The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
It's Observance in Portland and
Vicinity.
A Splendid Day and Large Turn
out.
Abstract from Mayor Fox's Ora
ton.

After the cold, wet weather of the past
week, the bright sun, cloudless skies and de-
licious atmosphere of yesterday came like one
of those golden days that mark the early sum.
mer. There was a large turnout of citizens to
| take part in the memorial exercises over the
| graves of our buried heroes, custom that be-
comes more and more endeared to us as the
swift rolling years seem to hallow and sancti-
| fy their ashes. This latter fact was made all
the more impressive yesterday from new
| feature which brought most wildly to mind
| the almost quarter of a century that has
elapsed since Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
This was the appearance in the procession of
| the Sons of Veterans, a special uniformed
corps, whose fathers had all taken part in the
| great civil contest for liberty. They presented
| gallant appearance as they marched in the
| rear of Bosworth Post, with that erect form
and manly tread and precision that marked
their sires during those dark days of 1S6l.66.
| On their arms they bore floral tributes to lay
| them with filial affection on the mounds scat
tered throughout our cemeteries whether
marked by striking monument or simple mar
BILE slab.
THE MORNING EXERCISES.
The morning. yesterday, was devoted as
usual to the cemeteries other than Evergreen.
The city had donned its fresh green robes,
flags waved at halfmast from all the public
buildings, and many privates residences, as
well as from the shipping in the harbor, and
| the places of business were almost universally
closed as the various squads Of Grand Army
comrades departed on their mournful errands
The squad for Gaylary was under command
of Comrade Mccain, escorted by Chambers
full band and the Montgomery Guards. At the
cemetery eighty-seven graves were decorated
and Rev. Father Linnehan offciated. While
the exercises were going on at the chapel thu
band played dirge over the grave OF Mr..
Aubrey, former member, and then returned
to the chapel and there played another to the
memory of the brave departed.
At Forest City Cemetery Comrade John
EYsns was in command and decorated fifty
eight graves besides those at Browns Hill
Comrade S. S. knight made an appropriate
address and Rev. Mr.. Pendexter offered prayer.
The school children turned out in good num-
bers and made most attractive feature of the
procession.
At Western Cemetery the squad under Com
rade F. W. True decorated seventy graves
and Rev. Mr.. Southworth offered prayer.
At Eastern Cemetery, Senior Vice Com
mander Williamson was in charge of the squad
and decorated thirty-s.x graves OF which seven
teen were ON the roll of honor. He also de-
corated the Lincoln and Garfield trees, Rev.
Messrs. f. E. Clark and A. q. Wright Off
ciating. A high compliment was paid to Mr..
John 81. Dennison, ianitor Of the Smaller
School for his care Of the Gsrfeld elm
AFTERNOON.
At i30 p. m. the procession began to form
and the streets, through which the roRte was
laid were filed with large number of specta-
tors, but not SO many as in former years since
attractions out of the city, had called many
| out of town.
When formed in Market Square the mill
tary escort marched to Grand Army Hall
where the Pos. Bosworth and Sons OF Veterans
were received and the procession then proceed
ed over the ronte to the City Hall where the
City Government and invited guests were re-
ceived, and then the line was again taken up
to the Rochester railway station. The follow
ing was the order of procession:
Platoon of Police
Drum Major Bean.
Chambers Band-25 pieces
Marshal G. II. Abbott.
Aids c. A. Lang and F. A. Motley.
Capt. Hartnett., CONG escort.
Adjutsnt q F. SWEET, Sergeant Major Chase.
Mechanic Blues-Lieuts Milliken and Smith, 28
Light fnfantry-Lieuts Norton and Holmes, 26
High School Cadets-caps. Tryon, Iients Eastman
and Sears, SO men,
Brown Light Artillery Lieut.. waterhouse 81 men,
Bosworth Post-Post Commander Geo. II. Poor, 103
men.
Sons Of yeterans-Capt. bean, Lieut. PhTbrook, %
Veteran officers in carriages
City Government and Invited Guests.
The Portland Cadets did not turn cut be-
cause so many of the members were out of
town. Mayor Fox of Cambridge, Collector
Dow, Comrade Soldiers the orator at Ever
green, Mayor Deering, all tie Aldermen ex-
cept Major Melcher--who marched with the
President Kelsey and almost all the
members OF the Common Council, particle
pated in the parade.
The procession looked exceedingly well and
was 90 prompt that it reached the train OF eight
cars provided for it, and was seated all ready
for the conductors orders, five minutes ia adj
vance Of time.
On arrival at MorrilPs the procession pro
ceeded at once to Evergreen, and on arrival
at Soldiers Lot the different squads proceed
cd to decorate the graves In their respective
sections. There were 800 recorded on the
roll Of honor. Chambers Band decorated Mr..
Young's grave as usual and played drge.
The fcral decorations we're many of them very
elegant, notwithstanding the season is very
unfortunate one for flowers. They we're in sll
designs, wreaths, bouquets, Tyres, anchors and
crosses. and one which represented the gates
ajar. The f. and e. society did not forget
their comrades, and beautiful pillar Of ever
green marked the Soldiers Lot, entwined
with flowers
After the graves were decorated the publish
ed order of exercises was observed Prayer
was offered by B. +. Strickland, Chaplain o.
the Post, followed by music by the band. Gem
rade G.. M. Seiders then read the Roll Of
Honor and delivered an address as follows:
Comrades I'm the short time which has
been allotted me to address you, shall endea-
vor to confine myself to a very few OF the
thoughts that naturally suggest themselves
this occasion.
To-day we are again called upon to perform
the duty of decorating the graves of our de-
do honor to the memory of those, who, in the
bloom and beauty Of youth, babe adieu to
pleasures, fortunes, friends and family, to
give their lives, If need be, that their country's
might be saved.
To the memory OF such as these, our feeble
deeds and words can add no lustre. Each
passing decade but magnifes their bravery
and patriotism, and crowns their memory with
an overwhelming halo of glory. How, then,
can we better honor them than by bestowiDg
upon their lowly resting places our floral offer
| ings, emblems Of love, purity and fadeless re-
nown. Even nature forgets not to clothe their
| graves with her garb OF green, as though she
would ever keep fresh and pure the memory
| of their occupants.
No, my comrades, the accumulated wealth Of
| the country heaped upon these mounds; the
most eloquent words Of the orator, or the lofti-
| est measures Of the poet, could not so well ex-
press our love and yeneration as these floral
| decorations.
Let us, then, to-day
"Build up an altar TO the Lord,
o, grateful hearts of ours;
And shape it Of the greenest sward,
That ever drank the showers"
"Lay all the bloom Of gardens there,
| And there the orchard fruits;
Bring golden grain from sun and air.
| From earth her goody roots"