The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-31

Last night the silent heroes of Gettys-
burg, Missionary Ridge, Nlcksourg, freu-
ericksburg and the many other heids OF
American valor truly slept in a bed OF
roses
The hands of a grateful posterity, from
pre end Of the nation to the other, placed
On their last resting places the choicest
products Of the fields and gardens.
Delicate fingers wove intricate garlands
of flowers TO adorn the monuments that
commemorate their memory. Fathers,
mothers, wives, grandames and children
we're filled with the spirit of the day and
We'd with each other 10 see which could
best testify their veneration for the MEM
DRY of their loved kinsmen.
Nature was iu its sweetest mood and
nos a breeze OF ripple or a shower inter-
fered with the mission of duty. Even the
sun felt kindly to the occasion. for it not
only nurtured and gave life to bountiful
supply of flowers. but it sshone mildly and
softly and thus made duty a double pleas
are.
The graves were green, wild flowers were
seen everywhere, the foliage OF the trees
WAS bright and cheerful and all combined
with The silence OF the cities of the dead,
before they were Invaded by the living,
TO make srene that was impressive.
This is how the two cemeteries on the
hillside looked in the morning when tae
tening white marble shafts that
stand there sentinels of time to
transmit the biography of the dead to
future generations who will read them 100
years hence, rs this generation reads the
inscribed stories of those who fought with
Warren at Bunker Hill. When the eastern
horizon was gilGed by the glory OF the
rising sun detachment of Battery a,
light artillery, which was stationed at the
cemetery applied a match 10 The fuse or
cannon and the explosion that followed
rolled along over tie prairie, down the
valley. over the city and on TO the west
and east and north and south awakening
echoes as it did "a third of century ago in
The Hills of Virginia and the valleys OF
Tennessee Then lt awakened the patriots
IN blue and the heroes IN gray from their
'Imher. but yesterday the cannon tbnn-
dc ed MS of yore and the b!vouac of the
ssd made no response. Soldiers SUM
bered beneath the cannou's mouth in
dreamless slumber, hopelessly deaf TO
every call but that OF the angel of the Loid.
Sweet peace dwelt with them and may il
ever do so with men who love their country
and their kind. They saw not he rising
sun but they beheld la another and hap
pier land n residence more brigh:-thc
beautiful residence of HIM who made the
sun and who paints the landscape OF the
dawnihg days.
MORNING SCENES.
Early in the morning people came flock
ing into the city. Heroes who had literally
beaten their swords into plowshares came
in from The country clothed with all the
independence and contentment of rural
life, with wagon loads OF daughters and
sons, the JOY of their hearts and he hope
of their country. People came on the
trains and IN the street cars until the
heart OF the city was full of life. They
came like The heroes of Scotland descend
ed upon the castle of Macbeth with the
forest OF Dunsinane before them. but on
this occasion oApeace and good will it was
Il forest o. flowers the incoming hosts held
before thSm. Veterans stood on every
corner in groups discussing scenes and
memories of the war aud giving the grasp
nj The order, the sacred pledge
nj their eternal comradeship to one
another. Democracy reigned supreme. The
.N-captain and the private stood on the
same plane, the 'irummer-hoy and tue fifer
ana the colonel stood shoulder 10 shoulder
VITA all distinctions wiped ont and for
ever unnibila,ed. Rank was but n faint
memory, title shattered dream, absolute
equality a living realty. All this was
typical of their cause and. in a measure
the fruits of their arms.
THE PARADE.
At 100 p. III. the line of march WAS
formed. Old men with gray hairs and
wooden limbs hoped Into the ranks as
lightly IA they did thirty years ago aud in
shorG time row OF brass bui tons z liter
I'd on The blue hack ground like stars on
our own Italian sky. John Doran COM
nanCtd and with promptness formed a
line nearly mile long composed Of old
and young, men, women, youths, fair las
sizes aud even children. TIE band played
national airs Of the vintage of '63 and
Marching Through Georgia" made the
off, I'm Il
The city councIl and police commissioners
attended in body, as did most of the mill
tary and social ORGANIZATIONS OF the city.
AT THE AUDITORIUM.
Before o'clock every seat in the Audi
forum except those reserved for the old
soldiers and Kindred organizations was
filled and many climbed up in the un-
6pished gallery. When the procession
reached there flood of people rushed in
9"h II IT quired at least half al hour to
leat them.
Ihe speakers stand was beautifully
decorated viii flowers aud bunting The
stage was partly filed with 100 children
who composed chorus with Miss Jessie
Clark leader aid Miss Nina Hall as
pianist.
To the right of the children sat priests
Ind preachers, representing the church.
and Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians.
Lutherans, Baptists and Episcopaliaus sat
together forgetful of the prejudices of two
centuries ard listened 10 the beautiful
prayer of DR.. David Winters and the
Eloquent address of Rev. Don S. Colt
The. children's chorus is worthy of
praise not only for their singing but for
their admirable behavior.
When Adjutant Ben Downing had fin
ished reading the orders Of tie day and
DR.. Winters had invoked the blessing of
God. Commander Schad introduced Rev
Don :. Colt.
REV. COLTS ADDRESS
Rev. Don : Colt, pastor of the First
Methodist church, WAS the orator of the
day aud finer memorial address than
bis was never made IN Wichita. Ii eX-
ceeded that of Hon. William L. Hackney
Two Years ago, bo,h in eloqueuce and il
taste, aud eclipsed the address of Hon. j.
X Button last year for its classical style
and The ideas which il involved. Mr. Colt