The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-05-01
MEMORIAL DAY.
Decoration q confsdsrsae Graves.

/ Last Saturday was the day appointed for the
ceremonies of decoration, but the Indictment
weather caused a postponement until Monday
evening following. Monday was day of aus
picious weather-from cloudless sky the sun
cast over the earth sheen Of sunlight that
radiated the faces and chsered and animated
the hearts of our people. Nature seemed TO
be in full sympathy with the impressive scenes
| TO be enacted during the day, for even the
winds, that had been driving the rain in terrific
fury for the last few weeks. gathered itself up
into hush ofailence and nestled in submissive
awe around the base of battle-scarrsd and
blood-stained Kannesaw Is il it, too, would pay
obeisance and respect to the slain Of Confeder-
| ate memory While il il true, ten years have
passed away in the calendar of time, since the
smoke Of conflict, the boom Of artillery, the rat
tie of musketry, the shrieks Of shell, the groans
of the dying, followed by confagration Of ran
sacked towns and desppil. homes, have been
heard and seen, felt and witnessed in our land,
yet the people who inhabit this fair domain by
right of birth, education, principle and blood,
titles of indisputable heritage, are not so recre-
ant to principle the dead and the living. as to
allow the sacred memories that cluster around
their slain brothers, fathers, husbands. sons,
comrades and friends, who struggled for iiber-
ty and good government, coupled with their
deeds OF yalor and heroism, to pass into obliv-
ion-hence the last Georgia Legislature set
apart the Goth o: April as day of annual OBJ
servance and sacred demonstration Of floral be-
stowments upon the silent defenders of the Lost
Cause.
This is the explanation why our stores and
workshops We're all closed Monday evening
and our streets lined with moving mass Of
human beings vending to the "Silent City of
the Dead" where sleep the ''brayest and the
best" The throng that assembled on Gene
terry Hill was very large, showing that our peo-
Pile are not growing weary in the observance Of
this beautifully touching custom.
Our Joe was quite active in arranging the
prelimnares, while Mrs. C. A. Winn, President
of the Ladies' Memorial Association, showed
her good judgment in selecting as orator of the
day, Col james W. Robertson, gentleman to
the manor born, Of refined and cultivated liter
airy taste and talents, as well as Confederate
soldier Of an honorable record.
The exercises were opened and interspersed
with music from the Marietta Silver Cornet
Band. After fsrvent and touching prayer
from Rev. W. +. Glenn, who was introduced
by A. N. Simpson, Esq., Col JAS. ID Waddell
came forward and ina few brief, compliment
tary aud appropriate remarks, introduced Col
james w. Robertson, the speaker for the oc-
casion. His address was as all expected,
fine productions beautiful tribute to the
dead and living Confederate soldiers. 1t was
elaborate and eloquent in thought and feeling,
and found g responsive echo Of sentiment and
sympathy, of matrons and madens, fathers and
young men, who came with sorrowing hearts
TO weep over the defeat and dust of the men
who are dear 10 them by the indissouble ties OF
kinship, race, principle and patriotism. Col.
Robertson received many warmly expressed
congratulations for the very creditable manner
in which he acquitted himself Although his
address was lengthy, il was earnest, pathetic
and Impressive, adorned with the brightest
gems of poetic thought and garlsnded with the
choicest flowers ofsentiment. and polished with
the graces OF rhetoric and classic diciion.
After the speech, the large crowd scattered
over the burial grounds and with wreatbs and
garlands of roses and evergrssas, bedecked
the humble mounds ofthe sleeping braves.
The feeling and unanimity OF sentiment that
characterizes and influences this people TO
meet aud mingle together in strewing the
emblems of love and the testimonials of giati-
tude over the sod Of the last resting place Of
the "Boys who wore the Grey, lisa rich legacy
of example that they will bequeath to their
children for emulation when they shall have
passed over the river to "rest under the shade
of the trees" Their young and observing
minds will catch the story of these heroes with
a spirit of enthusiasm that win keep alive the
memories Of the dead and perpetuats this beau
tifnl custom TOR generations TO come.
Altogether the decoration passed off in a
most BETTING manner, characterized by kindly
acts of love, commemorative of the imperisha-
BILE deeds and virtues of an army Of braves,
who in defeat, suffered no shame, but won the
admiring applause ofnations of the world for
their unparalleled bravery, devotion, forttude,
and courage. Green be their memory and
sweet the fragrance of flowers that bedeck their
graves.i
CofFees' coming down, Leake e. Hunt ere