Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-17

STREWING FLOWERS.
MEMORIAL DAY AT ELMMOOD.
An Admirably Arranged
Programme Religiously
Observed.
The God of Hosts Smiles Down Upon the
Ceremonies, and His HsIlOwed
Breath is Felt in Eem-
cries Walls.
Details of the Impressive Cere-
monies.

~ dil tnelT country wishes DleSts
When spring with dewy finger cold
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
she there shall find dearer, sweeter spot
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
10 remember, to honor, to bless the
memory Of departed heroes, by strew-
ing fragrant flowers upon the sod that
covers them, is a beautiful custom.
The occasion with US this year was
rendered unusually
SOLEMN AND SACRED.
Because the Lords day was chosen to
carry out the attractive and patriotic
ceremony. Those who united in the
commemOration at Elmwood yester-
day, and more especially the surviving
sons Of Mars, full of the surfeits of
war, evidently felt that the solemnity
was largely increased, not only be-
cause Of it being Gods day, but be-
cause they were engaged in a holy
duty. ALI bore themselves in a
purely religious and reverential man
ner. They were evidently imbued
with true christian sentiments
throughout the memorial exercises.
THE BIRDS oHANTED MELODY
On every bush; the green leaves quiv.
cred with cooling breezes, making
chequred shadows on the earth,
and tempering the rays of
the cheerful sun the woods
we're fragrant, and nature seemed
as if inspired to greet in silence the
dead who sleep in peace, slain, or sac
ri6ced in their country's wars, for a
brighter, clearer day has never been
seen.
OF nearly $4,000 persons now bu-
ried at Elmwood, 100 were soldiers
under the stars and bars of the south,
and lie in the area near the granite
base of the lofty pillar erected by
their surviving comrades and others,
a few years ago. Many besides the
100 are scattered over the cemetery,
and their graves are annually gar
nished with sweet flowers, showing
thereby that the wall of mourning for
the victims of four years of interni-
cine carnage are not all lying together
Scarcely battlefield of the south
but twhat has its representative there,
and hundreds arealso in the list whose.
breath parted from their pain racked
bodies on hospital cots, with no ten
der hand of kindred near, to minister
to their sufferings or solace their dy-
ing moments. And each recurring
year the dett hands Of gentle women
labor in their earnest work of love, to
pay tribute to what they we're unable
to do in life, by entwining the laurel,
the cypress, and fragrant roses into
pretty wreaths, to adorn their resting
places, and keep their virtues hal
lowed in our memories, Let US hope
the tribute may be renewed through
all coming time. Let them continue
to-
"Bring roses, white roses, to plant on the
grave
Of the loved one fallen to sleep:
Bring roses to strew over his narrow cave,
Where the dropping willows weep"
THE PROGRAMME
for the memorial services at Elmwood
was carried out to the letter. Ac-
cording to previous announcement,
thag began promptly at four o'clock
in the afteFpoon, and occupied less
than two hours, leaving ample time for
visitors to stroll along the beautiful
avenues and view the graves of the de-
parted either civilians or soldiers as
they chose. Hundreds yes, thousands
of little mounds we're profasely en-
bellished with wreathes, immortelles
and other emblems Of mourning and
heart yailing, but the point de
appin," or center eR attraction, was
the massive Confederate monument.
Long before the sun rose above the
horizon. Mrs. Judge Latham, of the
Floral committee, aided by an earnest
and industrious beyy of fair ladies,
were busy at work on the grounds to
arrange the profuse supply of flowers
in suitable manner. Among others
whose labor proved conspicuously
valuable, were Mss4amas Nc Farland,
A. j. Kellar, j. II. Cooke Mrs. Peoly;
Misses Florence Bugg, Lizzie Nc.
Lemore. BFAdwell, Lizzie Clements,
Taylor. They were also aided ma
terially by Capt. Josiah Patterson,
Capt. II. D. Myers, Oscar Woodbridge,
Lee and Rivers Meriwether, Ed.
Moon, Arthur Taylor, I. 4. Divine,
Sam Pepper, G. W. Crook, Lawrence
Simpson, Tom Sherwood, DR.. Frayser,
Mesdames Pinson, SteinkHhl, Ram.
baut. They coupled the morning
hours in the delicate duty which la
dies alone so neatly perform, but
they were largely assisted by Captain