The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-31


Services on the Heights OF Arlington.
Though He Made No Address - All
Government Departments Closed for
decoration Day.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Congress rested
yesterday, and allthe government depart
ments were closed, while private business
also was generally suspended. Flags hung
at half mast on the public buildings and
the streets were crowded with uniformed
veterans and sightseers. President Cleye-
land set the example in observing the day,
which was generally followed by the citi-
zens Several members of congress took
part in the exercises at the different Gem
eteries as orators, while among the on
lockers were some statesmen who had
fought for the Confederacy.
Whatever Of bitterness may have been
the inheritance from the war seemed to be
forgotten, and the few Confederate graves
at Arlington were decorated with those Of
their own one time enemies. Most Of the
generals of the war are buried about
Washington, so that friends and former
camrades had many conspicuous monu-
ments 20 decorate. There was a long
parade Up Pennsylvania avenue in the
morning, participated in by the district
militia, under the command of General
Albert Ordway, and the g. A. r. posts,
and the ceremonies at the cemeteries be-
gan at noon. Slight showers fell at inter
vals but the rain was not sufficient to in
terfere with the programs announced.
The day was sunless and chilly, however.
Elaborate preparations had been made for
the observance Of the day.
held on the Heights of Arlington, across
the Potomac and overlooking the city,
where 10000 Union soldiers are buried.
Every grave was marked with flag and
bouquet of roses Some of the decora-
tions were elaborate, principally the trib-
utes from the Loyal Legion at the monu-
ment of General Sheridan. Thousands of
| people crowded the grounds, among them
| many members of congress and some
representatives of the foreign legation.
At noon a national salute was fired. and
the tomb of the unknown, where the
J bones of hundreds of soldiers taken from
battlefelds are inferred, was decorated
with appropriate services by the Grand
| Army posts, the Woman's Relief corps
and the Sons of Veterans.
In the ampitheatre, where religious SER
vices were held on the Lee plantations on
| Sundays, the bugle sounded assembly.
| Music was given by the Marine band and
! the e A. X. Musical assembly
President Cleveland arrived shortly
after 12, accompanied by Secretaries
Gresham and Morton The party took
seats at the front of the speakers stand,
and was applauded. General Black and
Corporal Tanner both commissioners
of the pension bureau, were on the stand
and later Secretaries Carlisle and Hoke
Smith arrived. Hon, Augustus n Mar
tin, of Indiana, chairman of tho house
committee ON pensions. delivered an elo-
quent Grafton and Colonel John A. Joyce
read poem.
Representative Bryan. OF Nebraska,
aroused great enthusiasm by his speech.
| He began "The only excuse one Of my
generation can offer for, speaking here is
to assure the veterans that this day shall
not die with you. When the nation has
forgotten the battlsfelds where were won
Its greatest victories II will noe forget the
burial places where Eest ita great dead. :"
! Speaking Of the results OF the war he said;
! 'It would have been defeat TO have held
together in iron bands two sstranGed sec
been able to bring back an unwilling
brother and make him happy brother"
President Cleveland sat through the
entire program, which lasted three hours,
but did not speak. After the cere-
monies he drove back to the city with the
members of his cabinet, meeting thou
sands Of people who were driving over to
Arlington after the dust Of the day