Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-05-26
IN THEIR MEMORY
HOW THE oeSERvANcEs OF DECO
RATION DAY ORIGINATED.


greeted the returning brave; from all parts
OF the south the Union soldiers were coming
home, to receive the homage Of a nation and
i've a. an honored class, while the Door Con-
tetlerate sorrowfully sought his desolated
home with only wounds and glory for his
pay.
At last there was peace The almost ex-
hausted nation breathed freely again and
took account Of her hurts Over SOC. 600 men
had died on the field and In the hospital:
nearly 1900 moro were disabled; 1000, 600
had been subtracted from the virile force Of
the country, while wealth had been wasted
and money poured out like water. In the
north there was mourning enough; but in the
soutn every seeond plantation was desolate
and the commerce Of every port was dead.
every family wore weeds Of woe, every fiftl,
house was in ashes, every third soldier had
sunk to his grave. The nation as a whole
bad breathed freely but day when its presi-
dent was assassinated, and the grand review
OF aO,OOO Union veterans at Washington. on
the I'd OF May, was contemporary with the
beginning Of the trial of the conspirators. In
the south all was uncertainty, their chosen
leaders In prison, and all prominent Confeder-
ates In doubt Of their future Verify, It was
no time for Decoration day ceremonies.
Yet even that early were the beginnings of
the custom noted. A few southern ladies on
different days. and at widely separated
points, had during the spring held simple
ceremonies at the cemeteries and garlanded
the tombs OF their lamented heroes, Early
IN 1850, by common impulse, the custom
was adopted In the south; the 26tb of Anril
was the day selected, and 1t remains the
southern day. Let it be noted that Decoro-
ton day had its origin in the south, and that
It's hrst general observance wQs marked by
some touching incidents which tended tn
soften the animosities of the late war,
AT Columbus, Miss, where many Federal
soldiers were buried, the ladies. in n
noble spirit OF tenderness and hope for tho
renewed union, strewed flowers upon the
graves OF both Federals and Confederates.
anu IRON every part Of the nation came
warm eulogies There were those who
sneered and disapproved this womauly act
but The Vicksburg Herald, then published by
Federal and edited by Confederate veteran
gave this manly tribute.
I'VE envy not the narrow heartedness of
journalists who can find fault with so noble
an action. To our mind it speaks volumes
Tor the purity of woman's character Our
ladies' are not politicians-they are Christian
women AND while engaged in decorating
ana preserving the graves Of our soldiers
they thought not OF warlike strife. nor Of
vengeance against the dead. They orlv
knew, as they viewed those solitary graves
OF strangers in strange land, that they were
sleeping far away from home; fur from
mothers and sisters and as they dropped the
spring roses OF our sunny cline upon their
silent resting Places it was with the Chris
tlan hope that some fair sister in the north
in like charitable spirit, might not overlook
the silent graves Of our southern sons which
are scattered among them
Inc charitable and patriotic hope thus ex-
pressed was not Immediately realized; but
from many kindred spirits came a warm re-
sponse, and from the pen of one northern
woman came, when this incident was related
to her, that touching poem, "The Blue and
the Gray"
Everywhere in the south the day was
looked upon as one Of sad memories. and
people OF both colors maintained an air Of
quiet and mournful respect So highly was
this appreciated ut the north that there was
general call for the adoption Of the custom.
aud In May, 1867, in many places, decoration
days were observed with appropriate cere-
monies In 1868 the southern day came in
the very heat and fury of the first election
under the reconstruction acts, and all tender
memories were laid aside for tho time. In
deed, all testimonies agree that that spring
was the season OF greatest bitterness ever
known In the south; and the beautiful Gus
toms OF Decoration day would have been ont
Of place.
In the meantime, however, the most active
Federal soldiers were organized in the Grand
Army Of the Republic; that organization m
pointed May 80 as Decoration day. It was
generally observed and has steadily grown
II the popular affection. On the 5th of Nav.
leos, John a. Logan, commander in chief,
and n. T. Chapman, ad1utant general of the
": "A. H., issued from headquarters in
ashlngton the first general order for posts
and comrades to decorate the graves of the
dead 1t was document of rare beauty and
most unofficial eloQuence, concluding thus.
1--WE should guard their graves with sacred
vigilance. AL that the consecrated wealth
and taste OF tho nation can add to the.
auorhment aud security is but fitting
tribute to the memory Of her slain defenders
Let no "anton foot tread rudely on such hal
lowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite
Tho coming and going of reverent visitors
aud fond Ilournera Let no vandalism of
Avarlce or neglect, NO ravagcs of time testify
% the present or to the coming generations
That we have forgotten a. people the cost of
, Tree and undivided republic. Ii other ewes
Erow ouii and other hands slack, and other
acarts colo IN tho solemn trust, ours shall |
1880 - s~A6 - SAI0 ussuG ana warmth !
II life remain to US Lot us, then, at the ap- |
pointed time gather round their sacred re-
mains and garland the passionless mounds |
lbove them with the choicest flowers of |
'prins time: let us raise above them the dear
I'D dag they saved froa, dishonor; let us in
his solemn presence renew our pledges to aid
md assist those whom they have left among
ls, sacred charges upon nations gratitude
he soldiers and sailors widow and orphan i
Thus was this beautiful custom formally
sta bitshed; each successive anniversary finds
he people moro minded to observe it. and in
many parts OF the land all the departed are
encountered with offerings, and the day bids
Dead" ! II Rr.nn ."o
One OF the good results flowing from, the
BEAUTIFUL ceremonies of Decoration dav. ia
be revival of family fellowship, the reunion
u hearts and hands around the grave of
ora,non relative. We all know how eas;,v
lear relatives become alienated or embit-
cred over questions Of property; and how
my crecps in when one is rapidly growing
ich and the other growing poor. But When
hey meet by the grave of brother or father
rho served bis country, and share i'm The
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