Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-28
THANKSGIVING,
TEE DAY VERY GENERALLY OBSERVED BY
OUR PEOPLE.
The Services at Elm Groye-The Sermons 81 the
Casrchts-The Dinner 10 the BOys-Re-
csguons at tie Y. n. c. A.

both in the City Hall and Court House,
except. of course, police headquarters;
Sunday hours were observed in the post
office. the government offices were
closed. and business was almost entirely
suspended. The day was a most pleas
ant one. cool and bracing, and during
the afternoon and evening the streets
were filed with promenaders. There
were services at most of the churches,
and the congregations were large, as
rule.
\ feature of the day was the dedl-
catorv services at the Stone Church
cemetery at Elm Grove during the
afternoon. by the comrades OF the u. a.
II. Posts of this city. The members oil
Holiday. Sheridan and Stephens Posts,
Patriotic Sons Of America, Senior ana
Junior Orders of American Mechanics
and the Woman's Relief Corps, TO the
number of nearly three hundred
boarded special train OF three cars,
ON the Elm Grove road, at 1875, ana
went directly out to the Grove, whefe
Commander Oscar Seeley, VINO
had the ceremonies OF the day
in charge, had preceded them. The
Messengers disembarked and marched
in a bodv to the Stone Church, which
was already well filled. When the SerV-
ices were commenced, there was prop
ably seven or eight hundred people
within the building. The exercises were
opened by the choir of the church sing
ing Nearer My God TO Thee after
which DIR. Storer, acting on behalf OF
Stone Church Cemetery Association,
formally transferred the plot OF ground
10 the G.. \. H.. making brief speech
setting forth the gift To the Order. In
replv. Commander Oscar Seeley SAID;
aDr Storer: In the name Of my com
rades of the Grand Army of the Republic,
representing as they do, all soldiers ana
sailors who defended the integrity and
authority OF the nation, | thank you, ana
those whom YOU represent, Tor TINS
memorial Its very silence Is Impressive.
Without articulate speech II is eloquent.
IL needs no words. II is in itself an
Grafton. II assures us that our uedu
soldiers are held in neutrality-suspicious.
dead who gave their lives for the security
of the citizen and the union oil the States;
obedience to the command OF the nation
ALWAYS and everywhere, since tue oOllga-
tions of citizenship are not restricted TO
time or place or to the conflict OF arms. IL
piyes announcement for the future, since
the recognition and approval 1t gives oil
patriotic fidelity and heroism Will be an In
centive for the display of public valor ana
virtue in all coming time. There can De
no doubt that the honor you pay TO the pa
triot dead. and 10 their memorable DEEDS,
will serve not only 10 make American cltl-
zenship in these days more reputable, out
also 20 maintain and perpetuate, through
all future generations, the union anu au-
thority Of the United States OF America.
MIR Seelev then commended Mr. Dan
ieI Maxwell. and others, for the inter-
est they had taken in securing the
ground for the use of the q. y. r., and
closed by inStructing the AdJutant, W.
). Meek, to detail 4 guard OF honor.
The Adiutant detailed Comrades John
:. Wise. George ROdenbaugh, ID. Me-
Ginnis and Gustav Bowers, and then
the Commander instructed Comrade
Thomas Chambers, officer Of the day, to
station the guard. This being done.
the regular dedicatory services laid
down i'm the e.. A. K. ritual were gone
through with, the services being con-
Quoted by the officers already named,
as well as by Chaplain Andrew Ray,
Officer Of the Guard John Liller, Junior
Vice Command John Holt and others.
After the formal dedication, the Fol
can quartette sang Let the dead and
M ii. G.. Rihaldaffer then made
-. IL. tfr Of tho day dur
ing which he said;
"A quarter Of q century ago, this blessed
land Of ours entered upon Il new era OF
peace and prosperity. For four years war
had ravaged the country; but the day dawn,
ed when the war was over and the land
was filled with exultant rejoicing. Right
had conquered. Peace had come. The
people reioiced. Tramp, tramp, tramp, the
bows came marching home; the air was
filled with victory, aud the whole nation
made the homecoming time OF gladneSs.
But when the first joys of victory were
PASSED. then we began 10 ask, What IS the
cost.
..The South. believing her cause TO be
inst had given her sons freely 10 the cause.
The North, believing the Union should De
preserved, no matter what else might lall,
had given her sons and her treasure with
out stint. Long and fierce had been the
struggle, but now it was ended. Inc naSs
were TO be furlcd, the swords to be
shcathed. the musl,ets to be stacked, the
bugles were TO cease to blow, and the drums
cease to beat, the fields were again to be
plowed. and men and horses be engaged IN
peaceful pursuits.
But the cost what was the cost: There
was the deSolation incident to war; houses
burned. bridges burned, public works
burned. or these things destroyed by some
other means-destruction everywhere; but
men of stout hearts and willing hands said,
We will soon repair all this. And mainly
IL has been done. Then there was the
money cost, debt reaching into the oil
lions, but the financiers Of ourcountry SAID,
Give US prosperity and we will soon MAKE
this a thing of the past; aud how rapidly
il has melted away. Ten more years VIII
likely see il gone.
But there was another cost. Shall
speak Of II! Must | speak of it. Yes.
But let me speak of il reverently.
The call for troops had been made. The
sturdy sons OF this country had nobly
answered the call In the recruiting
camps the regiments were filling. The men
have oeeu mustered in. The uniform and
equipments have been supplied. The work
of drilling and discipline have begun. The
order comes to move TO the front See that
MAGNIFICENT regiment. with its full equip
ment of men. The drums are beating,
flags are FIXING, and as they march along,
cheer after cheer salutes and encourages
them. With sad hearts, aud yet with Joy
Gus pride. mothers and wives watch the
moving procession, and at the departing
time bid them good bye aud God speed
They have gone, the pride OF the comihu
,,;tv Tho ctal,vart brave noble sons gone,
TO battle for home and native lands, gone,
To bear the tolls, and privations, anu sacri-
fees of a soldiers life, gone TO meet their
brother man IN mortal strife.
Il see another picture. Q, bow real 1t
is. as l remember it to-day, The war Is
over and the regiments are coming home,
but as they march up the street TO better
music than that we heard before, for they
have had long practice. And with truer
stem than when they went away, Tor many
an hour has been spent upon the drill
Ground. As they march with drums beat
incand flags flving, everything shows the
toucn of war. The flags are tattered and
torn bv the bullets, the bright uniforms
that we're show the hard usage oil the
camp. The steps Of the soldiers are hrm,
but the years of toll and suffering mas
taken away their buoyancy, and look from
the first line where the drums are
heating TO the last line in the moving
column, how thinned are the ranks. Ihere
is many an absent one.
You ask the question. Where are they
Listen. Rolling, rolling out upon the val
levs and echOing among the nil tops, we
hear again at the break OF dag the soldiers
call TO work and duty, the reyille. But
will they wake 10 its callt See yonder that
long line once again in position, as the men