Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-16
AT THE PARK AND HOME.
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A large number OF persons OF both
sexes took Adsantage OF the me
weather, yesterday, and VISITED tie
North SIDE park, SheEe Wurzeargs
eaad dlseouFsed some very inspiring
music. Il : az unusual s.gat - see =
summer resort tnTonged With people on
a midwinter day. out yesterday, the
scene vas presented At TIE NORTH SIDE
with tie usual aceompanlmenLs except
base bal and roller skating.
The grounds Of The park are adjacent
u the Soldiers Home cemetery WHICH
stands a. a menaelng reminder 10 The
gay anu frivolous, that life after al Is
bat a heeting shscOw. and soon the
merFlest must ind a resting place IN the
spot reserved FOR the dead. The graves
are arranged IA terraces, extending
from the railway tracks eastward, and
at the head OF each fallen nero tue gov
eminent has caused 10 Dc PLACED a SIM
pie marble slab bearing MS name and
regiment. Oue small monument and 4
cross representative OF the faith OF him
who slumbors beneath, are the only
distinguishing marks III tie little ceme-
terry. differing from the PLAIN head
stone. OF the rest. In the
north section the newly made graves
are marked with plain white boards,
bearing the number, name and date OF
death OF the soldier IN black letters.
| The two latest graves bear date OF Feb
ruary 3, 1891. Above the collins the
earth - loosely thrown into "A scattered
/ heap, while lying about the inclosure
| in confusion are the boards and planks
and other fixtures used about the open
/ graves. This section bear unnlistaka-
ole evidence OF haste and neglect. while
the one 10 the south is neat and taste
I fully graded. As one stands and looks
upon the rough mounds, irregular aud
unshapely. the words OF RIP Van
/ Winkle intuitively enter the mind,
Are we - soon forgotten when we
are gomez
The flag ut the home floated at half
| mast yesterday, as a tribute 10 General
Sherman and Admiral Porter. The old
vets were gathered about IN knots dis
cussing the "march to the sea" and the
man who was not along with that ex-
pedtion has not registered at the home.
Ii was only a question of which one
could tell the most exaggerated story
about the foraging detours, yet all
mentioned the name of the illustrious
| dead with reverence and IN undertones.
One old fellow, who claimed that he
had acted az porter to the chief during
that memorable journey from Atlanta
| pathetically told of the capture of
| pig and It's subsequent fate ut head
quarters. HIS eyes filed with tears
and his voice trembled with the emo
ton he could not repress as ne told his
hearers: "Boys, Ill never fergit how
| the Gineral cut inter that small hog
| and s!icing Oft 'er piece, handed 1t ter
me on the knife. 1t war the first piece
| Of meat | had seen fer three weeks, and
l tell yer 1t fitted the spot"
The surroundings at the home at this
season of the year are not inviting.
| The wagon ways are muddy and the
lawn is brown and dead. The buildings
on the exterior are dirty and murky.
| One is not favorably impressed with the
| cleanliness of the windows, from the
outside. The smoke from the soft
coal burned in the boiler room covers
everything with black, forblddlng
SCOT. The home yesterday was any
thing but cheerful and home-like for
| the brightness OF the day magnified the
| untldy appearance Of the grounds and
buildings. Nearly every window was
| ornamented with the grizzly features of
an inmate or embellished with TN cans
containing scrawny, half-starved plants.
The interior presented different as
| pect altogether. The floors were pol
lshed scrupulously clean and bright.
The walls and ceilings were fresh and
new. The rooms and beds were AS clean
as water, soap and pure air could make
| them, while there was an air of cosi-
ness and welcome quite captivating.
| The work Of the elements on the out
side Is beyond the control of the Off
GERS in charge, but on the inside nothing
is allowed to pollute the air o. talnt the
quiet neatness and order of the place.