The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-11
f'iu our SpeciaI C~Orretpondcnt.
OUR wAsmIsGrON LETTER.


pleasant atmosphere, and the gentl'
winds tempered The rays OF the sun
The Goyefnment Departments wer,
closed hy order Of President Hayes
aud the great majority bi tho bust
ness population suspended their usua
socations ! n order 10 allow those tina
are truly loyal to assist in the saf
but grateful GuSy of s,rewing flow
ers upon tho graves Of cur soldier
dead.
tiags we're displayed AT half mas
from all the Government buildings
The hotels and other prominent places
Altogether the city wore a holiday
attire, and it was rs quiet as Snuda,
on the streets.
The decorations within the District
and at Arlington were 10 charge OF
the Grand Army of the Republic. As
early as 0 O'Clock the people begsu
their journey TO General Lees OLD
MANSION across the river in Virgins
Arlington where some sixteen
thousand uaian dead are buried. On
their arrival at the city of the dead
which is o Of The most beautiful
places in America, the assemblagt
scattered themselves throughout the
grassy bills. aud from uoder the tow.
ering oaks they sal in groups chatting
or making early raids on their dinner
baskets. Whole families ceme cid
soldiers bringing with them their
children born since the wal to instilI
in their youthful minds the sacred dn
ty which will be imposed on them
when they are gone.
There were plenty Of aowers ard
decorations everywhere. The tomb
of the two thousand unknown dead
was ~pTolusely decorated. My little
bunch Of evergreens was deposited
there 10 remind their living souls OF
the presence of their comrade. Who
knows but what some of cur brave
I'D Somerset county boys lie under
this monument
The Grand Army arrived shortly
before twelve O'Clock headed by the
Marine Band in iull dress uniform.
The President and Mrs. Hayes ar.
rived shortly afterwards and after a
National salute had been fred by a
detachment of the Signal Corps, they
i~naugurated the ceremonies by plac.
ing wreaths on the tombSf the "un.
known" The procession headed by
the Marine Band and marines then
formed in front of the mansion. The
flag on the pole there was st hall
mast. The march was taken to the
cemetery, a short stop being made at
the tomb Of the unknown" The
band played q dirge while the tomb
was further and profusely decorated
With flowers.
Reaching the cemetery the large
procession scattered in all directions
and strewed flowers on the graves.
Each grave bad a small United States
flag at its head. During these deco
rations the band played solemn mu.
sic. Tine procession then reformed
and marched to the amphitheatre
where appropriate services were to
be held The amphithestre was COW
cred with new canvass; each of the
posts which upheld the circular frame
work bad the name of some hero of
the war upon itabove q victor's shield.
The old battle flags we're there in
abundance some with the torn
shreds almost dropping from their
stalls. The wood work below the
speakers stand was covered with
bunting and evergreen wreathes. On
a white background were the words
"In Memoriam" in box wood. o.
the stand besides the orator and the
poet of the day and the officers Of
the Grand Army of the Republic
there were President and Mrs. HAYES,
Webb Hayes, Secretary and General
Sherman, (the latter 10 full Generals
uniform Senators Bruce and Win
dom, General Meigs and Others.
The assemblage was c..li.d - or
der BY Deputy Commander Dingpem
who said eleven years ago the 30.h
OF May was designated for the pur-
pose OF sire" ing with flowers or 9TH
erwise decorating the graves of COM
rades who Gied In defence of their
country during the late rebellion.
Since that time we have met here
year by year, not only to ccmmemo-
rate the glorious deeds Of our depart.
ed dead, but to gather their sacred
remains and garland them with the
ch- icest flowers of spring-iime !; to
raise above their heads that grand
old starry flag they saved from dis
honor, and to renew in this solemn
place u VOWS TO aid and assist those
whom they left among Ia, as a sacred
charge, their widows and their or
phan children"
1--WE also meet here each year not
specially to rehesrse deeds of valor
for ell admit that brave men were on
both sides, but to glorify a principle
for which each and every one of us
fought, and which we trust, NAV
grow brighter and brighter IS the
years roll nn."
Rev. A L. Mason then offered q
prayer and the Washington Sa1ger-
bund sang q chorus entitled The
Lords Own Day"
The original poem by Hon. X. M.
Dsggett, of Nevada. was then recit.
ed. 1t is entitled The Watch on the
Heights 1t opens with the story of
a Saxon King, whose subjects headed
by bis brother, rebelled, but we're
conquered and then pardoncd. But
the spirit Of treason did not sleep and
they e~ndeavored again to overthrow
the government, but their purposes
failed.
The poet was loudly cheered by
the vast assemblage and when be got
through be committed the original
document into the hands Of Mrs.
President Hayes who was highly
gratifed with the sentiment contained
therein. A noble woman she is. Her
sweet c%ountenance makes the enemy
of an old soldier squirm and wither.
Alter the reading of the poem, which
was quite long, the Marine Band