Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-31
THE TRIBUTES.
Flowers. Music and OratOry in
Abundance.
Several Thousand People Join
IN Observing Decora-
ton Day.
A Large Procession and I~ntorest-
ing Exercises.
The TRIBUTES.

1t was q perfect day for the memoir
ial services, and ell reemed to enter
into the arrangements with much more
hear.iness than usual on the observ.
met of the day here. The committee
having tho matter In charge wisely
arranged for having the exercises in
the afternoon instead of the morning,
80 that the closing Of business houses
was more generally observed. After
the moor hour the street had an
almost Sunday look, except for the
preparations made for the doings CT
the day. Broadway and Main streets
were quite fully decorated with flags
aud the national %colors, giving n rather
gala look to all, save the occasionally
suggestive Btreamers of black,
The procession was, as usual, q little
late In forming, but 1t was o much
larger and finer one than ever before
marked Decoration day here. liz
formation was at the corner OF
| Willow avenue and Sixth street,
and from that point along the entire
line of march until the cemetery was
reached there we're crowds along the
sidewalks, and teams and carriages
at each crossing ready to join In at the
close.
Commander John Lindt and his
staff appeared mounted, followed by
the police force, also mounted. Wall
McFadden's drum corps, without
which no public patrioticd oiugs would
be quite complete, gave the stirring
music of war, marching at the head of
the Abe Lincoln Post, G. A. r., with
about $50 men. The new Harmony
band came next In line, with twenty
pieces, giving good music. They were
at the head of 81. Pstrick's society,
which turned out over fifty, while
R,v. Father McMenomy, In o car
riage, had a rather fatherly outlook
for them. The Ancient Order of
H%ibernians followed. Then came the
Knights OF Pythias with their bright
and attractive uuiforms. About forty
or the mutes from tho Deaf and
Dumb institute came next In
line. Following them were the
boys of st. Joseph's academy, each
bearing . Gag. The Bohemian band
appeared at tho head of the Danebo
society, which turned out strong, and
hed their new banner, q large and
beautiful one. Then came Olker'a
hand with q large rumber of Odd Eel.
lows, In regalia, headed by the grand
patriarchs with their purple plulAer
and glittering bsldrics and shinino
swords. The fire department came
next and made one of the most OF
tractivo features Of the parade. The
members on foot we're dressed In their
pleasing uniforms, while the engines,
trucks, and hose carts were adorned
with flowers, ribbons and wresthg un-
til they dazzled with beauty. The
officers and orators of the day, singer.
|, and prominents followed In carriages
and citizens made up the rest Of thu
long line which stretched out man,
, blocks.
Fairview cemetery never had sucl
a large gathering on any oocasion be
, fore. The platform was very NIGEL!
decorated, the stars and stripes beinl
the background, while ali the stand
Of colors which had waved In the lin
of march, were added. The sigma
flags Of the various army corps werv
also Ia sight. A stand In the cente
Of the platform WAS covered with tn
national colors and wreaths OF whit
and green.
The e1erciaes opened with "Neare
My God to Thee" played very sweet,
by Olker's band. Rsv. Mr.. Lemon
offered q tender and beitting prayer
st. Paul's Episcopal church choir san
Z an anthem.
MAYOR COLE,
of Nebraska City, was then introduce
by J. M Phillips, the presiding officer
a With a fine presence, q round, full
far. reaching voice. Mayor Colo a
once claimed the attention of all an
held 1t to the close, at time
calling forth hearty applause
"a He presented eloquent and tellin
lessons for preserving the memory {
those, who gave their all that tn
country might be saved, and to observ
. by such days as this the sense of graf
tude for what they had done, and aI
y probation of their bravery. He too
Q glance D.. backward to the openir
scenes Of the war, the hurrying t,
" gether of green troops, the expect,
70 tion of all that 1t would soon be owe
70 and the fear that the capital would
!. taken. He thought it wonld ha,
~ saved much trouble and many lives
80 Q few Of the weak kneed congressms
~ and heads of departments had bee
taken. The speaker was one
those who answered the call "On
Richmond" and he described the al
a. uation very humorously. 1t didn
~ take long for both aides in the oonte
to learn something. The southerne
-. learned that n of them could N
81 whip three Yankees, aud less eight
ten as they had boosted. The Yanke
learned that the Johnnies could sho
@ almost as straight as they. The go
eminent learned that 1t could not u
,e. green men like old regulars. TT
men In the ranks had
learn that while all America
were equal In one sense, In the cou
and field they had to obey orders, al
recognize rank. The speaker gave
pleasing nsrrationo of several incident
Including the manner In which ABR
on ham Lincoln, "the greatest Americ'
re-. who ave. lived" [Cheers stopped Il
mutiny In a Wisconsin regiment, Il
boys objecting to their officers, thin
ice Ing they were cowardly. Lincoln a
rs- dressed them as ''men of Wisconsin
in and vito this as a keynote, reoogni
CO, Ing their citizenship, he held the