Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-01
HOLLYWOOD DAY.
DECORATION OF THE GRAVES OF THE
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
Parade Of the Pythians-Veteran and
Active Military Address by Rev
W. z. Evans, &c, &c.

Twenty years ago, when the grieis OF th'
war were fresh upon us, and before the Gus
tom had spread over the whole land n II
now has, the ladies OF Richmond and vicini'
ty set apart a day upon which % decorate
with flowers The graves OF the Confederate
soldiers buried in our cemeteries, and II wa
resolved that annually there should be such
an Observance. There were some who pre-
dicted that IL would be Of short life, and
thai as the memories oi the war aud OF the
gallant spirit. who lost their lives In II were
lost In the distance the practice itself would
grow into disuSe. Such has not been
the case. Thousands OF the men
and women who were eye-wit'
nesses OF the stirring scenes OF wal
In The beegguered city have passed away,
hut i'm the hearts OF their children is i'm
planted sucb n reverence for these dead as
promises that for the future, as regullrly
a. the spring comes, the hands OF lovely
women viii place upon the beroes' graye'
flowers that typify the undying love OF Vir-
Qinia's daughters for the brave young
spiTifswh0. forsaking homo and kindred,
went forth 10 face priyaton and battle for
the common cause. and are buried here in
the city in whose defence they gave their
hearts blood.
But for the rain, which fell at intervals all
the forenoon, anl which threatened all the
afternoon, Hollywood d1y-yesterday-
would have been observed by far greater
numbers OF people than any on Ike occa
slOns for many yeas past.
There were about seven or eight hun.
dred excurslonists here from Washington,
and m unusual number came from the
country adjacent TO Richmond.
Occasionally the sun peeped out between
the clouds, but he was not allowed 10 look
long before the riffs would Drift closer To-
gethcr and obscure him entirely, and 80 II
continued until night.
TIE PARADE.
The programme for the day included a
parade by the military and other visiting
organizations. which formed at the Regi-
mental Armory at i:30 =. NJ. as follows:
Brigade staff, composed Of Brigadier-
General Anderson. Lieuteuant-ColOnel
Stern. Major Dlnneen, Mojor Evans, and
Major Iloge. The brigade stad was accom-
panied hy the officers OF the First Virginia
rcglmeut-COloncl SpotswOOd. Lleutenani-
Colonel Elicit, Captain Bargamin, and Cap
tain BoSseuX.
V0elkor's band.
First Virginia acknowledgements \,
Il. G. y, f, and +.
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues,
headed by their drum corps.
Nelson Division Uniformed Rank
knights OF Pyth.sS, Of Pennsylvann,
headed by the Glen Rock band.
Continental Guards OF Washington in
Continental uniform.
The Richmond Iiowiizcrs, headed by
the Firs' Regiment drum corps.
The procession proceeded down Broad
street to Ninth. thence to Main. up Main
10 Fifth, up Fifth to Franklin, where Lee
Camp, No. /, Confederate Veterans. met II,
and qt the corner OF Second and Franklin
number oi ladies Of the Hollywood As.
Socilton i'm carriages joined in. The line
Of march was then continued up Franklin
TO Laurel, up Laurel 10 Floyd, up Floyd
TO Cherry. down Cherry to Hollywood.
The procession entered the cemctory-the
soldiers with reversed arms and the bands
playing funeTcal music-and proceeded to
Soldiers Hill, where the military was formed
IN line.
A stand had been erected on the crest Of
the hill, tastiIy decorated with the Stars
and stripes, the flag Of Virginia, cedar, and
bunting.
DECORATION.
The actual work Of decoration. that sys-
tcmatic labor Of love which would leave no
grave neglected, was done under many dis
advantages yesterday, though II was but a
new test Of our womcu'S devotion. Many
Of them to whom sections had been assigned
went 10 the work with umbrellas, water
proofs, and oycrshoes, and so, defying the
frequent showers and wet ground, made
OF all the flowers at their COM
mand.
In HOLLYWOOD are the graves Of some few
Federal soldiers who were buried there
soon after the surrender Of the city, and
these have. in common with the 10000 Con-
foderatc graves, ever been the objects OF the
ladies' care. snd were so yesterday. The
Federal soldiers living here in Richmond
have gracefully reciprocated every such at
tention, and nowhere has there been more
cordial fraternity between the blue aud the
gray than in this city.
Many Of the private sections 1t Holly
woCd--nea.ly every one OF which holds the
bodies Of Cont, derate soldIers-were yes
torday decorated with handsome and costly
designs OF flowers.
JUDGE FLoCRNOY.
About half-past 5 O'Clock Hon. II. W.
FiOuTuoy, Secretary Of the Commonwealth,
accompanied 10y Rev. Mr.. W. f. Evans,
pastor Of Park.Place Methodist church,
asccnded the platform, and coming to the
front Judge FlournOy said:
Ladies and Gentlemen,-T season Of
flowers has come again, and with 1t Holly
wood annual memorial-day. The ladies' OF
Richmond are here to decorate the graves OF
brave soldiers OF both armies and 10 keep
queen i'm the hearts aud memories Of the
people their noble deeds. have now the
pleasure 20 introduce 10 you Rev. Mr..
Evans.
REV. MIR. EVANS.
Mr.. Evans came forward and said:
Ladies and Geutlcmen,-I should indeed
do violence 10 the emotions OF my heart
did ! not, first Of all, acknowledge the
honor done me by the Memorial AssOcia-
tion in selecting me TO stand before you as
the orator Of the day on this occasion.
And 10 the Association l make my
humble bow, and sincerely express my
profoundeSt appreciation oi their COM
plIment. And vet ] could wish that
this humble task had fallen upon
some one better fitted by the graces OF
oratory 10 utter the praises OF the heroes
who sleep their last sleep In the graves
us. For, as Shakespeare
makes Comiuius say, "The deeds OF Corio-
lanus must not be uttered ieebly." How
ever, there Is one justification necessary to
q speaker on an occasion like tins which
/ am proud 20 claim. IL Is not that
bear in my body the marks and sears OF
war, or that the muses. have inspired
me with new song in which to
set forth the herOism OF our noble
dead-not these, but this-that none
surpass me in ardent love for the
traditions OF our sunny Southland. and
that none cherish with more reyerent atfec-
tion the memory OF the brave men whose
path Of glory led them to these graves.
'Cheersl The hand Of this hallowed oc-
casion touches the harp-strlngs OF my heart,
and my whole being Is in harmony with
ind responsive TO the day. Did lack in-
,piration the day would supply IL.
THE LOYAL SOUTH.
The Greeks had legend 10 the effect that
the nightingaI& sang sweetest when near
the tomb Of Epollo, and surely il an orator
lacked inspiration, he would be at no loss
10 find IL here-here in the shadow OF yon.
der granite pile, and in the midst OF a
thousand billow-like graves. among which
.leen Hin. Pickett "Jebv Stuart, and a