Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-09
FROM A WICHITA LADY.
A Cosby and Interesting Letter
From New York City,

coration Day only second to Indepen-
dence Day. 1t might be of interest
to them to hear of how it was observ-
! ed in this vast cit.
Early Saturday morning bright
flags began to float in every direction,
and the deafening noise of trucks,
wagons and street cars was partially
stopped by marching lines of inform
ed men, headed by braying brass
bands taking their places.
The weather was acting like fool
ish love-sick maiden, one moment
bright and smiling, the next almost in
tears, but as early as O'Clock the peo-
pie began to hurry toward the pro-
posed line of march, and by the time
the companies were in marching order,
Everybody was there to see. Pictur-
esque zuayes in baggy trousers, some
red, some blue, trim militiamen in
white coats, Kaleidoscope companies
of musicians were marching in every
direction on the way to their appoint
ed rendezvous, and most noticeable of
all, flowers, flowers. flowers every
where. in fresh dewy clusters in fair
naidcns' hands, on the coat lapel-.
wagon loads and still more CO ming.
On Madison Square, on a line with
| Fifth avenue, the president and other
| distinguished men were to review the
parade, and of course it was the most
desirable place. When the vast pro-
cession began 10 move down Fifth
avenue there appeared first a squad OF
mounted police, behind them the
towering bear skins and white coats of
the Old Guard, led by magnificent
band; then a carriage drawn by four
| white horses, withPresident Cleveland.
Cen Hancock and Gen. McMahonin
| Its and a second carriage containing
Endicott and Whitney and Gen. As
pinwali. On reaching the graud stand
these gentlemen alighted and then the
steady tramp, tramp, began To sound
palmer and nearer and headed by the
Twenty-second regiment the process
sion for two hours poured steadily by.
Many handsome bodies of men were
loudly applaudcd, and particularly the
seventh, but when the veterans with
their torn and faded flags, their empty
sleeves and halting step came in sight,
the enthusiasm broke forth in earnest.
After the review the presidential par
ty were driven away and the various
posts and companies went TO many
cities of the dead to continue the serv-
ices.
When the Seventh regiment moved
from its armory, it marched toward
the home of its old commander and
when it entered the block in which
Gen. Grant lives. The moment this
band began playing they saw the win
dow shade roll up and their chief;ain
stood there with his dressing gown on
aud his skull cap drawn down on his
head. He stood there unsupported
intently watching the men, apparently
scanning them with the same critical
eyes of yorc, returning military
salute with stately courtesy with his
wasted right hand When the baud
began TO play Atlanta to the Sea- he
stepped forward to another window
and as his eyes fell upon the old griz-
zled veterans looking up al him with
uncovered heads he could no longer
hide his emotion.
1t is said that the florists of this city
received two hundred thousand dol
lars for flowers for that one day
Si5 900 alone for roses. The flowers
on the Lincoln. Washington and Lafay-
cite monuments cost ST 800 alone.
$500 to each monument. After all,
the question arises is il in any meas
ure rcpayin9 our honored dead for
the lives they gave to spend this vast
sum in perishable !iowcr>: What Il
maguificeutly endowed college could
home for soldiers widows and or
phans, with the flower fund of one
Decoration Day. Still. when we read
the accounts of that most inspiring
pageant perhaps the world ever saw,
the funeral of Victor Hugo day be-
fore Yesterday. we see that we. as IA
nation, are not alone in our desire t.
honor the dead. deck the bride. cheer
the sick or please our friends with
bright, beautiful flowers. What Il |
vast quantity il must have taken to |
ill twelve immense cars with wreaths, |
besides the thousands and ten thous- |
and humble offerings of his admiring, |
Borrowing followers.
see a large crowd of
llugo's friends met here in New York |
last Sunday night To do honor 10 his |
memory. On raised dais an immense |
chair had been made of immoriclle>
with the letters ~. H." woven into |
the back. and on the seat a large pill |
low of flowers. with the words VA |
cant, 10 express mntely the object of
the meeting. Truly the death of Hugo |
leaves vacancy in the world of muse. |
There has been too much interest |
shown in INV little Florence for me to |
close without a reference to her. Ii |
sce.is now that it is only a question
of time when her cure will be COM |
plctc. DIR. Lewis A. Sayre twhom |
every physician in Wichita would con-
slider the best authority in the world |
on the subjcct) told me Yesterday that
il WAS perfectly wonderful the i'm
provement she had made They pro-
nounccd it the worse case of hip dis
ease they had ever seen, and when |
remember that eighteen days ago she
lay insensible for one hour and /
fifty minutes with FIVE surgeons at
work over her, il seems incredible to
me that she should be 20 comfortable
a she is, II is probable shall have
10 Remain here with her six months or
longer. and my wearisomc watching
and CpaSgl.~S rurSiuu l. ,,rn,,l,- lr-.a, !