Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-30
THE EVENING STAR.
MEMORIAL DAY, 1879.
DECORATING THE SOLDIERS GRAVES.
At ARLINGTON AND SOLDIERS HOME.
ORATIONS AND POEMS.


ORATIONS AND POEMS.
THE SERVICES AT OTHER CEMETERIES.
Decoration day 1879 was ushercd in with a
pleasant atmosphere and gentle winds which
tempered the rays of the sun. It's observance
as holiday was general throughout the city.
The government depat Iments were closed, the
District government suspended its daily rou-
tine, and the grelt majority of the business
population suspended their usual vOcations
Flags were displayed at half-mast from all the
government buildings, the hotels and other
holiday attire, and it was as quiet as Sunday on
the streets.
The Day at Arlington.
AS early as nine O'Clock this morning people
began their journey to Arl'ne !on to atterd t"e
memorial day services By eleven o'clock the
somewhat dusty roads leading to that beautiful
spot We're well filled with pedes trians, wagons
buggies, carriages and all Binds of cOnveyances
This was especially the case with the route
through Georgetown.
On their arrival at Arlington the people dis
trlbuted themselves over the grassy hills, and
sat in groups chatting or making an early raid
on the dinner baskets. Whole families came
The Sultry day and the threatening weather In
tlIO ulIS UUuUUltSS kSpU d uuUDcr away
who wished to PAL ticipate In the ceremonies.
There were fewer present than last year, in
fact the attendance was comparatively slim.
The grounds of the historical old place were In
excellent order. The green of the healthy we'll
Kept sWard makes very picturesque contrast
with the red roads and fOotways that lead from
9he entrance up the hills to the old Custis man
tions everywhere. The tomb of the two thous-
and unknown dead, on the left of the ampithe-
ater, was surmounted by cedar column; cedar
ovoif fn
corner cor OF the tomb and to posts erected at like
were imbedded in the cedar.
THE AMPHIThEATER
was covered with new canvas. Each of the
posts which upheld tie circular framework
had the name OF some hero Of the war upon it
above a victor's shield. Flags and buuting d.
verged from the center Of each open space be-
tween the pillars, and surrounded the shields
The sldes Of the speakers stand were draped In
bunting. The pillars supporting it were en-
tW1ned With evergreen, and festOons of cedar
swung from the center OF the arbor roof to the
SIDE; s,; II Two % large United States flags dverged
in the amph1theater. The flags OF the G.. A. r.
stuck out towards the audience indiscriminatc
ly. The woodwork below the speaker was COW
white background were the words I'm Me-
NOLAN in lockwood. The rooms OF the old
mansion were headquarters for flowers and the
ladies' OF the decoration committee. The rooms
were strewn with the remnants of choice bo1l
quets. At half past eleven a detachment of
marines from the Navy Yard arrived headed
Dy the maine band. The Presidents party
arrived shortly after wards, and he and Mrs.
Hayes 1naugurated the ceremonies by placing
WfeathS on the tomb OF the ''unknOWn.n At
twelve O'Clock national salute was fired by
auelacDmenC OF Cne signal service from Fort
Whipple under Capt. Strong.
The Services at ArIine:on.
The procession, headed by the Marine Ban
and the mai ines, then formed In front Of the
mansion. The flag on the pole there was at
nal1 mast. The march was taken to the ceme-
tely, short stop being made at the tomb of
tne unKnoWn. The band played solemn dirge
Wnlle the 1omD was lui thee and prOfuseiy dec
orated with flowers. Reaching the Cemetery
the large procession scattered IN all directions
and ana streWed @ h2wers on the graves. Each grave
mad a small United States flag at its head
during these decorations the band played
solemn music. About one o'clock the procession
reformed and marched to the amphithe ster
All the seats inside the circle were taken and q
ring OF standing listeners formed around ON
the stand besides the orator and the poet of the
day and the Officers OF the 6. A. r. there were
man, MI. Webb Hayes, Gen. Meigs and others.
EXERCISES AT THE AMPHITHEATER.
AT t1e amphitheater the services were COM
band, after which Deputy Commander Ding
man, OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
CALLED TBE ASSEMBLY TO ORDER.
m IN ndar 1ae course Of his remarks Deputy Com
Eleven years ago, the 5th day Of May, by an
order from Comrade John A. Logan, then Com
,s mander,in, IN chief Of the Grand Army Of the Re
pubic, the 3Oth day OF this month was desig-
mated lor the purpose Of strewing with flowers,
or otherwise decorating the graves OF Comrades
VINO died in defence Of their country during the
iate rebellion. Since that time we have met
neIe year by year, not only to commemorate
the glorious deeds of our departed dead, but to
gataer round their sacred remains snd gar
lano them with the choicest flowers OF Spring.
tlme; 10 raise above their heads that grand Old
starry nag they saved from dIshonor, and to
sns@ ~ hd Jns solemn place our vows to aid and
sns sacaed ,1 1cnarge, their widows and their Or
rehearse deeds of valor, for all admit brave men
were on both Sides but to glorify principle for
which each and every one of us fought, and
Mne1 W. a be we eaqst may grow brighter and bright
y, Rev: A: F. Mason then offered prayer, and the
tTih washington M Sangerbund sang chorus entitled
THE ORIGINAL POEM, BY HON. ROLLIN NJ DAGGETT
OF NEVADA,
was then recited. 1t is entitled "The Watch
on the Heights" 1t opens with the story of a
saxon king, whose subjects, headed by his
brother, repelled, but were conquered and then
PnIaohea Ia But the spirit Of the treason did not
the government, but their purposes failed. The
remaining POI Cion was devoted to an ELOQUENT
aesci iptlon OF Arlington and In commentator
ing OF them: ' 0''
p,,. The he nation wears the bays their valor won,
AND lays them at the feet of sacrifice"
The Following are the closing stanzas:
NOW peace, be still! Let silence put her seal
opon the lips OF questioning Multitude
anu IOi9 ner wings in every answering heart!
sacred Dust unwedGed to its deeds!
HHnseinsn heroes! unrecOrded dead,
"ACss oauntiess hearts, o'erwhelmed but unsub
aIew snG f sti beneath the surge Of hostile feet
anu teo the yawning trenches of the slain!
~ uLHnOWn martyrs! host iuyisisle
WIN martial port and misty armor on
GoHIe ICftn, as when you threw the coallepge down
10 peatn, ana stand rechristened and recroWled!
Wne5 5eiore ValOr, wherefore victory,
~ ~, ~ tne growing spleDdor of the right
Iue brave v no gave their lives to ITS defense
70 e1altai1on know amid the stars,
w W Muica tnelr eou!s on weeping Mercy's breast
now IN the presence of these liet'ni hills,
Inc silent dead in awful audience,
We hail and christen you O d. athless dust,
Uur U Nalneless Knights Of Freedom. In your hands
we llace the sOveIeih sreptre of our faith
and crown You with cur vows of featy!
arc IN the name OF yOn consentiuR stars.
ana Knee ling here With uprased hands we plodge
Sur ~ lives to cherish what your valor won.
y ~, II the cAuse Tor which you periled all
was worm the eacrlnce, the seas OF blood,
Ibe broken he3rts, the anguish that IL cost
To auard your nonor to pro ecf the homea
Left sunless when the light died in your eyes,
10 SHIELD from strategy ard steaJtby art
v hat treason, clad in steel cOuld mot destroy.
he Years with chaDgeless steps viii come and 20,
LIE talGy coDEcripts 10 the silent hosts