Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-05-31

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e and that gradually were thinned til
: the decrepit squads that fingered upo1
= the shores of time were called to joi
? the glorious legions beyond the river
? Meanwhile will have grown the custom
, of which we see already so many in
stances, of decorating upon the Nati2n'
chief day the graves of friends, whethe
!, of the Grand Army or not. And thu:
and forever will our national life be as
ISOLATED with fitting honors to the an
cestry of the people. We welcome
these little ones, and to them will we
transmit the story of land redeemed
from Treason's menace, and re-em.
barked upon career of uneXampled
prosperity, happiness and power.
! We welcome to-day the guests who
conquered the soil upon which Nevada
exercises its domain as Sovereign
State; admitted into the bright galaxy
by the proclamation of our Martyred
President. The venerable gentleman
who partook of the honors and marched
to the victories of the war with Mexico
do but illustrate the tendency and
nature, in part, of the ceremonials.
They decorate the graves of their
fallen comrades and renew their vows
to the Republic they helped SO glori-
Ously to enlarge and strengthen. Their
sentiments are in common with ours
and to them we extend the courtesies
due from their juniors in the service,
and promise during our lives that their
graves shall not be neglected.
TO His Excellency and the Officers
of State who have so courteously at
tended upon these occasions, we to-day
commend the ceremonials upon which
we now enter; so worthy are they of
the attention of all who in any rank or
preferment would truly represent the
best sentiments of the people. We
offer to them kindly, a soldierly well
come, and bespeak their presence and
encouragement upon all convenient Oc-
casions of the recurrence Of Memorial
Day.
TO our escort, the detachment from
our State Militia, we fraternally ex-
tend our hearty thanks and welcome
them as the soldierly element that will
ever grace the day we now observe, and
represent the military origin Of the
National custom of honoring the dead.
These silent graves unfold the forms
once instinct with life and manhood at
its best estate. These sleeping COM
rades wake no more en- earth to the
bugle call of duty. Their last march
has ended; their last conflict is over.
The asleep the sleep that knows no
waking" and these humble mounds do
but mark their last earthly abode.
Upon this bright May day, when nature
makes her supreme effort to clothe the
earth with verdure and strew our
pathways with flowers, we are brought
face to face with eternal truth of i'm.
mortality. We are conscious that
somewhere and in some manner the in
telligences that once animated these
sleeping forms are viewing us. 1t is
this thought that underlies our motive
to do honor to the dead. We shall meet
them again, and recall the scenes of
earthly conflict. Nature annually ex-
emplifies the resurrection, and so
teaches us the doctrine of the after life.
Who shall say that, as we strew these
lowly mounds with flowers, we do not
in some sense commune with those who
have gone before? 1t is blessed
thought, and comforting speculation
of the reason. But above all do we
comfort and honor ourselves as we
honor the country's dead. We there
fore t:irn us, Comrades, good people,
all, and visit these graves to place
thereon the beautiful emblems of Ma
lures immortality and tender men,
cries; the spring flowers of love, affec-
ton and sacred, undying recollection.
Let this beautiful custom be perpetu-
ated through the ages as the chief link
that binds together the glOries and the
history of the Great Republic.
The Quartet Club sang an appropri
ate anthem.
THE POEM.
Rev. J. 3. Hammond recited the |
poem Of the day:
LIFE'S MYSTERY.
The mystery of death is wide,
But wider that of strife,
The grave its secret well hath kept,
Who knoweth of our life.
What is the measure of our days,
ls't play, or careful heed;
What We have seen, or felt or known,
IS't time, or thought, or deed.
II we shall dare brave deeds to do
And of our love to give,
Shall these all perish with the clay,
That gave them power TO I'VE:
cast seed into the ground,
Fearing lest it might die.