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[577]

Williamstown.

As a body, I think their improvement great.

C. R. Taft, Chairman Selectmen.


Woburn.

They are better citizens than before.

A. E. Thompson, Chairman Selectmen.


Wilbraham.

On the whole, I think their morals have not deteriorated, but of the two have improved.

Sumner Smith, Chairman Selectmen.


Weymouth.

The habits of such returned soldiers are better rather than worse than they were before entering the service.

James Humphrey, Chairman Selectmen.


Westport.

Some of them, I am positive, exhibit a decided improvement, and a few of them, who were considered a little fast before the war, are now among the most industrious and respectable of our citizens.

E. P. Brownell, Chairman Selectmen.


Worcester.

First, among many young men, of whom I have had a personal acquaintance, serving in the army has been of immense benefit to them by giving them that discipline and respect for authority which enables them to become far better men than they would have been without it. This conclusion applies to those men whose personal characters were unformed before they entered the service, and whose civil training was leading them into loose notions which confound liberty with license. Second, that when a man possessed a well-formed character before his service in the army, as a man who was really a good, respectable citizen before he enlisted, when he returned he was a far better one. Third, those who were trained to evil deeds before their service have returned quite fixed in their evil habits, not improved for the better in any degree.

P. Ball, Mayor.


Yarmouth.

I am of the opinion that their habits are better. They seem to be more industrious, persevering and anxious to obtain something more than their daily wants.

Samuel Matthews, Chairman Selectmen.


Unfavorable testimony.


Bridgewater.

That portion of the returned soldiers who at the time of their enlistment were of age to have acquired habits and characters for themselves, apparently returned as moral, upright men as when they entered the service. A portion of them who entered the army young, from sixteen to twenty years of age, have apparently returned more addicted to the use of strong drink and profane language than when they entered the service.

Van R. Swift, Chairman Selectmen.


Hamilton.

None of the returned soldiers of this town have been guilty of any crime since their return home, to the best of our knowledge and belief, and we have good reason to believe that their morals and habits, taken as a whole (except, perhaps, the habit of profanity), are as good as they were before they entered the army.

N. B. Butler, Chairman Selectmen.


Holden.

I am happy to state that no one of our returned soldiers has been complained of for misdemeanor since their return. We would most cheerfully endorse the opinion as expressed by your Honor, with one exception, viz.: the use of tobacco.

G. Broad, for the Selectmen.


Leominster.

None of our returned soldiers have been guilty of any flagrant violation of the laws, and, perhaps, a large majority of them have not been seriously contaminated by their army experience; but I am sorry to say that we have several of our younger soldiers, who left home steady, industrious young men, and have returned dissipated, unwilling to work, and far from having been improved by their army experience.

A. L. Burdett, for the Selectmen.


Norton.

I have no knowledge that any of our returned soldiers have been guilty of any crime since their return home, and I am of the opinion that being in the army has not made any marked improvement in their habits. I am sorry to differ with you, however, in regard to the returned soldiers as a body. So far as my knowledge and acquaintance with them in this part of the State extends, I think the tendency has been to demoralize and dissipate them.

W. D. Witherell, Chairman Selectmen.


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