The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-02

| Last Saturday, the day appointed
for the decoration OF the graves of the
Union soldiers. was fine beyond meas
ure, and at an early hour our streets
were lined with wagons and vehicles
of every description, filed with PEG.
pie from the country. The forenoon
was mostly consumed in trading, and
the afternoon devoted to the patriotic
duty for which the day was set apart.
Punctually at the hour designated
q o'clock, p NJ, crowds of people
| began to assemble at the Public Lii
brary and at that point the procession
formed and moved up Broadway to
Fifth street, along Fifth to Main,
thence to Earlham Cemetery. When
the procession passed the corner OF
| Marion street it numbered forty four
carriages, and twenty five or thirty
more joined in before the river bridge
was passed.
The services at the cemetery were
a prayer by Rev. Mr.. Dudley and an
address by Rev. Mr. McKaig, of
Grace Church After which the com
mittee. consisting of six ladies, to-
Wit: Mrs Judy, Mrs. Henley, Mrs.
Benz. Croker, Mrs Ross Forkner
Mrs. Vickrey and Mrs. Craighaad,
proceeded to strew flowers upon the
graves of the nine heroes who sleep
within that beautiful inclosure.
The procession reformed and
marched to the old burying ground in
the South part of the city, where a
number of soldier boys rerose.
Prayer by Rev Mr.. Hughes, of the
First Presbyterian Church. After
which dirge was played by the band
| The ladies then distributed flowers
upon the graves.
The procession formed again and
proceeded to Maple Grove, when the
Rev. Mr.. Sparks, OF Pearl Street NJ.
f. Church addressed the assemblage,
and prayer by Rev. Mr.. Benton, of
the Baptist Church The ladies then
spread flowers around the graves of
the soldiers who are buried there.
The entire afternoon being consumed,
the benediction was pronounced and
then returned to their homes.
The following which VIC take from
the Inter Ocean, speaks our mind ex-
eactly in regard to the value Of the
annual custom of decorating the
! graves of those who are sleeping in
their honored graves. and we trust
1 the day set apart for these ceremonies
will never be forgotten. Tor the good
and sufficient reasons set forth by the
editor of that paper With him we
say: "I.et none discourage, none
mock at it: -
"Of what use is all this parade, =
says one, lover the dead Are they
benefited by the act? Do they sleep
more peacefully for the deed p Per-
haps not. Whether the dead can feel
pleasure or pain at any act OF ours. is
a question beyond our power to de-
4 termine. But because we cannot
penetrate this secret, we do not there
/
grayes-the homes of our kindred.
Even the most hea, tess cynic will
smooth the lowly bed of his child
and deck with garlands the uncon-
scious earth with feeling of salts
faction which we cannot express, and
a comfort which no philosophy can
give. The silent soldier resting in
our cemeteries was our kinsman; the
country was his mother. as it is ours
Dying to preserve that country, he
INDICATED his right to our love and
gratitude, and should be accorded
/ both. freely, gladly, spontaneously
! 1t is little that is asked. No costly
:, gifts; no expensive decorations, nc
extravagaut reward. Only the few
| simple flowers that tell he is not for.
gotten, and that what he did for the
nation is remembered by his country
li,en. IF we would cultivate patriot
ism in the hearts of our youth WI
must show them that the Republic j:
not ungrateful. Though the deac
may not hear, and though this beau
tiful May-day ceremonial may fai
UNDECIDED upon those it is designed t.
honor, the spirit it rouses IN thu
breasts of the living Is worth all thu
display Let us not be so much wise
than our fathers. Let US not indulge
too much in that scofing at all things
sacred which is steadily wearing ava,
the better part of our human nature
We may indulge with profit In some
forms and ceremonies. though WI
cannot demonstrate in mathematlca
way the precise per cent. which WI
gain thereby The decking of oul
soldiers graves, which seems to tEt
excessively practical man an lille ans
useless ceremony, may, in its devel
opment of patriotism, in its encour
agement of national pride and love o
country, prove of priceless benefit
Let none discourage, none mock at it
We are not so rich in sentiment no
so full of unselfish purposes as t.
need to smother any Of the better i'm
pulses that rise within us. Whereve
there exists spirit of nobility, gener
osity, and devotion let it be encour
aged and developed to the fullest ex
tent 1t is by such means that on
national glory shall be augmented
and our character as a people al
) vanced and frightened.
Great Sale of enera
Mercsith's Herd Under the Han.
MGR.
The indianapolis dailies contain
lengthy accounts of the great cattl
sale at General Meredith's. on Frida.
last, together with the pedigree. nam