Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-05

L sAAR SSSsVO HAD@OsboA DOy
SIGNIFICANCE McRHAsID BY coNTEs.
IN WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED.
All over our land the meaning Of Ne
mortal Day WAS especially brought r
mind this year BY the fact that We are u
this great world war, to stay to the I'm
ish, and observance Of the occasion va
moro general and characterised By
creator depth of feeling than In many
years. This condition was notable II
our local observance.
Though the air was chill and thu
clouds which covered the sky deprived
the day Of the brightness and beauty
that so we'll beft 1t, the exercises, both
indoors and out, were fully carried ont
and attended by more than the usua
numbers.
The observance ct South Paris was ID
charge Of VIM. K. Kimball Post, G.. A.
R., which formed In line In front Of the
hall at 10 O'Clock for the purpose oil
decorating the graves In Riverside Gene
terry. There we're score Of veterans,
all of whom with one exception were
able to march with the procession. They
with good representation, led by
drum corps. Following came the Ladies
of the G. A. R., and then some over two
hundred school children with their
teachers, carrying flags.
At the cemetery prayer was o6ered by
Rev. A. T. McWhorter, and there was
singing by the girls choir OF the Univer'
salist church, and by the school chill.
dren. The graves in the cemetery were
decorated with flags and wreaths OF
cedar, the Sons of Veterans doing the
work under the direction and guidance
OF the veterans. The return to the hall
was made through Moore Park and past
the soldiers monument.
At the hour for opening the afternoon
exercises in New Hall, the hall was filled
almost TO it's capacity, and late arrivals
occupied extra chairs which were placed,
and considerable number were stand
ing in the rear of the hall throughout
the program.
Shaw's Orchestra of ten pieces opened
the program With The Star Spangled
Banner, and played number Of patriot
ic selections and medleys in the intervals
between numbers.
Commander w. 8. Starbird Of VIM. Z.
Kimball Post presided at the program.
Prayer was offered by Rev. D. r. Faux
ner. DR.. Chas. L. Buck read the gener.
eral orders of Gen. Logan establishing
Memorial Day. Lincoln's Gettysburg
address was read by Mrs. Eva R. Ordway,
and poem written by Mrs. j. +. Plum
mer was read by Miss Eva E. Walker.
1.-THE Cross and the Flag" was sung with
fine effect by the girls choir of the Uni
versalist church.
Mr.. Starbird then introduced as the
speaker of the day Alton G. Wheeler OF
South Paris, and Mr.. Wheeler was given
a warm reception by the audience. He
spoke eloquently for little more than
half An hour, and the appreciation OF bis
address was testified not only by the
close attention of the audience through.
out and their frequent response to bis
sentiments by applause, but by the com.
ment frequently made after the exer.
cises, that no audience In Maine had
that day heard better or more inspir-
ing address.
Soon after Mr.. Wheeler began speak.
ing, squad of the boys of Co. F, doing
guard duty here, entered the hall and
were given seats on the platform. Mr..
Wheeler paused In his remarks, grace
fully welcomed the soldiers of 1917, and
at bis suggestion the audience paid their
respects to the boys by standing while
they took their places.
So much of the effect of Mr.. Wheeler's
remarks depends upon the phrasing and
the speakers manner that no attempt
will be made other than to give few
thoughts from the address. l can re.
member, said he, when this Memorial
Day parade would see hundred veter
ans in line. have seen the line grow
less and less till now 1t numbers but q
score. It will be further reduced with
the years, and my message to you az to-
day is that when 1t shall have passed, on
us rests the responsibility OF maintain
ing American citizenship. To this
thought, especially in Its application to
our present situation in the war. the
speaker mainly addressed himself.
he declared that the British. feet has
long stood between US and Germany, and
that America and England are closely
united In interest and In sentiment, and
to the applause of the. audience to this
he declared, "You do we'll to applaud
the sentiment of the close union Of Amer
lea and England"
The ware in which America has been
engaged were reviewed, and IN them
the speaker found that we were fighting
against the rule of the few over the
many. It ia so in the great war In which
we are engaged now, and In which we
stand with President Wilson till the end
a sentiment which was greeted with
long applause. In the contest there Il
room for every body save one-the un'
kind critic. President Wilson Is the
command r-in. chief Of the armed forces
of the country. Some OF you know
what my sentiments were regarding the
proposition of Col. Roosevelt to raise q
division of volunteers for service In
France; yet never was prouder Of Theo.
dore Roosevelt than when he accepted
Loyalty the decision against him, and
urged 20 forcefully the support OF the
president.