The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-06-13
Decoration Day in New Jersey.
NEWARK, N. j., May 3otb, 1889

NEWARK, N. J., May 3otb, 1889.
Editors Iatelgencer: One Of the great
est differences between this section oftb
country and that from which we came j
the abundance OF holidays, and thei
observance in the former, and the lacl
of such observance In the latter. From
our association with the people of th'
/ Northern Cities We gather that they
Cherish the anniversary Of the Fathers
birth, the "fourth" and Decoration Day
with as much reverence as they do the
world. recognized and honored Christmas
and among these Decoration Day is not
the least, either as to its general obser'
vance OF attendant pageantry.
We were made aware on May 18th
that the succeeding day was to be gen.
e:al holiday by the announcement that
places of business would be closed on the
following day in honor of"Our illustri.
ous dead" )" and on this morning, as oul
| matinal dreams we're disturbed by the
patriotic strains of "America," as they
| fell from the chimes of neighboring
cathedral in stirring cadences upon our
half slumbering senses, We we're again
reminded that the day vas great holi.
day. At nine o'clock We strolled up
Central avenue to Broad street, and push.
ed opr way to the front of the crowd that
lined the Curb of that street the whole
length Of the proposed line Of march Of
the parade, from where the line entered
Broad Street to where it left it, which
was about mile in length. When we
arrived on the ground the column vas
just filing cut Of Centre street into
Broad, and our position on the corner
gave us an admirable vantage for observ.
ing the moving line. The column was
composed ofthe military and civic or.
CARNATIONS Of the city, and each division
was we'll supplied with emblematic ban.
ners and beautiful flowers. At the head
of the column rode the mounted police
and officers, who cleared the way for the
parade which followed. Following these
came the division of q. S. soldiers which
il stationed in the City, which moved
slowly on with measured tread timed
to the Funeral March. Next in line
came the different @. A. R. Posts. Ofthese
the Lincoln Pest was in the van, its
marching members being followed by a
magnificent floral offering, which Was
mounted on truck and draped With the
national colors; and on the summit of
the pyramid formed of lovely flowers and
auttering, flags stood the figure of Lin.
coin. The other g. A. R. Posts of the
City followed in their order,-each with
beautiful floral displays, and carrying
their flags at half mast. After those
came the municipal authorities and
Clergymen, followed by the City Fire
Department; and as . conclusion were
the numerous carriages of the citizens.
The prettiest spectacle of the parade was
a floral piece, the Offering of the ladies,
which represented a pyramid of crimson
flowers and on il was inscribed, with
flowers of the purest white, 'To our de-.
parted" As the column passed along
between the lines Of smiling faces lower
ing clouds shed a few scant tears as if in
mockery of the sightseers who laughed
and crowded each other on the streets.
FAIRAloNT. CEMETERY.
Directly after noon the clouds, which
had been trailing their ragged skirts Of
mist up the river from the Bay all the
morning, suddenly broke and lifted, and
the May sun looked down with q softened
glow upon the city, the river aud the
country.
The closed doors of the different shops
in which there is usually such stir, the
hum of tie factories hushed into 30 deep
quiet, and the thousands of flags stream.
ing in the wind at half mast from the
roofs of all the public buildings and
numerous private ones, were sufficient to
give our thoughts peaceful and solemn
turn which ne decided to humcr by
paying a visit to the Oity's burying
place,-"The city Of the dead"
We entered Fairmont Cemetery from
Bellville Avenue by passing under dou.
Bile archway of massive unhewn, stone,
over which the trailing Ivy haswoven a
veil Of delicate green, givipgit a pictures
que appearance not easily imagined. We
had scarcely entered meath this portal
before restful feeling of quiet and seclu.
sion forced itaelfupon US and made u'
aware that ne were, though SO near the
city, yet far away from its noisy strife
and alone with Nature and her dead,
30 still and solemn was the beautiful
scene lying before us. From the en-.
trance a gentle incline,' covered with
towering monuments, gloomy looking
vaults and simple grassy mounds, led to
the summit of bluff which looks down
on the ripping current Of the Passaic
river and across to the wooded hills of the
country beyond. From this elevated
point the slope is gentle to the shore
which lies a few hundred yards away.
Graveled paths, laid out with many a
quaint aud curious turn, wind in and out
among the tombs. The entire place is
shaded by magnificent trees, and from
them, like tears, we're falling the rain
drops of the morning as they we're scat.
tered on the long wavy grasses beneath
by the breeze. We paused little dis.
lance from the shore, as ne gazed back
and upward to where countless shafts oi
spotless marble cleaned beneath the
dropping branches ofSpruce and Fir. or,
turning, looked across the water to the