THE POST NOT PROSPERING 69 Young's when a goodly number with invited guests sat together again at the banquet board. Commander Appleton presided. The speakers responded to the usual toasts, and altogether it was a pleasant occasion, without any special enthusiasm. The principal speakers were Collector Beard, ex-Collector Simmons, Major Bell, Chaplain Quint, Comrades Hollis and Blackmar. The evening was filled out by songs and recitations. Among the other guests present were Colonel William V. Hutchins, Major Dewey and Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Stevens. THE POST NOT PROSPERING Notwithstanding the good front shown by the Post in public May 30 and November 22, it was in reality only kept going by the stout hearts and active efforts of a mere handful of Comrades. The second year of Commander Appleton's administration was less successful than the first. He had been travelling abroad most of the previous year and had also been absent from the State much of the time during the present one, and the Commander's work largely fell upon the Senior Vice-Commander. As is usual in cases where the actual head of an organization is absent or unable from any cause to discharge his duties, the subordinate acts under a restraint; he often hesitates to assume responsibilities and is satisfied to act in a more or less perfunctory way, continuing the mere routine without rising to the necessities of the hour. This is exactly what occurred in the present case. It is not to be wondered that doubts arose in the minds of many as to whether it would be practicable to continue the Post organization. Comrade James M. Richardson died October 7 and was buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery, Brookline. NATHAN APPLETON Service, Civil War. 5th Mass. Light Battery. 2d Lieutenant; 1st Lieutenant; Captain, Aide-de-camp, Staff of General Wainwright, Commanding Artillery Brigade, 5th Army Corps. Service, M. V. M. Captain, and Assistant Inspector-General. Commander Appleton or Captain Nathan Appleton, as he always delighted to call himself, and by which title he was universally spoken of and known during the remainder of his life, after the War, was in many respects a remarkable man. His life was his own, and there was no duplicate. He was known almost the world over as a soldier, writer, diplomat and traveller; a member of the aristocratic society, not only of Boston and New York, but of nearly every capital of Europe. Captain Appleton was the friend of leading men in many walks. Famed as one of the literati of the latter part of the nineteenth century, as an intimate and relative of the family of the poet Longfellow, he was a man of international reputation. He was born February 2, 1843, and was graduated from Harvard with the famous class of '63. Upon his graduation he was appointed Second Lieutenant of the 5th Massachusetts Battery, and at once began his distinguished service in the Civil War. While an aide on the staff of General C. S. Wainwright, Appleton was severely wounded in the figh ing on the Virginia Central Railroad, and was breveted as Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct on the field. Like many men of leisure, Captain Appleton took a grand tour abroad after the close of the War, and travelled in Europe in 1866 and 1867. He was a delegate of the Boston Board of Trade at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, and immediately after began to interest himself in the Panama Canal project. He allied himself with Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, of French Panama Canal fame, a man who from then on became his hero and master. He also allied himself with the house of Bowles Brothers, bankers in London, Paris and the United States, a rash speculative venture which, in 1872, ended in disaster, and financially ruined many. Captain Appleton had technical opportunity for evading his obligations, but he put the whole of his private fortune at the disposal of the creditors, and came out of the affair plucked clean, but with flying colors. His brother, Thomas Gold Appleton, shared generously with Nathan during his life, as he did in the testamentary disposition of his property. Meantime Captain Appleton kept busy along many lines at home and abroad. He was a representative at the French COMMANDER APPLETON 71 exposition of 1878. In 1879, at the Canal International Congress, he appeared as an ardent supporter of the Panama route. He accompanied De Lesseps to Panama in 1870, and loyally supported his chief in the then much-mooted route question. Captain Appleton had many eccentricities, but withal was a most genial man, and retained his affection for Post No. 113 to the end. He attended the meetings from time to time and delivered many addresses upon various subjects before the Post and its guests. Upon the more important Grand Army functions held in Boston he took pleasure in representing the Post upon prominent committees. Captain Appleton passed beyond, August 25, 1906, at the Hotel Nottingham, Boston, and his funeral was held in King's Chapel under the direction of the Post. "On fame's eternal camping ground, His silent tent is spread." DANIEL D. WILEY. CHAPTER XIV EIGHTEEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE MEMORIAL DAY. PAST COMMANDER WILMON W. BLACKMAR, ORATOR. THE POST DECLINING AND SURRENDER OF CHARTER CONSIDERED. TENTH ANNIVERSARY AT YOUNG'S. OFFICERS INSTALLED BY PAST COMMANDER BLACKMAR COMMANDER SENIOR VICE-COMMANDER JUNIOR VICE-COMMANDER ADJUTANT QUARTERMASTER SURGEON CHAPLAIN OFFICER OF THE DAY OFFICER OF THE GUARD SERGEANT MAJOR QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT ALBERT W. HERSEY. LOUIS N. TUCKER. LUKE R. LANDY. HENRY W. FERNALD. Vice LANDY resigned. EDWARD B. RICHARDSON. GEORGE T. PERKINS. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on the Common was impressively draped, and the base held tropical plants. The Post, escorted by Company K, 1st Infantry, with the Medford Band, left headquarters and took up the march to the monument via City Hall and the State House. At the former place Mayor Prince and members of the city government, and at the latter Governor Talbot and staff, joined the column. A large concourse of citizens were present, including Martin Millmore, the artist, General A. P. Martin and others. The Rev. Minot J. Savage offered prayer, and vocal selections were given by the Schubert Club; then followed the G. A. R. service concluding with an earnest address by Comrade Wilmon W. Blackmar, and a musical selection. The Post returned direct to headquarters and was dismissed. |