Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-30
STREWN WITH FLOWERS.
How Memorial Day Was Observed il
 This City.

How Memorial Day Was Observed in
 This City.
 To-day, with it's sad memories, strikes many heart with sorrow, and yet it is day which is never neglected in it's celebration by the G. A. R. Wadhams' Post has for years given the Both day Of May strict observance and to-day sur passed in many respects any past cele- bration.
 At an early hour committees of four or five could be seen leaving the hall of the G. A. R. loaded down with flowers. Every cemetery where Union soldier is buried was visited and strewn over the graves of those brave men were the bright mementoes which nature yields so generously for this day. At o'clock the post, 100 men strong, under com mana of Commander Holmes and head ed by the Mattatuck. drum corps, marched to the soldiers monument. Here Commander Holmes made few feeling remarks appropriate to the day and then asked the spectators to sing America" as the gray haired veterans decorated the monument and grounds with floral tributes.
 Chaplain Waters then invoked the divine blessing with prayers for the comrades who had fought and died by their sides. Commander Holmes then introduced Rev w. H. Barton of the First Methodist church, who delivered the oration of the day.
 The speaker expressed surprise that he, total stranger almost, was called on, but the day brought memories which he would relate. He spoke of the enjoyment the spectators took at the music of the flies and drums and contrasted it with the feelings of the veterans who stood before him, re- pn AsN cannon, the rattle of the musketry and the dying of their comrades as they fell by their sides. He said the day should not be held as a holiday, but should be kept sacred and as a holy day, It was day of inspiration, caused bv the memories which the OCT shadow ing monument brought forth. He spoke of the beautiful picture presented by the decoration of the graves of dead soldiers by comrades hands. He touched light ly on the war of the revolution and it's duty, he said, of every soldier to main tam those principles of freedom and have America what our forefathers in- tended it should be; of the people, for the people and by the people.
 . The address was we'll received and enthused the large crowd of listeners. After the ceremony of decoration the lAne re-1OrTneQ ana marched to the opera house where for two hours the members Of Wadhams post and their many friends enjoyed 8 stereoptican exhibi- tion. John 0. Taylor of Hartford, past commander of Robert Tyler post, and at the present time secretary of the Con- nectlcut Prison association, was the ora tor and exhibitor. Before beginning the exhibition he made speech on some of the happenings of the war, and it's ending, which woke up all the blood in the veins of the battle-scarred veterans, Mir Taylor was cheered to the echo. One hundred and forty views, which vividIy recalled the terrible struggle, were thrown on the canvas and each met with strong. approval. Mrs Martha Roulston, leading soprano of Dr Twitchell's church on the hill in Hart ford, and George B. Wright, lead ing bass singer of the Center church, Hartford, touched a popular chord by their rendition of the many patriotic songs. Atthe close of the enter tainment the members adjourned to the G. A. R. hall, where the ladies had collation.