The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-12-27


large cannon were mounted on each one.
They faced the bay and the city. But
there was a decided feeling of security,
| for there was a large fort up at Bucks
eluded the vigilance of the formidable
earthworks at the Battery and got wedged
in between the fort and the opposite
shore, we were perfectly safe, as they
could not 60 forward or turn around, and
we could shoot them at our leisure.
Our first real sorrow was felt when
the sad news of the death of Col. Thomas
H. Marshall came
Never strong in health, his arduous
responsibilities and exposure proved too
much for him and he died in Baltimore
of fever, Just as his regiment passed his
hotel on their way South The remains
were brought to Belfast, and funeral ser
and were conducted by Revs. DR.. Pal
frey, Wooster Parker and Edward Cut
ter The tolling of the bells, the muffled
| drum and he flag draped hearse, the
! fearful faces of the citizens are still fresh
in my memory. All places of business
were closed and every demonstration of
respect was paid to the gallant soldier,
the loyal citizen and the personal friend
of the whole community.
| Prices were high of course, but | do
not recall that there was a scarcity of
necessities. There were no meatless,
wheatless and eatless days. You could
have what you wanted if you paid the
price There were no automobiles, and
those who INDUCED in keeping one or
more horses could have the privilege of
paying $40 per ton for hay. Flour was
from SIS to $40 per barrel, cotton cloth
from Is cents to 81 per yard, print and
gingham 35 cents and upward, and a
poor quality at that. Kid gloves So and
S. per pair, thread 20 and 25 cents the
spool.
| If one went shopping and spent $40 it
did not take delivery wagon to carry
his purchases home; you could bring
them in your glove.
| Small currency had been driven out of
circulation, and in 1862 business men is
sued printed checks, in design like min
| iature bank bills, about IL inches long
and / IL inches wide; they were of the
denomination of 5, 10, 25 and so cents
which passed as currency for over a
year, when they were prohibited by the
/ government. An amusing incident in
/ this connection comes to mind | was
one day making some purchases in a
store when a little girl came in for a
skein of thread, for in those days you
could buy thread by the skein as well as
/ by the spool. The proprietor gave her
the. package, when she drew an egg from
! her bag and laid it on the counter. He
marked ON it good for SO much and
placed it in the money drawer.
Thus far these notes have dealt with
the dark side of the war, but there were
many bright spots to remember.
| A grand ball was given in Pierce's Hall
and was a very fine affair. Members of
| the Branch Aid" were present, and
easily recognized by the badge of the
society, tri-colored ribbon worn at the
| left shoulder. The receipts were S209,
which were presented to the Ladies'
Aid'' to be used for the purchase of ma
terials for the good work.
| Various other entertainments were
given for raising money.
| The ladies held strawberry festival
July 4th, and a few weeks later a bril-
liant ''Fete Champe'tre" on the grounds
of Hon. A, G. Jewett, who had recently
returned from Europe, where he and his
family had spent several years, as the
| American minister to France
| 1t was an ideal spot for an entertain
ment of that kind. Its spacious grounds
and grand old trees hung with flags and
gay streamers. Small tables were dain-
tily laid under the trees where refresh
ments were served all day. Here, as
elsewhere, the Branch Aid were in evil
dence, as they served as mattresses.
Everything almost in the way of refresh
ments was served, but the queerest dish
to me was some of their fancy dishes
with two story name, which translated
into plain English was simply "bonny
clabber," Chick sour milk,) served with
cream and sugar.
Now to sit down under tree and eat
saucer of sour milk for your country may
not really come under the head of patriot
ism, but it is an all round sacrifice all the
same.
On several occasions | appeared before
the footlights in amateur theatricals and
if | wasn't called before the curtain, be-
tween the acts, was not Kissed off the
stage, fact which in looking back after
all these years, regard as highly COM
plimentary.
The curtain has long since rung down
! on the last act of those who participated
Col. Philo Hersey of California and my
self are all that remain.
AS diversion from real work it was
proposed to make a flag bed quilt for
4-l