New Britain herald., 1917-09-20
MOTHERS IN TEARS
 AS SONS DEPART
Stirring Spectacle at Station
 When Drafted Men Entrain
MORE THAN 1,500 PRESENT

Guard Proves to Be Success-Wil-
 liam Hart Selected to Oppose Jolan-
 son at Coming Election. | spectacle, such as was never wit l messed in Plainville, was enacted this | morning when between 1,5O0 and 2,0O0 persons gathered at the railroad l station to bid God speed to ten young l men from this town and 15O others
 from the towns of Pennington, Bris- 1 tol, Berlin, Southington and East 1 Hartford Early this morning those
 who had been ordered to report at 1 Aver with the contingent began to 1 gather at the Town hall. With them
 came their mothers, fathers, sweet 1 hearts and brothers, all eager to catch
 the last glimpse of them before they | are ushered into tho service Of Uncle 1 Sam.
 l The men were mobilized at the
 Town hall by army officers and as the
 time approached for the arrival of the train which is to carry them to Hart 1 ford orders were given for march | to the railroad station. Friends, rela- tives and members of the family
 formed in the long procession to the l depot. At 9:15 the train rolled in. 1 Roll call was taken tu check the list 1 of those present and determine if any | were missing. The results showed l that there were no shirkers and each man notified was present.
 Thomas Prior was just about to board the train when 1t was learned l that he was not needed. He was dis 1 missed, as were three other alternates, 1 two from Bristol and Thomas At- l water of Plainville. They will leave
 with the next contingent
 At 9:30 the shriek of the locomo-
 tive announced that the train was
 ready to leave. The "all aboard" l shouted by the conductor started a
 general rush for the cars. Every
 where could be seen mothers crying ] softly as they bid their sons farewell. Sweethearts and sisters also wept as
 they said good bye to those who will ] soon don the khaki.
 | As the train pulled out the setthing | mass of humanity which had gathered had to be kept away from the tracks 1 so great was the confusion. Cheers l and hurrahs and shouts of God speed l added to the din and all stood in their 1 respective positions until the train which bore Plainville's second offering
 to the National army had disappeared from view.
 Celebration a Success.
 The celebration which was given
 last evening to those who left this
 morning proved to be a tremendous
 success. It far eclipsed any previous 1 send-off and will go down in the an- nals of history as an affair worth while. Those in whose honor it was given seemed to feel the spirit which 1 was manifest and the ardor with l which the citizens of the town honored
 their soldier boys.
 The stores in the business section public and private residences were decked with the national colors and everywhere "Old Glory was much in evidence, flying in the breezes. The parade started at 730 from the town hall marshalled by Captain Trumbull. The f1remen boy scouts. the Ambulance Company and the Machine Gun Company as we'll as other organizations turned out to march. The drafted men who left today were given a place of honor and were followed by those who have been found physically fit, waived exemption and are now awaiting their call to the colors.
 The line of march was carried out according to schedule after which the contingent which left this morning was escorted to Masonic hall by local Home Guard. There they were tend cred a banquet and smoked. A "big feed" was served after which smokes were passed around and each man presented with a. set, consisting of various toilet articles, by assistant Postmaster James Graham, who was the donor of the gifts.
 Short talks were given at the town hall by Captain J. H. Trumbull and Benjamin Holden of the War Emar- gency board. MT. Holden advised the boys to keep as far away from Old John Barleycorn as possible if they wished to make good soldiers and serve their country to the best of their ability. He also urged them to keep themselves clean, mentally and moral
 ly, as we'll as physically.
 While the recipients of the feast at
 Masonic hall were enjoying themselves
 to the fullest extent a majority of the
 others who had been on the streets
 and in the parade f1ocked to the town
 hall where the benefit dance which
 was planned by the fremen was in full swing. From the admissions col
 lected at the door and contributions
 owed $70 was realized. This will be
 added to the fund which was collected
 recently at the firemen's sale and
 will be used for buying smokes for
 the Plainville boys who have entered
 or will enter the service later.
 This morning fruit and cigarettes
 and cigars were distributed to the
 local boys by John Penato, manager