The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-06-05
Decoration Day.

Promptly at 2 o'clock according to
program the Grand Armv and the
Womens' Relief Corps, with host Of
visitors and citizens filled the hall in
the Syndicate block, where the Decora-
tion exercises were to be held. The
day was lovely one and visitors,
farmers, ranchmen and people from
the ne,ghboring towns crowded the
city. Patriotic citizens young and old,
children, whose fathers lay buried
meath the. grassy mounds Of Gettys-
burg, ,Antietam andShiloh, on the sandy
banks Of the Mississippi, down in the
everglades Of the Gulf states, in the
dense woods Of the Wilderness and in
the sunken lands Of Arkansas, all
were there and bearing the native
flowers of South Dakota mingled with
the cultivated fora of older states, did
honorable and gracious tribute to TIE
noble men, whose memory they COM
|commemorated.
Judge E. G. Dudley, Post comman-
der Of Silas A. Strickland Post called
the meeting to order, and A. s. Stew
art read the order of the Grand Com.
mander on the observance of me-
mortal Day. The ritualistic cere.
monies for the occasion were then pro-
ceded with and at the close the
Bower Band played medley of pat
riotlc songs, which was followed by
prayer offered by the Rev. H. d.
Smith. Albert Adams then recited
"a Tribnte to the Soldier" A prose
recitation that was exceedingly we'll
rendered, and in a voice clear, destinct
and full of volume, the young man
made the hearts of the audience thrill,
as the we'll enunciated words touched
their ears.
The school children, of which there
was a large chorus, then sang "I'he
Old Flag" in a manner that showed
they understood the words and appre-
ciated the sentiment. Capt. w. v.
Lucas, the commandant of the Soldiers
Home, then delivered one of his STIR
ring addresses. His whole soul is in
terested in the welfare of the old SOL
diers and one who has once heard him
knows that the captain is enthusiastic
and thoroughly imbued with patriot
ism. With a soul full Of sympathy
and a heart overilowing with love for
the old soldier, he spoke as an old SOL
dier only can speak. His address was lis
tened to with marked attention and
Will be remembered by all who heard
| it as one of the memorable events of
occasion.
Next on the program was "7he Vet
eran's Last Song" solo by Mrs. A. S.
Stewart, with a quartette chorus
consisting Of J. G. Dickover, Mrs
Stewart, Miss Gray and r. R. Hare,
Mrs. Stewart, as a vocalist, is so
we'll known among our citizens,
that words of praise are entirely SUI
perfluous. An entire audience enjoyed
the singing and many thanks are due
Mrs. Stewart for her voluntary partic-
ipation in the program. Jay Moore
then reclted "Put the Bright Side Out
to Mother" Probably none of the
younger people realized the beauty of
the sentiment in the recitation, but
the older ones know that the admon-
itlon "Gheer Mother" comes with a
power that is irresistible. Let moth
er always see the bright side, and one
who thinks Of this will never 90 very
far out of the way.
The procession then formed on Chi
cago avenue preceded by the Bower
Band followed by the school children
in carriages and four-in-hands, the
color bearer with the "starry banner
leading the vanguard. Following them
were the Grand Armv boys and the
Womans' Relief corps.then the visitors
and citizens in carriages, buggies and
wagons until some sixty-three vehicles
were counted in the procession. At
the cemetery the decoration Of the
graves of the fallen heroes with the
fowery emblems Of eternal gratitude
and fidelity. The memories that linger
around this OCCASION will be entwined
with the noble deeds of those whose
valorous death was this day commem-
Grated.
Base Ball.