The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-06-01
THE SACRED DEAD.
Tributes Paid To The
Memory of The Fallen
Heroes Who Pre-
served Our
Land.

thirtieth of May since that day was
first made by statute and custom
holiday, and day upon which to hon
or the memory Of the patriots who
preserved the country in the dark
hour of peril. A cloudless sky and a
cool north wind, with good roads, in
vited our people to turn out and per
form a loving duty to the dead.
The procession started at two o'clock
this afternoon, from the FREE PRESS
corner, and was fully'a.mile long. The
G. A. r. drum corps came first, fol-
lowed by Co. f, n. Nj. G., and the
Sons of Veterans post. A portion Of
Wilkin Post on foot came next, and
then two floats having forty small
boys, and two floats bearing forty
girls, dressed in white and half hid
den in the evergreenS and flowers
about them. Followed then members
of Willzin Post and the WOmen's Re-
ief Corps in carriages, and 0tinally
scores of private turn-outs Of citizens.
Probably never before was there so
large an outpouring of citizens to the
cemetery on any similar occasion. DR..
Jacoby had command of the column,
and had the arrangements well in
hand. The line of march taken was
as published. The stores were quite
generally closed this afternoon until
400 o'clock.
Arrived at the cemetery, the fol-
lowing program was carried out.
Formation Of lines.
Short address by Commander Briggs.
Music by the Glee Club.
Prayer by Chaplain A. j. Wakefield.
Music by the Glee Club.
Bugle call and the depositing of
flowers upon the graves Of dead SOL
dierS.
Salute to the dead by'Co. f, firing
three volleys.
Music by the Glee Club.
Address by Mr.. Lorin Cray.
Singing of america.
Benediction by Rev. L. w. Beattie.
Bugle taps.
Lorin Cray's address was choice
and touching one. 1t was entitled:
''He Giveth His Beloved Sleep" and
was as follows:
1t seems almost uniting that our
voices be heard in the presence Of
those whom we now honor.
Better, perhaps, that the sound Of
human voice be not heard in the pres
ence of the loyal dead.
1t almost seems that even the voices
of dearest friends might disturb their
peaceful slumber.
But the past, like a sad, weird
dream rises before us, and we again
see all of the dead whose dust we now
cover, and whose resting places we
now strew with beautiful flowers, and
once more we see them part with
those they love, to do battle for right.
We see the pale cheeks, and the
trembling lips, and the fearful eyes,
and the quivering forms of gentle and
loving women, and we see the stern,
anxious faces of brave, determined
beatings of the aching and throbbing
hearts of both.
Some are walking in quiet places
NlUil lIdluCllS NHOul UllCy uONc, dnu
from them lingeringly part forever.
Others are kissing loving, tender,
sleeping babes, Nesting in their little
cradles. Others still are receiving the
final benedictiOn Of loving, anxious
mothers, expressed in silence and in
bitter prayerful tears. And each and
all are vainly trying to drive from
their hearts the awful fear
They go to their homes in the great
bright cities, on the broad, treeless,
majestic prairies, and in the beauti-
full vineclad forests.
They part with weeping lovers,
wives and mothers, and at the last
turn in the old and familiar road they
turn and look back for last time,
and their last sight, like a tableau
forever photographed in their hearts,
is an uplifted hand, waving hand
kerchief, tender babe held high in
air in the sobbing mothers arms, and
they are gone forever.
Now they are proudly marching I'M
der bold battle flags presented by low
ing hands and loyal hearts, keeping
time to the enthusing and stimulating
music of war, ready and willing to fight
and die for what they know to be right
in this awful struggle for national life
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