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

had participated in the ceremonies, and the
roads grew dusty with the everAowing stream
of people on their way homo. People on
foot, people in vehicles, people on horseback,
old, young, black, and whlte people with
baskets of flowers, people with bouquets,
people with ample bunches of flowers, which
they designed to add TO the roses and daisies
already bestrewing the graves The last to
come was little ragged colored boy, with q
sad and honest face, who held up a trampled
and withcred rose bud and said, peadingly: !:
please, sir, may put this on the soldiers
gravesP
THE BATTLE GROUND CEMETERY.
A mile beyond the Old Soldiers home, out
tho Seventh street road, and little to the
right Of it, is the Battle Ground cemetery,
whore lie buried some forty or fifty of the ma
tion's heroes. 1t occupies part of the
ground where was fought the battle for the
capital between Early's men and the old
sixth corps in the summer Of 1864. The coun-
try leading to IL 10 one Of quiet pastoral
lovolincss and at this season especially beauti-
ful. In the cool, grateful splondor Of yester-
day vegetation put on its glossiest green, the
woods ut little distance were swathed in
blue and purple shadows, aud the whole air
was filled with fragrance. The ride therefore
Washington was pleasant one yesterday
morning.
The ceremony Of decorating these graves
was 'intrusted to a committee under the di-
roction of j. @. S. Burger, of Post No. 2, and
of John p. Church, of Post No. 6. The exor-
cises were held early so as to give those par
ticipating an opportunity Of joining in the
ceremonies at the old Soldiers home.
The assembly. quite large one considering
the distance and seclusion Of the cemetery,
and the earlinoss of the hour was called to
order at . O'Clock by Comrade John p.
Church, who briefly explained the purposes
of the meeting. Rev. w. Il. Parsons, of the
Memorial Lutheran church. offered prayer.
He was followed by Mr.. s. r.. Boud, of the
Washington bar, in an oration. Upon his
concluding, Miss Hattie L. Colo recited a
poem, and the congregation then Joined in
singing America" Rov, Mr.. Parsons then
closed the formal part of the exercises with
the benodiction, and the audience mostly
members Of the Grand Army and their fam
lilies, with visitors from the adj ioining county,
decorated each lonely grave with q profusion
Of choice flowers.
This is understood to be the first time that
tho graves in this cemetery have been for
mally decorated.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY.
At the Congressional cemetery tho platform
exercises took place at 10 a. m, and lasted
for about threc-quarters Of an hour. There
were large number of persons within this
beautiful and silent city of the dead.
The choir, consisting of Mrs Shaw, Miss
Mundell, and Messrs. Simonds and McGowau,
under direction of Mr.. d. F. MoGowan,
opened the exercises by singing "Honor the
Brave" Comrsde George J. p. Wood then
called the assembly to order. and the Rev. II.
II
They Died for Ne and You" Tho Hon.
Charles Murphy read an original poem, after
which the choir sang, "Our Loyal, Tried and
True" The oration was delivered by Com
rade II. J. Clifford of Post No. 3. The choir
then sang Under the Flowers" and the ex-
ercises were closed by the benediction pro-
nounced by the Rev. II. r. Naylor. Mr..
Hutchinson was the organist
At the conclusion of the exercises the
graves were strewn with flowers, the follow
ing ladies and gentlemen acting as the decora-
tive commmittee: Messrs. George J. =. Wood,
John O'Connell, d. NJ. Goodacre and G. e. II.
Holmes; Mesdames A. NJ. Bielaski, M. A.
McCulloch, John O'Connell, Annie Lewis,
- Gorbert, George j. p. Wood. and Misses
Alice Holmes, Emma Goodacre, Annie NJ.
Wood, and Lizzie V. Kelley. Mr.. j. B. Cross,
superintendent Of cemetery.
The graves Of prominent generals and
officers of high rank in the United States
army and navy were designated by small
United States Hags together with the flowers.
Many of the paeple in the cemetery left at
the conclusion of the exercises and grave
decorating and went over to Arlington.
The scenes at the Congressional cemetery
were altogether of n peaceful nature There
was no olamorous report of booming cannon
or the presence of military uniforms or mus
kets as reminders of war. Several genera
tions of families, from grandfather and grand
mother down to the small children, all neatly
attired and bearing baskets of flowers, could
everywhere be seen kneelng at the graves
and tenderly placing their offerings upon
them. Some eyes were suffused with tears
as n number of freshly made mounds were
passed covered with fragrant and lovely
exotics.
Among some Of the more imposing monu-
ments which received attention, was that
erected to the memory of Joseph Gales, for
more than half century the leading editoI
of the National IntelLigencsr. Tho monument
was erected by representatives of tho Ameri.
can press in Philadelphia, New York, and
Boston. The monument erected to tbs
memory of DIR. William Gunton, who died
in Washington, December 10, 1850; the toni
of Gales Seaton, who died February 8, 1857
the monuments to Gen. Daniel Parker, whC
died in Washington, April s. 1916. and thu
one to Isaac and Charles w. Chauncy, u. S
N, are noticeable among tho veterans. Th
grave of Gen. a. A. Humphreys was pro
fusely decorated. Adjoining the lot of Gen
Humphreys is one on which tombs ar
erected to the memory of Samuel Humphreys
chief constructor of the navy, who died il
| Georgetown, August 16, 1916 and Joshut
Humphreys, lieutenant In the United State
and confederate navies, who died in Freder
icksburg, Va, November 10, 1873. Oh
Coombe avenue is the imposing marbl
monument, erected to the memory of William
Writ, who was attorney general of the Unite
States from 1917 to 1929. The senatorial anC
congressional memorial cenotaphs upon Con
gress avenue are always objects Of mucl
| interest.
OUT OF TOWN.
Mt. Vernon, as is usual on Decoration day
attracted many persons, and the steame
Corcoran made two trips to accommodate tn
visitors. The tomb of Washington was almos
hidden by flowers. Standing in front of tn
iron doors was a large floral sword and shielc
Other handsome tributes were placed in til
vault The lacal committee OF the regent
held divine service in the mansion at moor
which was largely attended quartett