The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-10-31
In Memory of Private Curtis.

A service of unusual impressiveness
and solemnity was held at the Swanville
church last Sunday afternoon in memory
of Private Clarence NJ. Curtis of the
115th Infantry, killed in action in France
Sept. l4th. There was large attendance
from the young mans home town and
from Belfast and vicinity to pay their
respect to one of the county, most hon.
orable young men, who had made the
supreme sacrifice. The church was ef-
fectively draped with flags, extending
from the pulpits to the communion table
on which stood picture of the young
hero draped in crepe. Among the flags
that draped the altar railing was Swan
ville's service flag with it's 10 stars and
one in gold for Private Curtis. The flag
was recently bought by popular sub
scription and displayed for the first time
on this occasion.
The exercises opened with the organ
voluntary Consolation from Mendelssohn
by Miss Amy E. Stoddard of Belfast fol-
lowed by the trio, A Holy Air is Breath
ing Round, from Howe, by Mrs Thomas
E. Bowker, Mrs. Melvin O. Dickey and
Mr.. John Parker of Belfast DR.. Foster
c. Small of Belfast, personal friend OF
the deceased, conducted the program and
made few most appropriate remarks of
eulogy including poem, The Dead Sol
dier, by the late Lieut.. John McCrae,
also his personal friend and professor at
the University of Vermont. He closed
by reading the following letter:
September 1918.
My Dear Mrs Nickerson: Am sending
you under separate cover the personal
effects of Private Clarence Curtis, who
was killed in action Saturday, Sept, IA,
1918 The writer wishes to take ad-
vantage of this opportunity to state that
Private Curtis, attached to my organlza-
ton, was perfect gentleman as well as
fine and fearless soldier and his death
was keenly felt by all who knew him.
1t was in an effort to enter the enemy
lines with another man, about Il O'Clock
noon, that bullet penetrated his right
side. Unable to get back in broad day
light across "no mans land" Private
Curtis with the other man was compelled
to remain in shell hole until night tall.
Corp Golden who was with Private Cur
tbs then made his way back to our lines,
notified me of the affair and we set out
Immediately to bring him IN. tie was
unconscious when found and died on the
way at about IL p. m. The wound was
serious, in fact fatal one and 1T would
have been impossible to save him had we
given him immediate medical attention.
Everyone back home who knew Private
Curtis should feel proud to have known
such straightforward young man.
Yours very truly.
JOSEPH A. AYRES,
1st Lieut.. I15th Infantry A. E. F. A. P.
O. 765.
This was followed by soprano solo,
One Sweetly Solemn Thought, from Am
brose by Mrs. BoWker. Rev. David
Bracket read the scripture and offered
fervent prayer that touched the hearts OF
all who heard it. He was Civil War
veteran ana COulu pldCe HlIllSell III d poSi-
tion to give heartfelt sympathy for the
bereaved. Thy Will be Done, from Men
delssohn, duet, was sung by Mrs, bow
ker and Mrs. Dickey. Rev. Charles w.
Martin of Belfast, followed by patriotic
address of the present world crisis. AS
strange coincidence he also read poem
by Lieut.. McCrae, the response OF the
American people to the Dead Soldier read
by DR.. Small. He drew lesson on the
surety of future life as the activity OF
these young heroes will never cease here.
His remarks were followed with the clos
est attention throughout and was COM
binaton of patriotic sentiment and deep
religious sentiment. The program closed
with the vocal solo, The Homeland, from
Hanscom by Mrs. Bowker and Mrs.
Dickev