The Portland daily press., 1881-05-31

Yesterday opened muggy and sticky TO
Decoration Day. but later the sky cleared an'
the ar was better. In the afternoon tremer
dous thunder shower somewhat interfered will
the programme, but it had the good effect o
clearing the atmosphere. The city presented
the usual Sunday appearance in the afternoon
after the procession had left town for Ever
green. In the morning, and especially during
passage of the soldiers, the route was crowded
with citizens. Flags were displayed at hal
mast everywhere.
The morning was devoted to the decoration
of graves in the cemeteries other than Ever
green. The barge Forest City Belle conveyed
q delegation Of % misses dressed in white, I'm
der the charge of Surgeon John Williamson
to Eastern Cemetery. Rev. Mr.. F. e. CLARK
of Williston ofiiciated as Chaplain. The Lin
coin Tree and bust of Lincoln were decorated
first. Then Eastern Cemetery was visited ant
So graves decorated including those of Surgeon
Huskins' and Commodore Preble Mr.. CLARK
spoke of his qualification at seeing the young
ladies and Misses engaged in the work of de-
oorating the soldiers graves. They do not re-
tory. of those terrible four years of war; they
are too young to have heard the roll of the
drums of those who went out, or to have seen
the battle scared veterans return, but never.
theless they share in the benefits which were
gained. The life of every young man and wo-
man, OF every boy and girl of the present day
is affected by the bravery of the soldiers whose
death we to-day celebrate
1t is fitting then that they who have been
thus benefited should strew the flowers of
kindly remembrance to-day. The sight of
those young people thus engaged too indicates,
that the observance of this memorial day will
not soon die out. All our national holidays
are important and should be perpetuated by
the generations to come, but none is moro i'm
portant than this. Even if you forget to light
the tar bucket on the 22nd day of February, OR
to fire the cannon on the 4th of July, do not
forget to strew the flowers on the 30th of May.
AS the Illinois farmer travelled on foot for
hundreds of miles to write on the tombstone
of the man who had taken his place when
drafted into the army 'He died for me-; so
may every grateful patriot throughout all the
years to come when memorial day returns say,
as with flowers and banners he decorates any
soldiers grave; she died for me-" May God
grant that the future history of our land may
prove that they did not die in vain.
The delegation to Calvary cemetery consisted
of squad of twenty-five comrades under COM
mand Of Officer of the Guard Daniel e. Nc
Cam. At half past eight Chambers full band
headed by Drum Major Bean, the Montgom-
cry guards and the Cathedral Cadets marched
from their armories to Grand Army hall and
escorted the squad to the Boston and Maine
depot. AT this Cemetery eighty graves were
decorated. Tho only special contribution was
lovely ivy cross for the grave of Cornelius
O'Neil. The religious exercises were under
the charge of Rev. Father O'Dowd.
A company of twenty-five boys under COM
rade f. W. True decorated GA graves at Wes-
prayer. Among the special decorations were
basket of flowers for the grave Of William
B. Small; floral cross for that OF James
Riggs; potted plants for the graves OF William
l.. Hurd and George Hurd q bouquet for the
grave of Samuel Huff: and wreath for that
of William Leggitt.
Fourteen comrades took the Resolute for
Forest City Cemetery under command of
comrade David G. King. Here ffty-four
graves were decorated. There were no special
offerings. The school children of district No
II assisted in the decoration exercises After
the singing of America" By the children,
with organ accompaniment, Rev. Mfr. Pendex-
ter offered prayer. Two little girls then gave
short recitations and two hymns were sung
Rev. Mr.. Pendexter made few appropriate re-
marks in place of John G. Cobb, Esq, who
was unable to deliver the Grafton as advertised.
Mr.. James M. Stafford went to Peaks Island
and decorated the monument there. There
were no religious exercises
AFTERNOON.
In the afternoon tho line was formed pre-
cisely at 100 O'Clock and the procession
marched over the published route in the fol-
lowing order:
Platoon of Police-14 men.
Chief Marshal-G. II. Poor.
Aids-C A. Lang and G. III. Abbott.
Brown Light Artillery-3l men-1st Lieut.. s. L.
Larrabee.
Drum Major Bean.
Chambers Band-24 pieces.
Col. John Marshall Brown and Staff
Portland Mechanic Blues Capt g. w. DaviS-5O
Montgomery Guards, Capt. I. j. Hartnett-5o men.
Portland Light Infantry, Capt. Weston-50 men.
Portland Cadets, Capt, Mosely--33 men,
Cathedral Cadets-26 men.
Portland High School Cadets, Capt Richardson 80
men.
Commander j. G. Fitzgerald and Staff
National and Department officers.
Past Post Commander
Bosworth Post, LIST Company. S. V. c. S. B. Day
40 men.
Portland Army and Navy Union-10 men.
Bosworth Post, I'd Company, j. V. C. A. Crockett
43 men.
Barouche containing Rev. Zenas Thompson, Col. T.
A. Roberts, Comrades c. w. Roberts
and James Lowe.
The Mexican War Veterans were represent
ed in the procession by Frank Lanergan.
The military display was one of the finest
ever seen in the city. The band played ex-
quisitely, and the troops marched with great
precision. The Brown Artillery appeared for
the first time mounted and proved decided
feature. Their new helmets are great addi-
tion to their uniform, and the only drawback
to their marching was balky horse attached
to one OF the caissons.
The train was taken for Evergreen at $50,
and at that spot some 200 graves were decorat-
ed. Among the special decorations were those
for