The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-19
For the GiOBB.l
THE DECORATION DAY GRAFTON
A sharp Criticism ThereOn-Square
Heads-Ceremony- Gyros-
cOpe-PatrlOtiSm.

OS-CeremOny-lne SyIOss
experimentation.
ron Col. Clsrk's Grafton at Rutland, May 3otb,
1871
The orator of Decoration Day, at Rut-
audience that "Wc are square-headed
people, and not given to ceremony"
| think this assertion is not founded in
fact. Nature never made square head
and placed it on a good mans shoulders.
1t is the weakest of all forms, except
triangular head. A head in the form Of a
dome, globe pyramid or cone is better
form, and should prefer cylinder head
to square head.
A square head is easily stove in, if struck
between the corners, by the sharp points of
another angular head. A square head has
six flat places on it, which makes it decided
" % flat-head." The Indian head comes
the nearest to square head. Capt. Jacks
head is said to be nearly square. We are
not Modocs! Further, a square head is
suggestive of s. blOckhead," which is enough
to condemn this form of head. do not
like his "figurc or " fgurc-hcad."
wish to deny the truth of the orators
assertion, that we arc not given to cere-
very ceremonous people and fond of cere-
mony. When we commence our earthly
pilgrimage there is ceremony; at our mar
rage there is ceremony, and at our death
and funeral there will be ceremony, and we
shall go to the grave in very long solemn
ceremonious professions. 1t is true that
the symmetry and harmony of the pro-
cession is marrcd by some uncouth Gus
toners who have been 80 rudely and awk.
wardly brought up that they do not know
how to walk in procession, and to conceal
their ignorance and show their contempt
for what they do not know, and are too
stupid to learn, they will struggle, as sug-
gested by the orator, out of any procession
in defiance of order, taste and ceremony.
The saddest people among us are cere-
monious, they enquire for the health of
every person they meet, with whom they
have an acquaintance, and converse OF the
weather, &C., &c. We have our church
ceremonies, State ceremonies, Inauguration
ceremonies, and numberless other ccrc-
monies. A man without ceremony is rated
"bore in all communities. Without
ceremony our Decoration Day." "4th of
July" and all other public holidays will
not be observed and will soon he forgotten
if we dispense with ceremony. The days
of Cynics and Stoies have passed, and life
without ceremony would Ike poor, stale,
insipid affair, and positively uncomfortable.
The orator further asserted, /" So self
respecting is every man, that more than
one sturdy citizen-soldier has been tied up
by his thumbs for failing to salute his
superior officer" This should read, SO
self-conceited are some men, that more than
one stupid citizen-soldier has been tied up
by his thumbs for refusing to salute his
superior officer" l will venture the asser
ton, that the orator never knew a good
soldier to be tied up by his thumbs fol
failing to salute bis superior officer
through ignorance and innocent of dis
respect.
1t is one theory to respect the Office ever
if we detest the officer. In times past w
have honored the President of the United
States, even when we despised the man, be
cause before the world We can not max,
the nice distinction of honoring the offic,
and dshonoring or detesting the man wht
holds and executes the office.
1t is one of the duties of the soldier t,
learn to obey and respect his superior
The giving and receiving of salutations i
one of the most pleasant recollections o
the service of all good officers and goOt
soldiers it gives genteel, agreeable ant
cultivated bearing to officers and men
should be observed, and not be spoken o
az matter of small importance by on
who has been an officer.
The orator of the day, after saying
great many good things, took "a new dc
parture" in the matter of reconstruc
ton" in "the South" and pointed out
better way to restore order, where but
few years ago all was disorder, forgettin
: that time and opportunity will yet max
: all things even there, if there is not to
, much political doctoring, and his patien
does not have to take all the nostrums tha
, every medicine man shall prescribe.
: Next he regretted that we do not live /
those good old days before the war, whe
3 men, 1t is asserted, were better than nov
3 and " strikes and grabs were less powe
9 full and colossal than at present, and whe
g the Credit Modilier had not then stake
Q across the continent, nor pulled dow
9 greatness with his sinuous TAIL" Then i
4 took his equity telescope and legal hor,
Q scope and examined our court of CHANGER
Q and prognosticated that chancery had Il
| Horoscope" and then mourned like OF
: who refused to be comforted and In Il
Q language of another cried "war, war
l and then to show that he was able to a
C swer himself, refuted his own aase
!, tions by showing that In ancient times me
4 were more wicked than now cited u