Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-30


flowers, which everywhere lent their coloring
Arlington.
such day no artists brush could portray
on canvas. no poets verse could de-
| scribe its divineness. Up another hill above the
broad Potomac. which rushes along necessarily
to the sea as though it were beating q
never-ending roll below the bivouac Of the
dead, the beautiful grounds are indeed para
disc. No spot on Gods green country is
more inspiring than Arlington on Decoration
day when nature has blessed the land with her
brightest and happiest smile.
From every point beauty is supreme, the
well-Sardened grass giving off the perfume of a
fresh rain. Stretched on every side the trees
and shrubs take on their brightest hue. while the
coioripg OF the flowers and the national flags
with the martial air Of music on ever, hand and
the soldiers dress make a scene which could
only be witnessed on such an occasion.
From early morning the procession toward
the cemetery was on its way. Vehicles and car
riages OF every description were brought into
use to convey the immense throng to the
grounds. Many. whose welfare could
not afford to hire conveyance,
would not allow their patriotism to wane. and
walked. On the road the scene was much like
the outside OF a fair ground. The vendors and
fakirs. all looking for their share, were every
where to be seen. The roads were in a
very muddy condition after the storm, and the
apparel OF the pedestrians was well covered
terry was reached. Every car which
left the lower portion Of the city
! carried all that could be accommodated. At
the terminus Of the line the procession
was again taken up over the bridge,
where some took advantage of the
vehicles and the trolley road. Thousands, with
out discrimination as to color. age or race, were
assembled within the gstes when the light bat
terry. fourth United States artillery,
fired the national salute at noon.
Last year the crowd of carriages
within the gates greatly interfered with the
progress Of the decoration OF the graves by the
procession, SO that this year passes were re-
CURED, the result being that the paths were
kept comparatively we'll cleared.
ARRIVAL OF THE PROCESSION.
The procession Of the G. A. r. formed in
front of the G. A. R. Hall, on Pennsylvania
avenue, about 10 O'Clock and proceeded at once
toward Arlington. Before the bridge was reached
the procession broke ranks and assembl led again
In front of the Arlington mansion. There the
procession consisted Of members of the GA. r.
and W. Il. c. L. L. W., L. OF G. A. r.. L. A. s.,
S. Of ". ex-soldiers and sailors, the invited
guests and the public generally. The Marine
Eand was at the head and coon
after the national salute doomed across the
graves OF the dead. awakening memories which
time can never eface. the procession started on
its patriotic march while the band played
dirge. As the column moved along the yari-
Gus headstones were strewn with flowers, many
small flags being among the decorations. All
along the main road the mounds beneath
whose covering lay the remains OF some one
dearest were remembered, until the cemetery
indeed looked like heavens conservatory.
At the tomb of the unknown the ceremonies
were more marked and impressive. The pro-
cession halted. and while the Marine Band
under the leadership of Prof. ,Fanciulli.
played appropriate selections the tomb
almost concealed and it looked like a mound
built by fairies hands. When most of the
graves had received their flowers. w-eaths and
other graceful membranes the procession
came to the am phitheater.
on THE PLATFORM.
The vine-covered bower was decorated with
national and army corps flags, and under the
canvas top was an immense throng. On the
platform at the right of the ros.-um sat the
Grand Army Musical Union under the
dictatorship Of E. D. Tracey, Mrs.
opposite side were Secretaries Gresham and
Herbert. Miss Herbert and Mrs. Micon. the
married daughter of the Secretary Of the Navy.
lhere were also many prominent members of
the e. A. f., Mr.. X. II. Lands. Mr.. Claude
Bennett. Mr.. Micon, and number Of ladies.
Gen. Alexander Hamilton, representing the
Alexander Hamilton Post Of New York
city. He is the eldest grandson of
Gen. Alexander Hamilton, the first
Secretary Of the Treasury, and the great
grandson of Gen. Philip Schuyler On his
breast he wore the badge of the ''Society Of
Cincinnati" which his great grandfather wore
one hundred and thirteen years ago.
The services in the ampitheater were opened
by the sounding Of the assembly by a bugler in
the Marine Band. which was seated just in front
Of the platform. After the rendition Of the
.Old Hundred" by the band Department
Commander s. E. Faunce called the assembly
to order.
During the delivery Of the address the
speaker was often interrupted by the applause
OF his auditors At the conclusion Of the rem
dition OF lode to America" by the Grand Army
Musical Union, Rev. H. s. Stevens, the depart
ment chaplain, delivered the Invocation.
After the rendition Of the song go; Let
Me Weep" by the Marine Band G. NJ. Hustled.
the assistant adjutant general. read
the roll VI deceased comrades. The
Musical Union sang "B,est Be the Ground"
and the band rendered Rocked in the
Cradle of the Deep" before De Witt C. Sprague
delivered the original poem, entitled AT Ar
ling.on," which will be found in another COL
umn.
splendid voice. and then Hon. William E.
Simonds stepped to the front Of the bower to
deliver the Grafton Of the day. His address is
to be found elsewhere.
The benes:iction was pronounced by the Rev.
James W. Clarke, and with the rendition of
Safe in tine Arms Of Jesus" the exercises
closed.
Two Of the graves in the cemetery were es-
pccially noticeable on account Of the beauty
and profusion OF the flowers on them. They
were the tombs OF Gen. Rufus Ingalls, and Gen
Belknap. Secretary of War under Grant, which
were decorated by the hands of Maj. W. c.
DUxbury, an ex-confederate officer.
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Survivors of the War OF the Rebellion Pay
Tribute to the Dead.
Under a cloudless sky, amid the lavish
beauties of nature, the faithful survivors Of the
war of the rebellion today paid their loving
tribute to those G, 500 Of their fallen comrades
whose remains rest in the beautiful ce metery
of the Soldiers Home.
There was some delay in beginning the exer-
cises because of the hardness of the military
contingent This consisted of three companies
OF the fourth artillery under command of Mai
]. W. Rawls. They had a good excuse, how
ever. rs it was long march from
Washington barracks to the cemetery
at tine Soldiers Home. The beautiful
grounds never showed to better advantage
The myriad mounds of the los: were bathed in
sunlight. and the surrounding verdure showed
its brightest hue.