Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-06-05

The decoration of Soldiers graves was
day long to be remembered ty citizens
Of Toledo and the surrounding country.
Preparations had been in progress near q
month, which eliminated In a fine dis
play, and almost general suspension OF
business to allow the citizens generally
to participate. Quite a number of our
citizens of this place availed themselves
efthe opportunity to visit Toledo on that
day.
We reproduce below selection from
the Rev. FRANK NJ. Halls address, the
principal orator Of the day, which con-
tains many fine points:
Older than all books and all syllabIed crseds,
older even than human speech, and identIeai
with being itself in all the universe, ia The
everlasting verify that only out of death can
come life, out OF evil good, out Of suff.ripg
blesseiness. out of self-denial mastery of self.
out Of surrender to others victory over ali
things--that there is no such thing as barring
except at the price of giuing "The very least
things are bound By its cords, and the greatest
are not exempt from its power" As devel-
oped in huRtnity, it rises to the high level of
voluntary sacrifice, aud takes the Impress
marked for II In that strange, mysterious,
Sphyux-like riddle. whosoever will save his
life must ,oiH to lose IT." Voluntary obedience
TO this law-that is the essence of human
gnpdness, and ito other name is greatness.
Who is willing TO give himself whoIly-aH
that 80 in h6H-tO his brother men, he is good.
And he who, thus willing, has much to give,
10 great.
sowArdlY perlunctory is counting tue cost, and
fs laEiy outstanding his all-precious self. he
is losing all the self that is worth his having,
and in saving himself is laying up a hulk 10
Yot in dry y-dock. He who loses self in the race,
ths highest type Of man -tha / is the Ike y note
Of all noble lives; ever true to that note, the
oonseutisnt voice of history sends its verdict
down the " corridors Of time" And il is be.
cause in war this test of true manhood
slough just as sure in piping times of peace
is sharply drawn and made palpabe to the
universal sense, that we and all the world are
ready to canoniZe the dead s. ldier hero. And
sell We may and count the canonizinp word
4 tribute all tuo small TO match the meaning of
his greatness. For what did he giye to bis
country aud to usf The sum Of all that,
than which no smallest fraction more he could
give-his whole self. What can fame be to |
him who eau hear no more the shout OF ap. |
plause or raspipg voice Of envy? What |
country smiling in prosperity that he has Sc
cured, TO him whose eyes are closed forever to |
AS advancing Rloriesf No, we must not imag- |
Inc that the debt can DO discharged. He gave |
bis life q sacrifice for US.
In the National Cemetery at Nashville, not |
long ago, stranger was observed one day |
PlEuting bowsr over q soldiers grave. Some |
ous approached him and asked, Was your
son buried here T. "No."was the answer,
"Your son -in-law r. ono" Your brotherf'i
"No." "Some relative, ! suppose ?" "No."
Then waiting moment. as IL hssitAtinR how
% say what he had IN tell, the stranger laid
d0wa the flower that he held in his hand and
said. Z" Well I'll tell you how II was, stranger.
When the war broke outI was working on q
faLm 10 Illinois. wanted to enlist. but had
wife and seven children, and after bother
over the thing a good deal, made up nv
mind finally that II wouldn't do. Bye aud
bys, though, came the first draft, you know,
Mnd then / just thought to myself Il was a
shame 10 have il SO, and | wouldn't wait 10 be
GRATED any how. SO il didn't take me long 10
make up my mind that must leave my Sickly
wife and little children, and go and help hght
the enemy. When got already to Ro,
young man that had known came tn me and
said You have big family that your wife
cannot take care Of, will 90 in your place.
And so he took my place, aud In the battle Of
he was wounded aud taken 10
die Nashville hospital, aud Efter long sick
aess he died and was buried there and ever
since have wanted to come aud see his grave.
No saved up all the money | could. and yes
terday | came oa and have iourd the place
where nv friends body lies"
With tears of gratitude cnursinR fewn his ,
cheeks, he took up the little flower an pressed
n down into the ground al the side Of the hum-
lie beadstone Under the soldiers name wene
,nIy these words; lie died for me-" Fit
'ni,snh for every one Of these sacred graves, for
nTsejseIy tells the import Of their eeath Whose
N, :, reposes here. FL motto for this day, for
in,e, pre,s fully tho thought that 10 deepest IN
NJ hearts, lie died Tor u.e-'