The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-06-06
A Day Upon Which the People OF
Leayenworth Most Generally
Celebrate,
But Which, on Yesterday, With Scr.
row be if Said They Most
Generally Didn't,
Although There was a Very Good
Attendance Both at the Grove
and in the Cemetery.
Appropriate Tributes Upon the Last
Resting Places of Those who
Fell With Custer in the
Little Big Horn.
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

1.-THE day upon which il is supposed We most
| generally decorate but which yesterday we
| most generally didn't, that Is, In the accepted
| spirit which prompted The setting apart oil
tine 3uh of May TO be thus observed. The
idea which suggested Decoration Day was a
| most beautiful one, for IL Is out Just thal
| nation should rememb Der those who gave up
their lives in defense of human liberty, but
it Is a fact, that as the years roll or tess in
ter..st is taken in the matter, aud II a. no. too
| much TO say that in 1--WE years
ITS OBSERVANCE
| will be more of a memory than an actual oc-
currence The day was observed but slightly
| in the city, none of the business houses clos
ing their doors, and not all OF the banks
| several tags were fioaied at half mast, but
[ had IL not been known that yesterday was
reality Decoration Day, none of the outward
| manifestations made would have been suiii-
| c!ent TO convince the stranger or
THE CASUAL OBSERVER
1 that Yesterday was a national holiday, a day
/ of SORROW and tears. A. 1t. I.eayenworth
| business of all kinGs. otedient 10 an order is
| sued by Gen. Pope, was suspended with the
| exception OF the necessary military duty, and
| from the post there was quite a large turnout
| of troops and civilians. None Of the troops
| turned out in Iull dress, the proceedings be-
| ing entirely informal,
THERE BEING No DEMONSTRATION,
parade or procession of any kind, with the
exception of the march from the grove TO the
cemetery. Owing 10 The fact that the com
mitlee oil arrangements tc wnicn was given
the management of the affair, had done alb
soiutely nothing, neither appointed speak
ers, arranged Tor the procession, or nything
else, the situation upon which yesterday
morning dawned was rather a mixed one,
and while everything wscs ready, ii needed
SOMEBODY WITH HEAD
] 10 rescue the arrangements from the chaotic
slate into which they had fallen. The officers
al Fort Leayenworth had zone everythin i'll
their power, and had offered every convent
ence at their command. At comparatively
| late hour yesterday mornlg, n therefore, new
,trr.. mr. TOD III
A ller al its head, who at once proceeded To
the business in hand. Speakers were engaged
and everything got in readiness, 80 that ny
the hour nam ed for the
COMMENCEMENT OF TIE EXERCISES,
one O'Clock, quite an aSsemblage had gath
cred around the stand erected in the grove
adjoining the cemetery proper. In the mean.
time small flags had been planted al each and
every grave, which, together with the floral
offerings which We're most proiusely scattered
about presented quite picturesque appear.
ance. Upon the graves OF CaPts. Custer and
Yates, and Lieuts. Smith, Mcintosh and Cal
houn,
HEROES WHO FELL WITH CUSTER
in the dark and bloody battle in the Little
Big Horn, nearly two years ago, some kind
hand had strsyn sweet flowers OF sweeter re-
membrance. The resting place OF these
braves are marked simply with white
wooden tablet al the head oil each grave, with
the name of the officer Inscribed upon the
headbnsrd IN pencil. These are the
great centre Of attraction for visitors, who
NEVER FAB. To MAKE INQUIRY
regarding the graves Of these who fell with
Custer Since the last Decoration Day many
beautiful and costly monuments have been
erected III the cemetery, which Is now one Of
the most delightful ana charming spots TO be
found aDywneie IN Tins locality. The exer-
cises at the stand in the grove adjoining the
cemetery were list, ned To 10y a moderately
large a.sscn. blage, although be ii said, the
smallest which has ever gathered there FOR "A
number of years
THE OPENING PRAYER
was delivered by the Rev. J. w. Faub'on, of
" ,uCac>J-T. Alter music gs Tie r-gluitnt;ti |
band of the 2@rd infantry, Hon. Joseph W.
Taylor oi THIS city. Geiis eItd the Grafton OF
the day, being followed 10y the Hon. l.. NJ. |
6oddaId. The address of both of these gem |
tI.mcu were short and L. the POINT express |
ipg PATRIOTS sentiment, together with lib |
crafty aud justice toward the conquered. |
Succeeding Mr.. uOddJrd'S speech Mis- Lille |
NssiElIshaE
RENDERED \ RECITATION,
You Didn't Put Any Flowers ON Papa's |
Grave" which was well received At the /
conclusion of the exercises the procession |
formed, nendesl by the 2Srd Infantry band, |
ANA marched INTO the cen.tcry. lmnedi- |
sttcIy following the band came soldiers of |
the zird Infantry, without arms, some two |
hundred IN number: then came a Large NUM- |
Der OF Old soldiers vino fought during the late |
war; but who are now pursuing, peaceful |
;iNOcalions.
FOLLOWING THESE CANE CITIZENS, |
On foot ana in carriages, the procession being |
quite u lengthy one. The line o. march WAS q.
through the central avenue to the ga !
nue. running east anG west: easl upon |
that Ia the running north and |
South; ami north upon that until tn"
head of the column rested near the huge C. IL |
non which serves a> "A monument, and which |
- situated just where Clusters officers lie |
buried. Here the procession halted, and
alter
FUNERAL DiEGE
by the band, was disbanded. The dirSe was
played ~ the member of the band gathered
around the headbulrds which mark the last
home of those who fell with the Iong-halred
chieitain III the lonely valley OF the Little
Big Horn, and whether 10y design or not, no.
thing could nave been more appropriate.
The sad memories which the sight OF those
mute anu speeches. tablets bring up are
worth the honofing.
DRIFTING INTO THE PAST.
There is no doubt of the fact,..ior il is too
plainly apparent to De disputed, that Decora-
ton DAY Is not generally observed now as
IL was ten years ago There Il nothing strange
IN Inis, for ten years ago the fiery enthusiasm
of war had not yet
Thirteen years ago AppomattoN was a
name which fired the blood; now il is "a
memory which, as il patses down through
the vista OF years. becomes a subdued thought
and men no longer feel as they did then.
The war il over, think the people, and
1T MAY BE POSSIBLE
that the feeling that the general observance
of Decoration Day might be the means OF re.
tarding the growth OF that cOncIliatory spirit
which mas received 50 strong an impetus OF
late, Il the one which prompts the seeming
coldue>s aud want OF patriotism upon the
part of those who formerly observed the day,
even 10 the strtctcsI Iu!nuIi:c OF the pre-
s.rIbed ceremony.
The ceremonies of yesterday We're most ap
Or pirate, and those who were present, VINO
perhaps mum bered a thousand, entered hear
liy int the spirit of the occasion.