The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-06-01
MONDAY,
DECORATION DAY.
Exercises By The G.. A. r. at the
Nuuanu Cemetery.
Address BY DIR. ". 81. Emerson
Poem Read BY Mrs. Nellie
HoIbrook BIinn.

was observed mere OY the Geo. W. dc |
Long Post. While thousands of miles
from the scenes of the conflicts during /
the Rebellion and while living under the /
flag OF a foreign country, the brave COM /
rades here were not forgetful of paying the |
only tributes that can be paid to their |
companions who fought by their side, |
bat who now lie beneath the sod. No |
other day in the history of America is so
frsught with memories; no other, per-
haps, 80 universally observed through
out not only the United States, but
wherever rests the ashes OF member OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic and
there is living comrade to decorate his
grave. The decorations were not pro-
fuse, Yet they were placed upon the
graves with as earnest a feeling as upon
tbs graves of the largest cemetery.
Many OF the other graves were covered
with floral tributes, beautiful IN design
and of the sweetest fragrance.
The procession left the K. of P. Hall,
on King street, at P. NJ, arriving at the
cemetery shortly of 4 o'clock. A de-
taehment of Honolulu policemen led the
way, followed by the Queens Guard.
Marines and sailors from the U. s. s.
Iroquois preceded the members OF the
q. A. Il.
Arriving at the G. A. r. plot, the ex-
ereises were commenced by Mr.. j. N.
Wright, with brief address. Short
speeches were also read by Messrs. j.
Green and G.. Eldridge, after which DIR.
Eldridge introduced Mrs. Nellie Hol-
brook Blinn, who read the poem given
below. Mrs. Biinn has for several years
been in great request to read on similar
occasions at San Francisco. The poem
read Saturday was written by Miss Ina
d. Coolbroth for Miss Nellie Holbrook,
now Mrs. N. I'll. Blinn, of San Francisco,
and recited by her on Decoration Day
year OF SO ago. The following Isl the
poem:
The sea tides ebb and flow;
The seasons come and 90,
Summer and sun succeed the cloud and
snow,
And April rain awakes the violet.
Earth puts away
Her somber robes and cheeks with tear
drops wet,
In some sad yesterday.
Dimple again with smiles and half
forget
Their grief as the warm rose
EoiS Cto ZIG might ucW5 HnSu HOoatiuO
glows.
Change follows us on change
Swift as the hours and far away and
strange
AS the dim memory of nights troubled
dream
In dawn's returning beam,
Seem the dark, troubled years,
The sad, but glorious years,
Writ on the Nations heart In blood and
tears.
All Godl and yet we know
1t was no dream in those days long ago
1t was no dream, the beat
To arms, the steady tramp along the
street
OF answering thousands, quick with
word and deed
Unto their country's need.
No dream the banners hinging, fresh
and fair,
Their colors on the air.
Not stained and worn like these
Returning witnesses,
With sad, dumb lips, most eloquent OF
those
Returning never moreI
OF those, on many hard-fought battle
field,
From hand to hand that bore
Their starry folds, and knowing not te
yield,
Fell. with a brave front steady to theil
foes.
Year after year the Spring steals back
again,
Bringing the bird and blossom in he
train,
Beauty and melody -
But they return no more
Borne on what tides OF pain,
Over the unknown sea,
Unto the unknown shore
Amid the pomp and show
OF glittering ranks; the cannon's smok
and roar;
Tossed in the rock and reel
OF the wild waves of battle, to and fro
Amid the roll of drums the ring of steel
The clash OF saber and the fiery hell
OF bursting shot and shell;
The scream OF wounded steeds, thu
thunder tones
OF firm command, the prayers, tn
cheers, the groans--
Wars mingled shouts of triumph an
despair,
Blending with trumpet blast and bugl
blare.
But not alone amid the battle wrack
They died--our brave, true men.
BY Southern glade and glen,
In dark morass, within whose pathles
deeps
The serpent coils and creeps,
They fell with the fierce bloodhound o
their track.
Amid the poisonous breath
OF crowded cells, and the rank, festerin
death
OF the dread prison pen;
From dreary hospital.
And the dear sheltering wall
OF home that claimed them but to los
again,
They passed away, the army of OF
slainl
o, leader tried and true,
What words may speak OF thee?
Last sacrifice divine,
Upon our country's shrinel
o. man that lowered above
Thy fellow-men, with heart the ten
crest.
And "whitest soul the Nation ev
knew!"f
Bravest and knightliestl
We lay our sorrow down
Before thee as q crown;
We fold thee with our love