The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-06-05
DECORATING THE GRAVES.


and touching tenderness of expression |
which language can not reach, and |
which is calculated to perpetuate a |
kind of soothing sympathy between |
the4iving and the dead There seems
to be little, if any, change III the
methods of observing, Memoriai or
Decoration day from ths-quite ancient
customs IN the old world, the graves
are covered with little obIong boxes,
| which are planted with perennial
shrubs, or are renewed with annual
flowers. Children are thus often seen
dressing the graves of their mothers.
and mothers wreathing garlands for
their children.
The village maiden to her grave shall
The fragrant garland. each returning
ssfected sweetsi in emblem of the maid,
waGi laid underneath this haH0"eo 'u'i
Unlike many ancient customs, the
| fcommemoration of the day is yearly
! becoming more extensively observed,
and with moressincerity and reverence,
and the birth of which, in this
country no doubt, can lie traced to a
period shortly after the close of our
| late unpleasantness-sO twenty-siX
years ago. While others, who have
given up. father, mother, brother,
sister, relative or friend to the Great
Inevitable, may observe the event
by paying tribute to the dead-it may
Justly be SAID that the day is a ''day
for>the. decorating of the-graves of the
| ,ry9n T1a
their country; men who sealed their
convictions with their lives.
THE .G.-A. r., CEREMONIES.
As.did other C. A. r. posts through
: out this land, SO did cur local post
observe the event with appropriate
: and touching ceremonies. Early in
the morning, on the 3Oth, the majority
of the members of the post, and a
large number of sympathizing friends,
wended their way to the Kinsley ceme-
tery, laden with an abundance OF
natures most beautiful fowers-the
tenderest Of all tokens-and after, the
usual ceremonies, they were strewH
{. upon the graves of the departed com
rades, and with them a small flag OF
d the stars and stripes was raised above
q the little mounds.
With the return of each succeeding
spring, the G. A. r. posts of, the lanC
- pay a.visit to the city of their departed
comrades, when nature is dressed il
her richest robes, when the birds caro-
their sweetest notes-when the ar il
,s laden with the aroma of f1owers-anC
a with hearts made tender by the sur
roundings- of gratitude and prid
5 of sadness ana fOrgiveness-no t.
- erect granite monuments, or rea
marble columns, but to present tn,
less enduring, but more expressive
tokens OF affection and admiration 70
the heroic achievements of the mel
and boys who died upon the altar o
freedom. One by one, i'll slow bu
ceaseless march, the comrades ar
being transferred, and before the returl
of another Memorial day, you, dea
comrade, may also have taken up you
abode in the city of the dead. and tn
kind memeDtoes which ybu assisted il
commemOrating the name OF the falle
heroes, may in return find restin
place upon yOnr marrow bed.
2. AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
At = O'Clock, the 6. a. r. post me
at their headquarters and marche
fifty strong to the beautifully decorate
- Congregational church, where th
largest assemblage ever congregated t
witness ceremonies of like natm
a. awaited their arrival The aor;
artistically arrayed. Oratioas weI
delivered by Prof. s. McMurtry an
Judge s. W. VandiYert, while the Re,
Wm. Burtle, pastor of the Methods
q Episcopal church, spoke at consider
q able length upon the observation {
tie dav. Choice SELECTIONS Of ,,,.,si