Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-27
OUR DEAD HEROES.
FAIR WOMEN BRING LAURELS
TO DECK THEIR GRAVES.
General Suspension of business
The Cemeteries ThrOnged'

Yesterday, the Goth of April, known
throughout the South as Memorial Day, was
observed In Savannah, we are pleased
to say, with a universally which demon
strstes that from the hearts Of our people
time can never efface the remembrance Of
the gallant deeds Of our loved sons who, in a
cause which they deemed just and right,
yielded up their precious blood on the altar
of their country. In token that their deeds
should not be forgotten, and that their fame
would live eternal in the Southern heart,
was this beautiful custom inaugurated
of annually visiting their last rest
ing places and decorating the graves
which enclosed their dust with NATURES
choicest flowers, typical Of the glory
Of this life and of the life to come. Those
who stood shoulder to shoulder with them
midst the thickest of the carnage, and with
saddened hearts saw them fall PROSTATE IN
death, not knowing but that the next
minute they too would be lying on the
bloody field, can, in the possession of the
blessed privilege now Of paying tribute to
their memory, say:
Rest comrades, rest in slumbers sweet,
To dream no more of warfare rude
Kind angels hull thee to thy sleep,
And guard thy weary solitude.
Now Joyous spring assumes her sway,
And gentle peace broods DER the land
We come with floral treasures rare,
And strew them here with loving hand.
All never more in hall or bower
List we at eve with welcome Joy,
For stately tread of honored sire,
Or bounding step OF blue-eyed boy.
Weep daughters of proud old race,
And chant your dirges DER the brave
Who fought for homes and sacred rights,
And, losing all, have found grave.
All weep for men OF valiant deeds,
Who sought their cOuntry's cause to shield,
And, bravely arming for the strife,
Died nobly on the battle field.
Then martial music loudly peal,
And tell DER hill and dale to-day
The story of those dauntless men
Those men who wore Confed rate gray.
Their souls are mid unfadlng splendors now;
Their ashes rest benesth the deWy sod,
And earthly homes are lonely, but we bow
With meek submission to Thy will, oh. God.
With such feelings were the spacious
avenues Of Laurel Grove Cemetery trOd
yesterday afternoon by hundreds of lovely
women and brave men. The sacred duty
and mOurnful privilege of caring for these
graves have been assumed by the fair
daughters of the South, and in Savannah
they ever nobly render the service.
There was not the abundance of flowers
that we have generally had at this season
of tbs year, but through the kind contribu-
tiODs Of friends elsewhere, there were suffi-
cient to enable the ladies TO fully carry out
their good work.
The day was a general holiday, and by
two o'clock business wholesale and retail,
was almost entirely suspended, and the
streets presented SUNDAY aspect. The
Central and Savan ah, Florida[and Western
Railway Companies granted all their
employees who could possibly be
spared half holiday. The banks
and public offices were closed, and all
Savannah fiOcked to the cemeteries. The
street car lines were taxed to their utmost
to transport the throngs, and every livery
stable in the city was barren of stock and
vehicles, while it may safely be said there
was scarcely private conveyance
tempted s By the delightful '1 weat6er fo SI no.
better day could have been desired, wendell
their way on foot to the Laurel
Grove Cemetery. The soldiers lot
in this cemetery, where repOse the
"Men of Gettysburg" and the dead from
other States presented a beautiful appear
ance. Though the floral decorations were
not very elaborate, each grave bore the evil
utuG6 VI lONAUE IGLuEUlUIduC6 III Iu6 Shape
of laurel wreath, whilst the
verbenas, which had been planted
on the mounds and which have flourished
amazingly, blossomed forth in all their
beauty and fragrance. The slab which
covers the mound enclosing the sacred dust
of the "men of Gettysburg" was tastefully
adorned with wreaths, and choice lowers
formed a bank at the base. Everything
about the "soldiers lot" betokc Il care and
love.
Among the soldiers graves IN private lots,
which were handsomely decorated, may be
mentioned the gallant braves, John L.
Branch, VIM. F. Crane, Julius A. Ferrill,
Frank s. Barlow, Thomas Purse, Jr., Alfred
H. Gordon, G. A. l.. Lamar, Cyrus Carter,
the Habershsm brothers, the Holcombe
brothers, and many Others. The dead IN the
Savannah Volunteer Guards lot were re-
membered, and several of the graves were
beautifully decorated. Indeed, we were
pleased to note that this year there was more
attention than ever paid to decorating
soldiers graves. This is the intent of the
memorial observance, and what flowers can
be obtained should be used entirely for this
purpose. There are other days when the
attention that love aud affection prompts
eau be given to the resting places of other
dear ones.
1t is estimated that there were more peo-
pie at Laurel Grove Cemetery yesterday af-
teTnOOn than for several years past, and the
observance of the custom is as dear now as
when it was first inaugurated.
At the Cathedral Cemetery there were
also many visitors, and the graves of the
gallant dead were decorated prOfusely with
flowers and evergreens, some of the decora-
tiOns being particularly beautiful.
A number visited Bonaventure, and the
last resting places of the few of our gallant
dead within its enclosure were not neg
lected.