The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-03-12
He Was rendered a Banquet
Last Night, at Which Some
Very COmplim entary
Things Were Said About
His Devotion to the We'll
fare of the Men in His
Command.

Major General Clarence r. Edwards,
the man who organized the 26th New
England division and led il through
many of the hardest battles of the recent
war and who is now commander of the
northeastern department of the United
States army, was the guest of Barre yes
terday afternoon and last evening in his
swing about the state to meet the par
ents and other relatives of the men of
the famous fighting division. To-day he
is in Burlington and tomorrow he will
be in Northfield
From o'clock yesterday afternoon
General Edwards was completely in the
hands of his friends in Barre and he was
given a demonstration of affection such
as is very infrequently given to any man
by the people of this community and the
surrounding towns. A great throng well
coined him on his arrival, huge jam
tried to shake hands with him at re-
ception soon after his arrival, another
great crowd heard his simple, fereeful
tale Of the war at the opera house and
another audience limited only by the
capacity of the accommodations rendered
him a banquet late laN night and early
this morning. And, to cap the climax Of
the testimonial Of the affection of the
people of Barre, he was presented loy.
ing cup inscribed with the words: Pre-
sented to Major General Clarence K. Ed
wards by the citizens of Barre, Vt,
March II, 1919"
The arrangements for the entertain
ment of the distinguished guest were
made by committees of the Barre Board
of Trade and the completeness of the de-
tails left little to be desired either by
General Edwards or by the people of
the community.
General Edwards introduction to Barre
yesterday afternoon was a long line of
soldiers and sailors drawn up on North
Main street, Just north of Depot square,
under command of Sergeant Lauraine
Densmore, back from overseas duty.
There was a considerable sprinkling of
26th division men but mainly the men
were from home training camps or other
units. The five automobiles which
brought the visiting party from Mont
pelier. together with the Barre welcom
ing committee halted down the street to
permit the lowering of the car tops SO
that the crowd and General Edwards
could have an unobstructed view of each
other
Constituting the Barre welcoming com.
mittee were Mayor Glysson, City Clerk
Mackay, Senator +. G. Rowland Repre-
sentative V. Il. Ayers, w G. Reynolds,
J. B. Sanguinetti, +. d. Ladd, f. L,
Langley William Barclay D. NJ. Barclay,
C. F. Millar and B. A. Eastman.
Upon coming up with the line of serv-
ice men, General Edwards face eyinced
interest and then became wreathed in
smiles as he glanced down the line Of
nearly 100 men in khaki drawn up with
military precision and strict attention.
Then the generals hand came up in "a
lutte and remained SO while his car con
tnued down the line, the soldiers the
while remaining immobile. The crowd
at first remained stolid, the people evi-
IDENTIFY taking in and measuring up the
famous soldier; and it was not until
their appraisal had been made that they
broke forth into cheers. and then the
cheers increased in volume as the pro-
cession moyed along the street, up to
City square and then back to Rowland
hall
Leading the line was the Barre City
band followed by the column of soldiers
and sailors under Sergeant Densmore,
the car bearing General Edwards coming
next. with Major Chandler, his aide,
Captain H. Sheldon of Fair Haven,
a veteran of the lO2d, and Adiutant Gen
eral H. T. johnson of the state of Yer
mont being carried in other cars of the
committee.
Coming opposite the entrance TO How
land hall on the return trip, the party
found their progress almost blocked by a
crowd which filled the street from build
ing to building and packed into a dense
mass. In fact, it is estimated that as
many as 5000 people turned out to give
rousing welcome to the distinguished
visitor Finally, a way was made
through the throng and as the soldiers
lined up at attention the various cars
deposited their passengers and General
Edwards and his escort entered the build
ing and ascended to the hall.
The hall gave evidence of the nature
of the event, being decorated with the
colors of many nations, with the Stars
and Stripes and the national colors pre-
dominating, of course. In the main room
were huge streamers running from the
center to each of the corners, while on
the end walls were shields of American