boys on high
Clifford and Newhsll. wounded at the Wilder.
hess,
Linger'i In vain suffering day after day;
Both, faithful to duty. in Deaths presence fear
less,
How patriots should die-they showed US the
way.
There was James Woodbury." none truer, nor
better,
After months Of starvation died at Belle Isle;-l
And Elbridge +. Murch, always true to the let
ter,
Got his death at Libby, the prison most vile.
'wa-, Dunbar, Young and Bisbee. Benson and
Warner,
The bravess of comrades with hearts true as