The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-06-11
A VisOn Of Mars.
BY ELDER S. H. BINGHAM.

Behold the god of battles slum-
bered, and as he slept. visions came
unto his head, he was troubled. And
he looked, and behold he. stood in the
midst of the great and goodly land.
A land of cities and temples, of hills
and valleys, and much people. A
land where they dig gold and silver,
iron and tin, and all metals, by which
the people Of the land waxed rich in
all manner of precious things, and
clothed themselves in purple and fine
linen, and Jared sumptuously every
day And the people of the land
said: Behold now our husbands and
our sons, our brothers and our sweet
hearts, went forth to war in the
South Country, and many of them
are slain and will never come back to
US, and many more came back unto US
manned and feeble, and are dead Be-
hold they died for us. They saved
our land, and all the goodly things
we have, and all cur peace we owe to
them. Let US remember them and
make an offering to them, and set
day in the bright spring time of the
year when we may do this thing
And the Wise Men Of the land made
a statute that the tombs of the heroes
should be strewn with laurels and
myrtle and fragrant flowers. And it
shall be statute forever throughout
your generations
One day in the year shall We Decor
ate. And it was so.
And in his dream he saw, and be-
hold the day was fully come. A day
of sunshine and music, Of joy and
gladness, and much people. And
there came men on horses and in
chariots, and there were also men of
war. And there were matrons and
maidens, very great company, and
there were men bearing sackbut and
harp, and loud-sounding cymbals, and
all manner of instruments of music
to play withal And they did play,
and much people were moved thereby.
And there were men with implements
Of war, wherewith they used to kill
men. And with these they did make
d great noise, even like unto thunder,
and the smell thereof was like Unto
birthstone And there were matrons
and maidens bearing garlands and
baskets of flowers. And, 10, they had
gathered them from the rocks and
from the hills, and from the meads
and from dells These were led into
bundles and packed into baskets, even
like unto sardines in box, We're they
packed. And they were wilted ard
solled And the laurel aud the Myr-
tie and the Oak--emblems of victory
were not found. And in his dream
the god was wroth and hid his face,
and spoke in thunder, and went his
way and stood beside the graves of
those who died
And among the people were doc
tors, and lawyers, and priests, and
>cribes, and PhariseeS, even very
great company. And there were men
of war on horses, having swords in
their hands, and girded about with
girdles And these said $50 to the
tombs and Decorate And they
went, and came to the places of the
dead, and offered their faded flowers.
And the sun hid his face and refused
to look upon them. And the skies
wept a very. great weeping. The god
of war shook his gauntlet, and Death
and Hades were moved from beneath,
and the fallen heroes arose from their
and stood forth in the ranks
of war, and in thunder tones said
What do We unto us? We gave the
best we had for you. Our fortunes,
our homes, our lives, all for you. And
is this the tribute you bestow? Offer
such to the living. Will they accept
such offerings III way to make you
proud. Offer unto us no more VAIN
oblations. Bring not to Us what you
would blush to offer to the LIVING.
Bring the laurel, the Myrtle and the
Oak, true tokens of victory. Bring
exotic flowers, whose rich fragrance
symbolizes true gratitude. Do these
withered offerings express the meas
of your gratitude and patriotism?
Return, and rekindle the alter fires of
patriotism, and teach your sons and
your daughters a nobler sense of beau
ty, gratitude and patriotic love"
Having thus spoken, the mighty
host Of immortal heroes folded their
mantl,s of glory about them and laid
themselves down again to rest.
Then the peopled who had heard,