Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-06-04
DECORATION DAY.

|
Saturday was one Of the very hot
test days Of the season SO far, very
greatly in contrast with one year ago,
when we remember overcoats were
serviceable during Decoration cere-
monies. Al hajf-past one, during the
assembling Of the people at the Con-
gregatlonal church, q dark cloud ac-
companied by high wind. appeared in
the north, and for a time rain was
threatened, but it passed around, leav
ing us the benefit Of a slight cooling
OF the air.
The wagon bearing the young Mise
es was well arranged, both as to COM
fort and beauty, having large notices
upon it, one of which was, A grate-
full country remembers her dead he-
roes." Another motto we noticed
upon another carriage, was They
died that their country might live !"
another, /" Ottumwa remembers her
gallant dead" There were several
other appropriate notices.
The Decoration Committee are de-
serving of much credit for the man
ner In which they performed their dn-
ties. The ladies with flowers had ev-
erything in excellent order, ~ they al
ways have upon these occasions. They
were also well assisted by the young
gentlemen.
Mr.. p. G. Ballingall gave the general
direction of affairs upon the occasion,
Ia his usual active, everywhere-pres-
ent way. The programme. % publish.
ed In our issue of Friday, was fully
carried out, and all passed off pleas
antly and satisfactorily. The singing
by the choir, in charge Of Professor
Rhcem, and of the German Manner
chor, was excellent and very impress
| i've. 1t always seemed to us that the
commingling Of voices in some Apr o.
pirate song, beneath the shade where
rests the Wondering forms Of the de-
parted loved ones, u one Of the most
beautiful and hallowed services Of
these occasions. The Band, as they
always do, rendered well their pisces
The Grafton by Rev. J. +. Simmons
occupied abont twenty minutes In its
delivery and was listened to with
much Interest and attention consider
ing the surroundings. We have d.
ways noticed that upon these occasions
the large attendance Of children makes
it impossible to preserve the best of
order during speaking. Mr.. Simmons
address was in all things appropriate
and ftly spoken. The speaker having
been himself IN eye witness Of the
sacrifices made by the citizen soldiery
OF this land, In defense of the nation.
could readily and fully feel, - he eaid,
in his heart, how utterly impossible Il
is for any one to adequately portray
in language the height and the depth
the length and the breadth of those
sacrifices. The fact ID the soldier who
looks hack over those years Of won
drous heroic self sacrinxnig deeds. ID
himself amazed at this day that they
were ever made.
| Following the Grafton : song By the
choir and the prayer for the survivors.
came the touching mournfnl tribute
10 the dead heroes Of strewiDg their
graves with flowers. We have heard
It said by some that this memorial day
has been observed long enough. We
do not 80 think. As long 90 the living
have a country and liberty to preserve,
the observance OF this day will do
them good. We have other national
holidays-our Fourth of July for
instance--it 10 the Nations jubilee-it
is observed in feastings, in games OF
sport, In excursions,in ways of jollifica.
ton, but what other national holiday
have we, where the nation 10 led
to the graves of the patriot dead TO
contemplate the cost Of. and the price,
less heritage given ne In this land oil
liberty, this land Of equality for oil
men. It seems to rs that this memo.
rial day fills an entirely new field
among those wherein .our people lay
aside the usual avocations Of life to
commemorate national epoch. 1t
seems to us that this 10 an appropriate
feld to occupy, and to occupy 90 long
as our National Fourth Of July shall
exist. The practical teachings of such
memorial days is fittingly told in the
closing portion of that most remarks
BILE speech made by Abraham Lincoln
1t the Gedi;ation Of the Gettysburg
Cemetery, when he aaid-"lt 10 fo1
ne, tho living rather to be dedicated
here to the unfinished work which
those who fought here, have thus far
so nobly advanced. It is rather for rs
to be hero dedicsted to the great task
remaining before US, that from these
honored dead we take increased devo-
ton to that cause, for which they gave
the last full measure Of devotion that
we here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died In vain; that thit
nation under God, shall have new
birth OF freedom, and that the Govern
ment of the people, by the people, and
for the people shall not perish from
the earth"
| The closing services over, the people
departed to their several homes, al
feeling we trust satisfied with the tes-
timonial as q community they had
rendered the patriot dead, as well a
concious that 1t was good for them Il
have been there. We feel like thank
ing our people for their quite genera
observance of the day.