The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-06-05
HOME MATTERS.
HOnorlng the Dead.

On last Sunday the solemn, yet sympathetic
custom of paying ilowcry tribute to the memory
of slowed but departed ones" was gone through
with by our citizens in Il manner to reflect credit
upon all engaged as well as to set an example
which will eventually be followed on 'dccora-
ton day" by the people of the whole country
when they annually assemble to pay floral tribute
to those who have gone before
No soldlery distinctions or political parade
characterized the proceeding, but rather sym
pathetic union and tear-inspiring assemb'
lage of all to strew sweet flowers over the last
resting place of those who, when living, were
loving members Of the home circle and who had
held prominent and honored positions in society.
The day, as If approving of the cause and
lending its smiles to the programme laid down,
dawned with all the loneliness of balmy May
and continued the "pleasantest of all the year"
until night.
The committees were busily at work in the
labor of love, and at the appointed hour all was
in readiness to successfully carry out the pro.
gramme
The attendance of citizens from the country
was large, while from the city 1t was general.
The Knight Templars under escort of Bach's
full band, ard commanded by Sir Knight it'll,
visited the Ottawa cemetery early in. the after
noon and deposited their tiowery tokens of re-
menbrance upon the graves Of Pho Lindley,
Saml. c. Walker, o. c. Gray, Rev. G. P. Clark,
Geo. S. stebbins and Julius Avery, formerly mem
bers of Ottawa Commandery, George Altman,
formerly member of the Commandery at Kan
sas City, Mo-, and Alfred Footc, formerly of st.
Johns Comm andery at Peru
After going through with their very imposing
ceremony at the grave of each of their former
comrades they returned to Washington park
where they were joined by large delegation,
who had been listening to the able address Of
Mr.. f. n. Lewis, and proceeded to the grave of
Gen. w. II. l.. Wallace on the bluff near his late
resid ence At the grave the fowery tribute, as
well as the solemn appearance and knightly
bearing of the commandcry, was very imposing,
Wreaths and boquets were placed around the
tomb by delegation of young ladies, while the
knights SO placed their flowers as to form a cross
DER the breast Of their illustrious though fallen
comraGe A beautiful white cross within a
triangle of evcrgreens rested at the foot of the
grave and cross and crown dccked the head of
the grave of the departed hero
Prayer was offered by Rev, w. S. Speirs, OF the
Episcopal church, and an eloquent eulogy was
pronounced by Hon. Washington Bushnell.
eve publish the address of both Mr.. Bushnell
and Mr. Lewis on end page-Ed)
As the concluding sentences OF the eulogy
were uttered the knights presented arms and
with heads uncovered showed their apprecia
ton for the dead hero. As the last word, "fare
WELL" fell from the lips of the eloquent speaker
the trlckling tear and moistened eyes of the vast
concourse of people told plainly of the love and
respect which was gathered there to pay tribute
to the memory of the fallen patriot,
After the ceremony at the grave the knights
visited Mrs. Wallace at her residence, and by
words of comfort renewed the assurances Of
their sympathy
At the Catholic and South Ottawa cemeteries
quite large number of graves were decorated
by the committees while at all the hand of love
had placed boquet upon nearly every resting
lpot.
To enumerate any who were conspicuous in
the days ceremony would, in our Judgment
be wrong, as we feel convinced that the entire
assembly were actuated by the noble spirit Of
Gnassuming love and sympathy rather than by
any wish to gain popularity. AS conducted on
last Sunday, the observance OF decoration day
brings thoughts of the past faces of departed
friends, sympathy for the unfortunate of earth
and is destined to work great gooa to com
munity. May the coming of each future spring
time be visited with a like generous floral Of
fering from the llv ing to the dead, without in
curing "by what hand he may have fallen or by
what destiny he may have been cOntrolled,r
Strawberries and Ice cream at II. Walthers