The Portland daily press., 1875-06-01


When spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mold,
She then shall dress sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
BY fairy hands their knell is rung,
BY forms unseen their dirge is sung;
Then honor comes pilgrim gray
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell weeping hermit there.
Although ten years have elapsed since the
close Of the war and the return OF peace, and
although this is the eighth recurrence of Dec
Grafton day, time does not diminish the interest,"
of the people in the simple yet expressive exer-
cises of the day Set apart for paying homage to
the nations dead The years have obliterated
the prejudices which even in the North then
were engendered, so that all accept the issue
and all pay homage to the men who became
martyrs for Freedom and Country.
In this city the programme adopted by Bos-
worth Post was carried out to the letter. De-
spite the fact that the day had great attractions
in other quarters, this veteran organization was
out with full ranks and never appeared to
better advantage, the new hats being decided
improvement on the forage cap, which Is the
regulation. The day itself was all that could
be asked,-bright, quite cool and free from
dust.
THE MORNING EXERCISES,
At eight o'clock large number OF the Post
met at headquarters to decorate tie graves IN
all of the cemeteries, except Evergreen.
Western Cemetery was visited by detach-
ment of ten men, headed by the Post drum
corps, G. H. Poor, the Junior Vice. Commander
being the officer in charge of the party. At
the cemetery prayer was offered by Rev. G. F.
Dole, and fifty-one graves were decorated under
the direction of f. w. True.
Forest City Cemetery was visited by de-
tachment of sixteen men, commanded oy
w. FL, Pennell. The detachment was joined
by the children of the Sunday School at the
Rolling Mills Arriving at the cemetery
PRAYER was offered by Rev. Mr.. Evans, OF the
church of that place, the children OF the Sun
day school sung three pieces, and j. o. VIM
ship, Esq.,, delivered an address. which IS
highly spoken Of Nearly all the residents OF
the village'wers present
The detachment to Calvary Cemetery was
escorted by the Montgomery Guards, Capt
A. J. Mcmahon, who turned out in full num-
hers. and as usual made a soldierly appearance
The Portland Band, which made its first
appearance in their new and snowy uniforms,
furnished the music for the occasion. AT thls
cemetery there were no further services imam
simple decoration. The detachment was I'D
charge of john G. Goodale.
Eastern Cemetery was visited by detach'
ment of ten men under Rensselaer, Greeley. On
the way to the cemetery the usual wreath was
hung to the Lincoln tree.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
Promptly at the appointed hour-half after
one-tbe line was formed in trout of Grand
Army headquarters, on Congress street. in the
following order:
Platoon of Police
Mai W. II. Green, Chief Marshal.
R. K Galley and c. N Lang, Aids.
Portland Band, j. Cole, Leader.
Portland Light Infantry, Capt. L. j. Reynolds
Bosworth Post Drum Corps
Bosworth Post goo mem, E. II. Hanson Commaaer
The line, thus formed, passed over the fol
lowing route:-Up Congress street to State
down State street to Spring, through Spring U
High, I'D High to Free, down Free and Middl
N Temple, up Temple to Congress, throug
Conoress to Pearl, down Pearl to the Portlan
Q, Rochester railroad depot At the Git
Ru;ldne the line halted, opened ranks an
.ho Mavor members of the City Council an
heads of departments were received. AT th
Rochester depot special train was taken
Deer;ng, from which station the process'o
moved in the same order to Evergreen Cem'
terry. On arriving at Memorial lot, the CON
rades of the Post were divided into detaci
ments. which under the command OF oihoe,
repaired to the various parts of the cemetery
decorate the graves. When this was completed
the detachments reassembled at Memorial IL
upon which stood monument of eVergreei
When all had resumed place in line, the bal
executed Pleyel's Hymn, the Post ChSp'a'
L. G. Jordan, Esq. offered short prayer
few appropriate stanzas written by Capt. L. e
Reynolds were read, aud the Band performe
dirge. The procession then returned to Il
city.
There were not so many people at Evergree
as usual, thousands being attracted to Bran
hall hill to witness Mr.. Barnum's show. I'll
proeession was not 30 long as usual, owing
the fact that several of the military compani
did not turn out The Infantry, however, d
themselves much credit by being out in fl
numbers and displayed their accustomed
cellence.