Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29


With flowers Of hope for hoss Unknown.
In memory's garden land I sought
To Gull the fairest Sewers OF thousht.
Aworthier tribute 10 have brought:
soared ups 70 the sre ~ S Ss tsr SGS
For these the Unknown" are all KNOWN.
The march was then continued by the malu
road TO the cemetery, where the procession
the graves During the ceremony OF decora-
tion the Marine band rendered appropriate So
iecuons. After Ine decoration Ui inc gra,;es.
the procession ref ,rmed and marched to the am
follows, (Prof Widows being the direct " of
the vocal music by voices from the Philhar-
monte Society and Prof. Schneider OF the IN
stru,eenf i music by the Maine bandl: Music
by the Ma, ne bind,
Hemarks Of G: c. Royce. Depart
ment Commanders.
Commander c. c. Boyce called the assemblage
to order in the following order:
The ceaseiess tread OF time In his encirclInC
round has again brought us to the threshold OF
the temple OF patriotism. We pause a moment
to renew our vows OF allegiance TO an undivided
country; TO recall and rehearse the valor aud
sacrifices OF an army of patriots, and above all
amid the tender buds and fragrant blossoms OF
q re-awakened spring life. to pay memorial
tribute OF respect and affection to those thou.
sands whose mortal remains abide not only in
this beautiful cemetery, but all over the land,
and which serve as constant reminder Of the
the priceless lives sacrificed to preserve 1t
They never fail who die in great cause
Though years eapse and others share sad dooIa
They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts
1 lie world at last to freedom"
The grand theme which annually brings to-
gether this aSSembfage Is freighted with a Ger
tan Immortality In the minds OF those who
participated In the dangers and pr1vationS o;
the late war, which stimulates their patriotism,
enlargeS the circle Of their Sympatbfes for the
widow and orphan and serve to cement more
closely the ties which were welded together In
the fire of battle.
and touching custom established by the Grand
Army OF the Republic twelve years ago. We
come with hearts full OF love for the patriotic
principles upon which our order is founded: full
Of sympathy for the fate OF the comrades whose
martyred blood appeals TO Heaven in behalf of
human liberty and full OF affection for the Gear
old flag so proudly waving above us as the
symbol Of great, free and united people. With
malice toward none; with charity for all, we fu-
vite your patient and interested attention to the
services which will follow, In the hope and full
assurance that you viii carry with you to your
homes fresh thoughts and reawakened feelings
of fraternity. charity and loyalty. And right
t mere on nenai. OF 6ne orgaaza;Gon winch have
hearty appreciation OF the sympathetic and
cheerful spirit OF cooperation which has char
acterlzed the officers and soldiers OF the various
army, marine and militia organizations, In
| their participation with US In our parade.
| Whatever OF success may. In the public mind,
| have attended our Efforts is In a large measure
due to their kindly suggestions and cordial as
| sfstanca We have with us again this year the
officers and comrades OF Farragut Post, Nc. 1,
of Portsmouth, Va. For this their second PHI
grimage to our national mecca" and for I'll cir
earnest zeal in striving to render our services
more abundantly successful and imposing, we
are sincerely graf eful. Let us now address our
selves to the sacred and Interesting duties OF
the occasion.
An Invocation by Rev. Benz. Swallow fol-
lowed; then the ode ''Cover them over with
Hel ifrrl NV fl,n 90
Post. No. l, OF Portsmouth, Va, and music by
MI. William Winter. of the New York rifouus,
was Introduced, and read the following:
Elegy I'm Arlington Cemetery.
| WASHINGTON, d. C.
DECORATION DAY, 1880.
If this were all. if. lost with those that persisted
Ger whom these winds of summer softly sigh
Our hopes were buried with the hearts cherished,
And life were nothing but to toll and die;
What sadder scene then this that blooms before u.s.
With Natures gariands decked, could earth dis
| What mockery we.e this heaven that's bending DER
Glad it'll the sunshine Of the slitiering May!
But here. where late with naked branches striv-
| Wet With the icy tears Of wintry grief
| Across this lonely field OF sorrow dirty ing.
The angry tempest whirled the withered leaf;
Now swings the pendant bloom; now opening roses
| Woo the soft zephyr with their baimy breath;
| Boughs wave. birds sing. and silver mist reposes.
| In bliss, above these emerald waves Of death.
And sure his hand, that ont of desoation
Can thus the arid wastes of earth relune,
| Ne'er meant the crowH Of all His vast creation
One hour Of woe. and then the eternal tomb!
! But, were this all. were hope with being ended.
In these dark cells that shrine our sacred dead
| Were all our prayers aud tears in vain expended
Our passion, labor, faith. forever sped,
| Live for mankind, and triumph with the just!
| Who. from the field OF honor backward turning,
! Would trail sulled ensign in the dust!
Though Fate were cruel. human viii undaunted-
Can ppns the oeb over
This morfai .sailty. wi!Scaa we're Natnre,s ,r;ma,
1t may be.every generous trust forbidden,
! That. while these beauteous orbs of ruin roll
! From the dark sleep in which the dead are hidden
flower can wake. but not the human soul
Yet. sweet is every love and every longing;
Yet shines the dream Of heaven in childhooi's
And troops of angel phantoms yet c,me 'hrongng
To Faney's vision, IN the twilight skies:
Yet stirs the heart with nameless. vague emotion.
Ssnlbs ss sseps upon .ne o sea-
And mountain voices set the spirit free:
And, borne on wings of glorious ende,vor,
Man yet can soar above his b-ser clay
That can1ot die, and Will not pass away!
| IL.
| alSu WcTe tuclT ucoOs Uct WUon OuC HcaEts dIc
| weeDjng.
Safe bides their fame. in all mems love and
Halowed the mould in which their dust is sleeping
And sweet the memory that has crowaed their
days!
Ali once for them young Hope unveiled her splen'
All! once for them Time ran in golden sands!
i I..Gy knew affections accents. soft and tender;
They felt the touch Of loving lips and hands
They saw tue ssfui face Of sdyereisn Beauty;
| MMte arms OF proud Ambition lured them on;
69s IN tneir hearts breathed log the voice Of duty
Nsy heard il, and they answered. .hav are goiis,
The Midnight wind wss cold upon tn.s:r faces
Pale in the silence Of the crimson sod;
But who shall paint through whAt resplendeut
spaces
Their souls sprsng upward to the light OF God!
No more for then in summer twitighes glimmer
Shall distant music emiro the chords of pain:
No more, as evening shades grow slowly dlmmer
Shall wandering fragrance pierce the tortured
brain.
No more Of lingering doubt nor stern denial
But now. at once. the crown of earthly trial
The long. long summer Of eternal life.
Calm fronted. staunch, expectant and mistaken
Who dares the worst that any fate can bring
For him, by iron purpose ne'er forsaken,
The grave no victory has, and death no sting.
We can but serve: some by the instant giving
OF all that hand could do or heart could prize:
home Oy meek. lRbOriOu9. D8tiaDf lyin