The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-07
MEMORIAL DAY.
The Asperities of Strife Followed
by the Amenities of Peace.
Decoration of the Graves OF Heroes
and Statesmen by the Grand
Army Post and Ladies
of Austin.

The members of the Joseph A. Mower
Post No. 10, of the Grand Army OF the
Republic of this department, assembled
Yesterday morning in their hall over the
State National bank, for the purpose OF
paying respect to the memory of the
fallen heroes of the war and decorating
the graves of those who are buried in the
state and city cemeteries.
The hall had been previously decorated
by Mesdames @. W. Kicker, V. @. Thomas,
j. N. Gilbert and Friedman. After Col. j.
w. Burke, commander of the post, had
stated the object OF the meeting and the
usual services were had by the chaplain,
Professor Anderson's appropriate songs,
entitled "Charity" and America" were
heartily sung, with Mrs Friedman Mt the
piano. Following some other ceremonies
the familiar air, "Auld Lang Syne," was
rendered, and Professor Anderson TT ad an
original poem, "The Gray and the Blue,
which was well received, as follows
Through the nations heart there surges
Gratitude and mullled dlrges
On this bright memorial day.
Memry marshals hosts enCamping,
Sees them marching, hears them tramping,
Softly tread, hast Is camping
Meath the cod this morn of May
Lo, what grand parades and muster
With their Grant and Mead and Custer,
Our departed comrades gave
How they double quick assaulted,
Never questioned, seldom halted,
Like an avalanche they yaulted
'Gainst the breastwork, shots and grave
Though they fell on fields the CORY,
They will live in song and story,
In the hearts of friends and foes.
Heroes were they, saints and sages,
And their fame, on brightest pages,
Shall go ringing down the ages,
For they healed our country swoes.
Many graves are not recorded,
Mary heroes not rewarded
BY monument or pen,
For they fell on lonely p!ckets,
In the forest swamp and thickets,
en- the corduroys and wickets,
Down the hostile glade and glen.
Where they fell are flowers growing,
And the zephyrs, gently blowing,
Sing their requiem to-day.
Butterflies above them litter,
Songsters chrp and sadly twitter,
And the lights upon them glitter,
While we strew the flowers of May.
Live forever, friends departed,
You were true and noble-hearted,
All who wore the Grey or Blue.
You in death are reunited,
And we living faith have plighted
That the past Of wrongs were righted,
by the Grey and by the Blue
Here we bring this floral token
OF faith that nee was broken
BY the the Blues and by the Greys.
We shake hands as friends forever
And protest that naught shall sever
Soldier friends, no, never, never,
TIL the fnis of our days
Judge Richardson then made a brief
but expressive address which was warmly
applauded; as follows:
1--WE meet to day not to honor the dead who fell
in the noblest cAuee that ever enlisted human eff
fort and human sympathy. Their own deeds and
their own sacrifice stitute their highest honor,
and, so long as history follows the course of time,
30 long will their names be he'd in highest rever-
enee and their example stimu ate the patriotism
of generations yet unborn
We meet TO lay our tribute of love on the graves
OF our fallen comrades, and while wedo So 10 tes-
tify our respect for those who fought and died on
the wrong side under a mistaken sense of duty
We geek not TO reopen old wounds OF perpeirate
occasion like this IL Is well TO revert 10 the GREAT
principles involved In the strife and ever and al.
ways hold 10 the tight for which we ught and for
which our country suffered so much
Our civil war marks an epoch in thehistory of our
countTy-an epoch not less important than that