The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-05
DECORATION DAY.
Its Observance In Abilene A Grand
Success.

Success.
May S0th, Decoration Day, was OBJ
served in Abilene in all extensive and
interesting manner.
At an early hour people from all
parts of the country begun coming in,
and by noon the city was crowded with
patriotic citizens.
The court house was the starting
point from which the procession moved.
The line of march was west to Cedar
street, thence north and then west to
the cemetery. The procession, fully
mile long, proceeded in the following
order:
Plowman's Band,
Chief Marshal,
Post SO, q. A. R.,
Visiting Comrades,
Daughters of Veterans, lin wagon,)
Soldiers Widows, lin carriages,)
Chapman Band,
Odd Fellows,
Select Knights, y. o. L. W,
Mayor and City Council,
Abilene Band,
Fire Department,
Citizens on Foot,
Citizens in Carriages,
Citizens on Horseback.
The column was closely formed and
moved in good order, the several bands
diScoursing sweet and pleasing music.
The canopied and festooned wagon,
containing young girls who represented
the various states and territories, was
the central object of attention. The
fresh, sweet young faces, unclouded by
the sad memories of the day, formed
very attractive and pleasing picture.
Arrived at the cemetery, the vast
crowd of people gathered around the
large wagon, which was made to do
duty as the speakers stand. Vice-COm-
mander c. J. McDivitt was master of
the ceremonies, and the exercises were
as follows:
Dirge-Band,
Prayer-Chaplain,
Dirge-Band,
Grafton,
Decoration of Graves.
Benediction,
The dirges by the bands were NOV
ingly rendered, and the prayer by the
Chaplain, Rev. Phillips, was an elO-
quent appeal to the great Captain of
the worlds hosts. The Grafton by the
Rev. DR.. Bowers was short, owing to a
throat difficulty which prevents the
reverend gentleman from speaking long
in the open air. But the curtailment
of the address lost it none of its beauty
and power. The words were full of
eloquence, pathos, pride, love and the
sweet spirit of forgiveness.
After the grafton, the graves of Dick
lnson county's fallen heroes were deco
rated with garlands of flowers and the
fragrant tears of grateful memory.
Lovely girls, whose serious young
faces indexed minds which were trying
to grasp the sad and tender meaning of
the occasion, strewed the flowers upon
the graves, and the old veterans, in
marching order, passed slowly by the
last resting place of each fallen COM
rade, while the winds played gently with
the starry flags and whispered sad re-
QUEENS among the leaves of the trees.
y very graceful and noble act was
the decoration of the grave of DR.
Keiser. who served in the rebel army
but who is now resting quietly in the
midst of the boys who wore the blue
We point with kind warning to the fact
that death equalizes all, and on many Z
field of death the soldier who wore the
blue and the soldier who wore the gray
have forgotten i'll common grave the
jealousies and hates of the strife which
divided them. May the same restfu
peace, the brotherhood of love and for
giveness, come to those who yet live
now of the same country, under thu
same flag.
The Odd Fellows decorated the grave
of J. G.. NOrthcraft, who was membeI
of the Order and occupied high place
in its esteem.
After the services at the cemeter!
were concluded, the column formed in
to line as before and marched back t.
the city. when it was disbanded.
| Cheap Coal.