Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-06-12
From Washington.
Mr.. EDITOR:
WASHINGTON, June 18th. 1879.

Last Friday being decoration day al
Of the Departments Of Government
were closed to enable the government
employees to unite to pay their tribute
Of respect to the memories of those
who gave Their lives to save the coun.
try. The center of attraction on thai
day was It Arlington Cemetery, where
nearly ten thousand Union soldiers are
buried and the Cemetery kept in beau
tiful order at the expense Of the Gov.
eminent
About eleven clock President and
Mrs. Hayes reached Arlington; after
remaining at the Lee mansion a short
time, proceeded to the grave of the
unknown, which contains about eleven
hundred, upon which Mrs. Hayes
placed a handsome wreath. Her ex-
ample was contagious and in a very
short time, nearly every one present by
following her example, made this rest
ing place Of patriots one mass Of
flowers.
At noon salute was fred by de-
tachment Of the United States Signal
Service, and at It's conclusion the rush
was for the grave of the unknown
where dirge was played by the Ma
rine Band. A procession was there
formed which marched down the main
road Of the cemetery where it divided
and the ceremony Of decorating the
graves began. Flowers were strewn
and small Union flag was placed at
the head Of each grave. At the con
clusion Of decorating the graves they
gathered at the amphitheatre where
seats, upon the grand stand were ar
ranged for over 100 persons. Upon
the stand were seated President Hayes
Mrs. Hayes. Mr.. Webb Hayes, Secre-
tary Sherman, Senators Allison, Bruce,
and Window, Generals Sherman,
Dunn and Meigs; Judge Swayne of
the U. S. Supreme Court and many
other distinguished gentlemen and
their wives.
The Marine Band played beauti-
full selection when Commander Harri-
son Dingman called the vast assem-
blege to order in a few and we'll timed
remarks. Rev. A. L. Mason was
then introduced and invoked the Di-
vine blessing upon the work being per-
formed and upon those participating
A chorus by the Washington Sanger
bund, The Lords own Day" fol
lowed and was rendered in their more
than usual grand style, each participant
seeming imbued with the spirit of the
occasion
K. NJ. Daggett of Nebraska was in
troduced and read an original poem
for the occasion.
The Marine Band then gave another
choice selection, and the ''Sangerbund"
rendered the Soldiers. FAREWELL in a
beautiful and feeling manner. Hon.
j. W. Keife of Ohio, the orator Of the
day, was next introduced and deliver
ed patriotic and eloquent Grafton
| cannot resist the temptation to give
some extracts from the same.
But for the rebellion, there would
have been dominant part Of the citi-
zcns of our Republic who would have
continued to disobey the divine COM
mand. ''In the sweat OF thy face
shalt thou eat bread" and they would
yet be engaged in eating the bread
earned by the sweat of the face of
their unfortunate and still untutored
black bretheren.
But for the rebellion, civilization
and Christianity would have stood still
in at least one-half Of the territory Of
this Union. But for the complete
overthrow of the rebellion and the
triumph Of the Union arms this now
united nation would have been dis
mcmbered-
TXE-n