Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-30


the day had been very warm Even the
sweet breath scarce tempered the heat to
that small patriotic band of school teach
ers. school children. youths and maidens
who, with wreaths of new flowers, were
quickly marching to the tOlling of the bell
through the village street toward the GEM
etery. 1t was Memorial Day
The more self-provident had ridden or
sauntered on ahead, and now, when that
small procession came redly and rather
faggedly tramping into the cool retirement
of the graveyard, they were gathered in a
loose, mildly expectant crowd around a
pine platform, temporarily thrown up un-
der great elm in the center of the ceme-
terry, upon which the singers and the speak
er and the dignitaries generally were to sit
So many years in their untimely graves!
And these now living inherently loyal be-
ings some of them yet unborn when these
graves were dug here now in the sweet
evening light to remember the long depart
ed!
Such q peaceful scene, Here on the vii
lagos western edge the level, orderly Gem
etery, dappled with the grey shade of nat
ural eIms and suffused with the wholesome
incense of hardy flowers Yonder to the
west of 1t rolling sweep of tawny sedge,
skirted by line of hazeful woods, every
tint OF rich green under the attiring brush
of spring. --~
Over the gently alert crowd assembled
around the platform a gentler quiet settled
rs the minister rose and offered prayer, and,
afterwards, gave place to the singers The
music of plaintive voices in that gracious,
suggestive spot-one's heart rose In long
,wells beneath it like the ocean at eventide
The wind that brushed ones cheek was like
q benediction-
Then the speaker arose.
Ia A.
veterans among them move with a light
sigh of pathetic diversion-of tender diver
sion--as that slim, dapper youth. child OF
peace and favorite of fortune. came forward
In the gentle evening light and spoke out
In clear, oratoEical tones lines of such fine
sentiment, vicarious pathos, inherent pa
triotisnn?- He to tell of war who had known
only peaoer He to lament the dead who
experienced only lifel Yet it was goodly
sight-and they looked and listened with
pleased faces applauding him kindly-say-
ing soto voce how handsome'he was how
cleyeri
There occurred only one diversion-one
moment of withdrawn attention during his
entire address Once near its beginning 9
late conner had come stepping leisurely and
statelify toward the crowd reposeful under
the fire OF glances which greeted her; clad
Elm clear yellow like the primrose west
dusk hair seductiyely bantered by the light
fingered wind, bunch Of bright roses In
her hand One or two gentlemen had gone
few steps to met her and she took he1
place on the edge OF the crowd with a smil.
ing glance Of greeting to tho faces nearest
her and an instant turning of her attention
upon him who was speaking.
In the midst Of sentence-across the
clustering heads betweep-their eyes met
steady hook ofweleome and repose.
When his address was over ther was an
other song. and then the crowd began
gently to uickle OF toward the rows of low
mounds where the soldiers slept. as they
had fought, in ranks Mordant, had made