Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-20

The returned soldiers and sailors OF
West Paris and vicinity and their friends
have the memory OF q very completes and
satisfactory two days. program May 10
and II.
The High School boys did their part
by winning . closely contested game
from Lewiston High, after the visItors
had taken big lead In the 6rst inning
and our boys had long stern chase even
to catch up.
At the banquet in Grange dining hall
/ two Of the tables running the length OF
the hall were filled with guests, soldiers
and sailors and their families and friends,
and three veterans Of 81 with members
of their families. Shaw's orchesrta
furnished music at the banquet a. well
a. at the dance after $50.
Grange Hall was perhaps never more
completely filed than at the time OF the
brief program, with the words Of well
come fittingly spoken by Freeman L.
Wyman TO the younger men who had
followed in the footsteps OF the boys Of
81. Only soldiers, he said, could know
what war really is; We men who fought
so many years ago can sympathize With
liar response was made for the men OF
the khaki and tho blue by Lieut.. r. Z.
Wheeler, with Q special word for the
boys who sleep in France. Encores were
demanded Of the musicians, including
Miss Helen Barnes, Marjorie McAlister
and Ronald Perham, Edith Stevens,
Earle Bacon and Mrs. Ruby Clark Briggs.
Mrs. Briggs sang the "Song of the
Soldiers Home Coming" by Henry van
Dyke recently published in the Ladies'
Home Journal.
Hon. Alton G. Wheeler of South Paris
was the principal speaker at the evening
program, and as he Is so well known Ii
is only necessary to say that he was at
his best.
Though many went out at the close of
the program, the grand march had to be
omitted because of the limited floor
space. Much pleasure was taken in the
decorations Of both halls, and the elec-
trio lights were furnished by Mr.. Morse
Of South Paris.
The program came to its climax Sun.
day at 2:S0 P. n. in the Universalist
church. Music was provided by q male
quartet, composed of Chester Briggs,
Maynard Chase, Dana Grover and John
Brook, and by Mrs. Briggs, who sang Q
solo.
Rev. A. Rata brought . message OF
greeting to the men in uniform who sat
in the pews before him, Lauri Immonen
acting as interpreter.
Mrs. John r. Tompson of Portland
told of the tasks which Washington had
laid upon the Y. w. C. A. in the mainte-
nance of hostess houses at several Amer
lean camps, in giving of sorely needed
encouragement to the (Brltisb) Women's
Auxiliary Corps in France, providing
home life for the hundreds of telephone
girls sent for signal service work in
France, and the receiving of wounded
Canadians at Portland. Reference was
also made to the place Of the Salvation
Army lassie in the hearts of the A. E. F.
Mrs. Tompson will be welcomed again
whenever she can be secured.
The workers were so many and 80 will
ing that no mention Ia made Of any indi-
viduals. Every one of the helpers and
contributors must have been happy In
the success of the occasion. No other
thanks are needed.
Although tuo auair Woc Sottou w
without thought of financial gain, yet a
goodly balance will be turned over to
the Village Improvement Association.
Some one has suggested that it would be
very fitting that the balance be kept in
trust to be added to when possible until
q suitable memorial could be obtained
for our soldiers and sailors. One Of the
lasting reminders of the occasion Ia the
new large flag that floats over Main
Street, displacing the one that has given
service for more than twenty FIVE years.