National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-31
THE SOLDIERS, HOME.

At the old Soldiers homo the observances
were peculiarly interesting The ceremonies
there took place at 10 o'clock, and the crowds
that throng these grounds on such occasions
went early. BY o'clock the Seventh street
route was lined with pedestrians and vehicles,
all pilgrims to the new Mecca where life and
gratitude pay the homage of annual song and
speech and flowers to the valor and the death
that consscrAto these beautiful grounds.
There were observed many improvements
since last year. A new road has been cut in
the meadow TO the north of the superintend-
dents ksusei a new gateway, arched in stone
arabeEques, leads from the road directly to
the speakers stand and the stand itself has
been changed. Last year it was o frame
structure hastily erected. Now it is o Doric
temple of stone upon a solid brick foundation:
Covered with flags, the stern simplicity OF its
Doric chapters harmonized beautifully with
the green grove in the midst of which it
stands, and with tho thousands of plain white
slabs that mark the graves of tho dead.
There WAS something In the day or the SUR
roundinss that lent its influence to the large
assembly present, and almost Sabbath still
ness covered the scene.
The e1erciaes commenced with the shrill
sound Of the FIFE, and down the road to the
cemetery past the white wilderness of head
stones marched the old soldiers, two abreast,
limping and hating veterans of many battles,
sentinels Of tho cemetery to which they were
rapidly fastening. The procession was
mournfully interesting, and fitting prelude
to the cessmonies that almost Immediately
afterward commenced. Drawn up around
the rostrun ID seemed as If these aged vete-
rams were listening in advance to their own
funeral orations
A salute of thirty-seven guns from the
United States second artillery was the signal
for beginning the exercises. In the grove
were gathered an immense audience, who paid
respectful attention TO the proceedings. On
the stand were perhaps a hundred ladies and
gentlemen. Among them were Gen. K. B.
Ayres United States second artillery; Gen. S.
u. SturRis, governor of the home; Gen. Park,
U. s. A.; Gen. Wright, of the old sixth corps;
Gen. W. Ii. Browne, the poet of tho day, and
Mrs Browne Mr.. and Mrs. L. NJ. Truell, Mrs.
Mrs. Spaljing, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. B. Upper,
Admiral Almy and daughter, Hon. VIM. I.
Price, Of Wisconsin, the orator of the day
Rev. Rush r. shippen, Mr.. Loughran and
Miss Shaekford, of the Boston Ideals; Col
Baichslder, U. s. A.; Col. Chandler, U. s. Al
Gen. Hazen, Messrs. John Middleton, jerks,
Durkin. Parker, Plunkett, and others. Tho
Memorial Day octette, under the direction OF
Mr.. $. h. Jecko, alSo occupied seats on the
stage.
After the salute the Cd artillery band
Richard Donovan leader, played the "Cuju'
AMMAN from lkOshlulS 5 StaDdG mater,
following which Mr.. Il. NJ. Truell called the
meeting to order Gracefully and briefly
stating the object Of tho meeting, he called
upon Rev. Rush r. shippen to open witt
prayer. The rendition of q suitable song by
the Memorial Day Octette club followed, anc
then Gen. w. II. Browne read his poem O.
the Soldiers Home" written for the occa
sion.
Then followed tho Grafton Of the day, from
Hon. William T, Price, of Wisconsin, pre-
ceded by a selection from the octette. Mr.
Price treated his subject with skill. Nothing
new of course could be said on the occasion
but he rung the changes on tho old so wei
that his audience paid him the unusua
compliment of wishing that the speech hat
been longer. A song, "Slesp, Soldier, Sleep
beautifully rendered by the octette, and
benedictiOn from Rev, r. H. Shippen com
pleted the purely formal part OF the cere
monies. Then the real work Of tho day thu
decorating of tho graves, took place.
The tongue of the orator was eloquent as
he piotursd tho sacrifices of the heroic dead
3 and the poets Thythmical lines were melo
dious in their tribute TO the departed soldier
but those rows Of silent white heaGstones IL
their dumb voicelees eloquence, SHOWED
orator and poet a speech more powerful thar
their own. Only one thing seemed fitting T.
the solemn silence Of those stones--a hower
And flowers they brought. Nearly all tina
vast assembly stayed, aud with gentle linger
ing hands, as II 10th TO disturb the aead, lai
aowers upon each grave. There was hardl
an inc,dsRt that occurred at tho ground o
on the road that might mar the sOemnity
which people remarked as being unusually i'm
nressiys even for such scene. Once a rippl
Of laughter went over the outer circle q
those on the stand. A little terrier dog hS
early taken position ou the platform
which he kept during the entiro core
mony. He was . well-behaved dog an
acted with becoming gravity. During tn
Recitation of Goa. Brownies poem, as th
ringing yoioo Of the poet clothed stirrin
idea in unusually mOlodiolS yeTse' tho uo
lespsd 70 his feet and uttered u yelp, as If
express an intensity of feeling ho could n
longer reprsss. Beyond this tho scene, tn
dav' and tho congregation were in perfe'
Keeping with the solemnity of the occasion;
Back 60 tho sAF came many OF those WI
Sles ne
Waya int
kssed ana "a