The exercises were in a large tent capable of seating a thousand
persons at dinner. The day was dull but the attendance was large. The
soldiers were on duty at an early hour, and they were ready for dinner
when they entered the tent at about eleven o'clock. The tables were
spread and the soldiers and guests took their seats at the tables, but
under an injunction that the repast would not begin until the address
and poem had been delivered. Fortunately the address came first. The
delivery occupied an hour or more. Mr. Pierpont commenced reading his
poem, but before he had made any considerable progress, a slight
clicking of knives was heard from the extreme portion of the tent. Mr.
Pierpont was an excitable man. He had a reputation as a preacher,
lecturer and poet. It was apparent from his flushed face that his
pride was wounded. I expected that Mr. Woodbury, who was president of
the day, would rise and ask the guests to abstain from eating until
Mr. Pierpont had finished reading his poem. The parson gave no sign,
however. The disturbance increased, and finally, Mr. Pierpont, with
face flushed to purple, threw down his manuscript under the box from
which he was reading, and sat down. I then expected that the president
would demand order. On the contrary, he stuck his hands straight into
the air, and said: "Let us ask a blessing.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193