Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-01
Carriages were provided for those comrades
who were unable to walk.

II charming feature Oh Tue OCCASION was inc
school children, three or four hundred in num-
Der, dressed in gay holiday attire, and bearing
bouquets of flowers. They marched directly
to the cemetery from the high school house.
All the schools in the village district were
represented. The following teachers were
present, having the care and oversight Of
their respective schools: Mr. Robertson and
Assistants, Misses Gilman, Woodbury., Ian
ders, Blake and Kempton.
At two o'clock the procession moved ac-
cording to the following route
From Bridge square up Bridge to State
street, through State to Winthrop street, up
Winthrop to Sewall street, through Sewall to
Green street. up Green street to Forest Grove
Cemetery, through Forest Grove Cemetery to
Winthrop street, up Winthrop to Mount
Pleasant Cemetery.
While the procession was moving, the city
bell was tolled. Along the route flags were
displayed, draped i'll mourning, and large
numbers Of people greeted the procession on
its march. On arriving at Mount Pleas
ant, the procession halted in front of the stand
that had been erected for the speakers, and
ing. Seats were provided for the school chill
dren and others, and refreshing ice water was
furnished in abundance. We should Judge
there were some three or four thousand
person present on the grounds.
The exercises at the stand begun with
music by the Band, after which an appropriate
and fervent prayer was offered by Rev. a
V. Tilton of the Baptist church. The va
rious orders of the day were read by Hon.
Warren johnson.
Hon. J. w. North, Mayor of the city and
President Of the day, then made the following
address
FELLOW CITIZENS We have again as
sembled, on this memorial day, to honor the
memory of the sleepers resting in these dec
Grated graves; to revive and strengthen the
scarcely fading memories of the recent past;
to contemplate again the noble and successful,
though fearfully destructive struggle OF great
nation, aroused to untiring action by the
highest motives which can animate a people,
the preservation of national character and
national life.
Memorial day, now national holiday,
serves to mark an important era, and to keep
alive the memory of remarkable events in
our history; an era whose Importance will
increase, and events whose results will grow
in magnitude with advancing years. These
events are higher, and deeper, and broader
than we can now measure; their full signif-
canoe we can not now comprehend; great as
was the effort, terrible as was the struggle,
magnificent as has been in some respects the
results, we yet have no adequate conception
of the magnitude which time, with its lust
appreciation and correct measure, will give
them.
Crcumscribed By limited view, and OPP
pressed by present influences, dependency
may doubt if progress has come OF the san
culinary contest. SO blinded we by near
ness, and SO strongly impressed by the evils
which attend, and for time follow, all pro-
gressive movements which convulse society
and threaten to subvert the foundation of the
social fabric, that we are apt to look upon
such movements as evil, and only productive
of evil. The storm which sweeps away pes
tilential vapors may bring destruction in its
path, but it carries life-giving purity on its
wings. When, however, the cloud which
overhangs and obscures our vision opens, and
the hand which is guiding and overriding all
for good is seen; when we can form just con-
ception of the steps taken in human progress,
we shall see that these movements form a
part of the grand march of events which are
to transpire upon this earth.
Memorial day educates Us as well as our
children. 1t instlls into the mind and i'm
plants in the heart, sentiments of patriotism
and virtue and self-sacriiice for the good of
country, the highest qualities of individual
and national character. All the throngng
feelings which come with its memories, to
gladen, purify and elevate. tnged though they
may be, at times, with feelings of sadness,
better prepare US for the realities of this life
quicken thought, give generous impulses, and
awaken enobling feelings, raise to a higher
plane, sinking the present with its corrodng
cares, arousing what of glory there may be
in the memories of the past, and drawing en-
couraging strength from antcipations OF the
future.
What an influence for good to the nation
will go up from these burial places of the
patriot dead. In them precious seed is plant,
ed. In these gardens Of patriotism terminate
the seed and grow the plants of national vir-
tue North and South, from every battle
field, from every graveyard where rest the
patriot dead, from every lowly grave upon the
hilltop or by the waysde, holding an I'M
coffined form of federal or confederate sol
der, come up voices of instruction to the
nation, which must be heard, and which will
increase in strength as time rolls on. From
the general teachings of the war, its progress,
its magnitude, its spirit, its trumphs, and the
triumph of national arms and the establish
ment of national authority, we may gather
various and discordant notes of approval and
condemnation, of glory and reyerses, of
amazement at the folly of man, of awe
and submission at the manifestations of an
over-ruling power directing and determining
the affairs Of nations.
There comes but one voice from the graves
of friends and foes-foes in the strife of bat
tle-foes from like feelings of devoted patriot
ism to country, having just or fancied
claim of allegance-foes no longer in the
grave, which sends forth from each alike the
voice of warn-hearted, ardent patriotism.
Accompanied by the Band, Mr.. c. C.
Hunts classes sang with fine effect, the fol-
lowing beautiful piece, which has become
quite national in the observance of the day
this year, entitled "Our Braves Mr.. Hunt
is entitled to much credit in making this part
of the services so pleasing and acceptable.
OUR BRAVES.
Blest be the ground where our braves are at rest,
Honored each shrine where Martyrs rcpose,