, 1874-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
How It Was Observed in Chi
cago.
Ceremonies at Rosehiil, Calvary,
Graceland, and Oakland
Cemeteries,
Addresses by Messrs. Ryder, Peck,
Terry, and Others.
The Floral Decorations, and the At
tendance.


IN CHICAGO.
Thu 80th Of May has bean set apart BY great
number Of American citizens as day CT floral
commemoration OF "tho unforeotten brave"
who died defending tae unity OF the Republic.
Since the War, Chicago has. year By year, daily
celebrated the OCCASION in her cemeteries. The
ceremonies Of last year were despite unfaYora-
bio weather, moro impressive than any that had
preceded them. The amount Of flowers and ey-
ergreens 6trewn above the last rcsting-plAcs Of
many fallen hero proclaimed the gratitude Of
tbs living for the services and sacrifices that
had preserved the Union intact through tho
fiery ordeal Of many wcu-contested battle A
very reaHsuring feature of the e7ent Of last yea1
Was th2t tie few
C0SFEDERATE GEAyEs
in our cemeteries were not left unw1catl4ed,
showing tho admiration OF generous foes for
mistaken patriotism and mi sdi1ected valo1- The
ladies' OF Chicago joined heartily in the move
meut, aud there appeared to be noble whole
hcartedness OF purpose. This accounted for tho
succesn Of the commemorative services.
THIS YEAR
the anniversary Was hardly 10 fortunate. Dis
satisfaction existed somewhere, and this feeling
was speedily apparent in the s1ackening OF
patriotic enthusiasm. Whenco the trouble rosa
no person seeu4od to know, but certain it il that
the movement Licked the element Of strength.
The ladies did not show tho same devotion to
the slain that has hitherto characterized them,
and some OF tie leading spirita OF 1873 and other
years we're notably absent from the pro-
grammes-
Some people havo about come to tbs conc1u-
sion that the genius OF the age especially among
the Aner3can people, is
AGAINST ANNIVERSARIES.
Our people a1e, apparently, content to let ths
past take Of itself, and avoid 1etrospection.
Perhaps this may be chiefly due to the exhaus-
tion Of the patriotic subject. The entire bat
te1ies OF national rhetoric opened their fire tue
nation over during the last eight rears, and
there ia, virtually, nothing to be said about the
tiai violence. Az the Fourth Of July orators
have long ago expended every bit Of p1umage
On the eagle OF our country. even to the pin-
feathers, leaving that much-exerc.sed bird in
state OF perfect nudity, 80 the orators OF the
cemeteries, in fighting the battles OF tbs slain
over snd over again, have
EXPENDED THEIR PATRIOTIC AMMUNITION,
and the diguity of silence Is now oy many con-
s:dered the naost fitting tribute to the dead
Even defurct heroes cease to be interesting af-
~, nundrod 7;n,n. paa;da. X .tool. - 1oo
- :. a4hnratad ..Tha Tn;,dn;v}. daxs t"na
20 - w. w.ra IT,. fsi' oI;,, 49,, ~ ~
uamre ~ nls: "a1u ~" ~ euir .!r, upon the
ess1 e - '"o toulao tlaI ~ a:o.Ge, uo, a "as 49,.
uiAo " an nuu9tGu ~; eneins eamf1 lave
.o" : " o; - - i. ' - e -5e
oeen thtIs. - h;d ~ +G Gans u. mana "uo
n1sneu snen1sees pGeae .nsn @ na
1eaepdaS w. oa ~ 3 1Snu no1 "ti,o-s
orelc1o"1eu, u der. ~ - ~, n'I1net Had
3, oteaet las ~ loIn1 iea h.z+ 4or ~ 10 u4oa!
Pot .to. -,a.11 os -oS S1,, -
shar+ oSAA ~'1@ -' A0A' ~
-nr 1v.n .pr ~ prsr
aw-v or e1sa is fast hang h}unta1 hv the relf.h
cares OF life, 80 that the prospects for future
commemoEatlon nre growing very small
.noeeu' tne paEo % o. n9 n1n!91y may plese'se ne
~. c1,ieT ,cto1. IN tha orand dam. of tha
Rebellion. but the great masn Of unchronicled
hsroes must look foz their reward in those
realms which know not the decay OF mortality.