Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-07
nEnoaIAl pAy.

The observance Of Memorial Day, under
the auspices Of Garfield Post was an occa.
sion that will not soon be forgotten. The
weather was all that could have been de-
sired, and the programme with its solemn
and imposing ceremonies was faithfully car
ried cut. The attendance by members be-
longing to the Post who reside In the coun-
try was large, bringing their wives and
children with them, and also an abundance
OF flowers. 1t needed NO proclamation Of
the mayor 10 close the business houses, but
stores, mills aud banks, with one accord,
suspended business and proprietor and en-
ploye Joined with the throng in showing
honors to the dead heroes. At two O'Clock
the G. A. X. boys, every one Of whom had
brayed the "dark hours of Imprisonment,
the helplessness Of the hospital, the short,
sharp agony of the field" marched out Of
their hall under command of the Post Com
mander, Col. NJ. Stewart, down Douglas
Avenue to Lawrence, thence to the opera
house, which in a few minutes was filed,
while hundreds were unable to get inside
the building, or even on the sidewalk.
When order was restored, Adjutant John
A. Wallace stepped to the front Of the stage
and read general order No. 4, from depart
ment headquarters, In reference to the OBJ
servance Of Memorial Day. ra
After a short and impressive service, con-
sisting Of responsive reading by the Post
and Chaplain Kelly, the latter
with prayer.
"Strew Blossoms on their Grayes,r sung
by male quartette-Messrs. Imboden, STAN
ley, Chambers and Caldwell, was followed
by Miss Hattie Obrist with solo. which
was received with marked appreciation and
approval Of well done.
Many an old veteran was carried back TO
The battlefield where he could almost see
his dying comrade and hear the groans Of
he wounded, while listening to the faith |
'ul and tragic portrayal of 1.-The Dying |
Trooper" by Mrs. Colonel Stewart, as he
wiped away the unbidden tears.
After a song, show Sleep the Brave"
~ the quartette, Hon. S. Il. Peters, the or.
tor of the day, addressed the audience.
At the close of the exercises in the city
letsil from the Post and some nine or ten
hundred people repaired to the cemetery
where the graves OF the soldier, the mother,
he father, sister, brother and child were
overed with flowers.
The services from beginning to end we're
and it is gratifying to the old
to see an increasing interest, from
ear to year, by the living, to perpetuate
he memory OF their dead comrades. Each
ear the muster-roll grows smaller. There
re comparatively few men now living, I'M
Ter forty years Of age, who were soldiers of
he rebellion, and large majority OF them
re between forty-ive and ffty-fve. Twen-
y years from now it will take detail Of an
ntire Post to make a firing party while 1t
nay now number more than a hundred able
odied men. Each year new graves are
dded to the list, they keep falling by the
'ay-side, one by one, until, 'ere long, not
ne will be left to tell the story Of the great
onfiict, and the camp-fres which are now
0 brightly burning all over our peaceful
nd happy land, will have burned out. Let
S hope that the impressions made upon the
carts Of the youth Of our land may be SO
lsting that they will willingly take up the
FORK and perpetuate the memory Of Memo
al Day for all time TO come.