Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-06-04
THE NATIONS DEAD.
Honored by Divine Services and Appro-
PIRATE Exercises ut Garlock's
Opera House.

|
Another Memorial Day has come and
gone. Once more tribute of rare
flowers has strewn the graves of sleep
ing heroes, and tears of reverence and
regret have moistened the eyes OF young
and old. Another day of retrospection
has passed, and already we have turned
from it to the present and the fnture
somewhat saddened by the thoughts OF
our sacred dust, more grateful perhaps
for our legacy Of liberty and peace.
Sunday morning at III o'clock the
members Of Gen. Steele Post, q. A. X,
and large congregation of their fellow
citizens attended the services at the
Methodist church, where Rev. j.
V. Willis preached an eloquent sermon,
and the choir sang feelingIy 'dmb,sr
of sacred and patriotic selections For
the exercises of Monday afternoon the
opera house had been adorned with
special care, and presented beautiful
appearance when the audience assem-
bled between the hours Of l and 2
o'clock p. m. The background, ceiling
and flies of the stage had been tastily
covered with evergreen, a bank Of flow
ers covered the wall on the right, and
young pine softened the sharp outlines
Of the left with its green branches.
Over the footlights hung a picture of
Gen. U. S. Grant, draped in the national
colors, and in font Of it one of Gen.
Custer, while on either side swung views
of some stirring war episode. A repre-
sentation of soldiers grave, covered
with flowers and foliage had been ar
ranged and at its head stood n monu-
ment with the inscription, "In Memoir.
am, The Blue and The Gray" upon it.
Back of the grave stood stack of
muskets with knapsacks hung upon
them. From every nook and corner the
stars and stripes hoated, and everything
combined to make the scene an inspir-
ing and appropriate one At two o'clock
Gen. Steele Post, the Uniform Rank
! X. of T., and the Custer Cornet band,
marched into the hall, the members OF
! the first named order being seated upon
the stage, and those of the others Just
| below them.
Post Commander A. T. Feay delivered
| the opening address, and in few we'll
selected sentences, explained the nature
OF the occasion and babe the audience
All earnest welcome. After a song by
the choir, Rev ID. w. Tracy was intro
duced and he, during half hours
| Memorial address, held the entire at
tention and interest of the large audi
| ence. His discourse was replete with
eloquent tributes to the dead, and earn
est words 10 the living, and for the
benefit of those who did not hear it,
and others who may wish TO hear it
again, We publish the text OF il at the
close of this article.
| Mark Booth recited an extract from
one OF lngersol's addresses TO the old
soldiers, and the words OF the noted
orator lost but little of their original fire
ard expression in the repetition.
Rev. L. ii. Mckees brief speech was
patriotic and stirring effort, and was
listened to with much interest.
! r.. IA. Flynn addressed the audience
briefly and concluded with the recita-
ton of Memorial poem, composed by
himself IL was very tine and was
loudly applauded.
A recitation by Miss Anna Kimble
was given in an expressive voice and
with graceful gestures.
Commander Feay, in behalf of Mr.. b.
X. Wood, expressed the regret felt by
that gentleman, because of his inability
TO be present and to address the audi
ence as had been promised.
The exercises were concluded with a
beautiful tableaux which we can de-
scribe but lily. The curtain rose on
soldiers grave with two boys, one in
blue, and the other in gray, strewing
| flowers over it, while in the background
an old veteran of the union army re
clined. Back of this scene another
curtain rose revealing the Goddess of
Liberty, who with one hand grasped
| outstretched as if to bless the union of
the blue and gray. 1t was scene Of
exquisite beauty and all pronounced il
simply grand. The unqualified success
of this closing feature reflects great
credit on Il. II. Flynn, Miss Anna
Kimble, Mark Booth and Willie Broad
| head, all of whom took part in it.
| The choir was composed Of the follow.
ing persons Mrs. L. o. Burton, Mrs.
j. G. Sanders, Miss Carrie Towner,
| Messrs. L. w. Delicate, e.. A. Wood and
| NJ. A. Willis, Mrs. b. r. Wood, pianist.
The music both by the choir and band
| was very good.
On account Of the rain which was
| falling nearly all the afternoon the Post
did not 20 to the cemetery in body,
| but detailed two of its number TO decor
ate the graves Of their comrades.
! MEMORIAL ADDRESS BY REV. ID. W. TRACY.
Mr.. Chairman, Grand Army Of the Republic,
! Ladies' and Gentlemen:
l heartily appreciate the honor of
| delivering the memorial address on this
occasion, and while l appreciate the
honor, there comes over me feeling of
inability to do justice to the occasion,
having come upon the stage Of active
responsibilities of life since that great
struggle that we to-day commemorate.
would rather sit and hear some battle
SCARED veteran, who by practical ex-
perience could tell us of that terrible
war and the privations Of those who
| fought in their country's service. While
l am fully alive to the thought express
cd, there comes another feeling, that We
who have come upon the stage Of active
responsibilities since that great struggle.
as their posterity, enjoying the privileges
"a We do, that have come to us rs a
glorious bequeathment have o right to
| praise and laud the patriotism and
bravery that secured these blessings to
us. When the illustrious Washington
was about to receive the sword Of Lord
Corvallis ut Yorktown, the American
troops began to cheer, Washington turn
ed to them and said, "Let posterity cheer
for u.s." So We as the posterity OF these
brave men who 80 heroically gave their
lives for the cause OF freedom, have a
right TO speak and hold In remembrance
their bravery and patriotism. Time in
his relentless fight has brought to us
another anniversary Of the day set apart
by aerateful nation for the expression
OF the remembrance of the patriotism
and bravery manifested by those who
were willing to lay their lives upon their
country's altar, the highest expression
J Of which can only be made, in floral
tributes and loving memories. From
\