The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-01

it upon the respective sides. 1t found
the states, in its beginning, like a loose
! ly tied together bundle of faggots; and
at its end and when the wounds Of it
had been healed. it left great sturdy
oak as the central body Of our Union,
with strong, sturdy branches of intense
vitality firmly attached to it. Hence,
whatever ones views may have been
upon the righteousness OF the issue,
wholesome respect to those of each side
must be rendered. Such a gathering as
this we have witnessed to-day would not
otherwise have been possible.
at is through pain that we attain
anything of value; it was through pain
that this nation found itself and, upon
the great foundation thus secured and
established, proceeded to advance with
tions of the earth.
Can we not to-day, penetrated as
we are by the deep spiritual meaning of
this impressive gathering, surely say
that it was worth it all; that those ST.
lent martyrs lying forever ensbrined
upon this field, did not die in vain; that
you who at the front bore the storm
and stress of that great conflict, and
those who waited in trembling anxiety
at home and bare the woe and agony
of suspense and uncertainty, did not
suffer in vain? Can we not truly say
that until this people had withstood
some such stress as this, there was no
assurance that this first great expert
ment of the ability of men to govern
themselves was surely successful?
Shrink from the facts as we may, do
they not prove their case? Would we
within, or those who stood doubling,
without, ever have felt the assurance
which is now felt? Do we not know
that those whom the God of nations hath
joined together, no man can put asun
der?
Apart from the deep significance
which your meeting has, and from the
important page which it will fill in his
tory, is it not good for you as indiyid
uals to be here to-dayg Your last men,
ories of this field win oyerlay the earlier
ones. It will no longer picture itself
in your memories as field of carnage
aud suffering and woe. but a field OF
smiling faces and happy hearts and
great joys. And so the picture will
90 forth to the nation. and it will re-
IOlNt NiLH lbRf anu iltt NBDit hu-iu
will realize that not only has govern
ment Of the people, by the people, and
for the people not perished from the
earth, but that it will not ever perish
Touching Scenes at Reunion.
There was reception yesterday by
the survivors of Buford's division Of
Meade's army and Wheeler's division of
Lees, This meeting was held in the
big tent set aside for speechmak king and
began fifty wears to the hour from the
time when the first shot preceding the |
battle was fired. The gray cavalrymen |
who fought the slcirmishes that led up
to the three days fight pledged them.
selves in the shadows of the stars and |
stripes to forget" and their brothers |
in blue swore by the stars and bars
that the fight was over for all time
There were several women from the |
village in the tent, and six one time |
school girls, gray haired and aged now,
sang Rally Round the Flag, Boys" |
while the veterans wept like boys, but |
with pride The six women who sang
the battle song were among those who /
the streets Of Gettysburg after |
the advance guard Of the southern army
left it fifty years ago. On that night |
when Buford's men came riding into the
village on the heels OF Wheelers men in
gray, maidens strewed flowers along the
streets and bells in the churches pealed
ont the news Of the coming Of the blue
and the town went wild. OF all the
scores of girls who welcomed the van
guard of Meade only half dozen could |
be found and they stood white haired,
with tears in their eyes. on a platform
IN the big tent and sang to the weep
ng soldiers in the seats below.
"Tm afraid we can't sing like we sang
fifty years age, said the matronly WON
IN who acted as the leader as she led +
the way up the steps to the platform.
I'VE don't care; just sing again"
shouted the veterans. As the first notes
If the wartime melody came from them
n quavering tones, the veterans both of
he North and of the South sat quiet
with eyes fixed upon the singers. The
lum of the chorus came from every
ide and old men wept openly.
One bearded veteran Of an Illinois
'egiment rose to tell of an incident that
on that other July night.
las we rode through Gettysburg that
hst iltlt. ut Nuil. ItiiltU1tfT " III /
lie girl stopped my horse and said she
wanted to give me a bouquet got
Iown and she pinned a ribbon. little
purple ribbon TO my coat. Wear that
n the next battle you get into she said
We're not going to have any more bat
les around here | told her"
Yes. Won are, she insisted Those
ills back there are full of rebels
81 wore that purple ribbon through ,
he battle. ! never saw The girl after !
fards but I've got that ribbon and its
ack home in Illinois to-day"
The veteran looked slowly toward the
latform to see if any of the women 7
here had been the donor of that faded
it of ribbon but not one nodded in
nswer and he sank into his seat with a
igh. (
Il guess she's with the army above" Y
e said. n
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