Evening star., 1895-05-30
AT ARLINGTON.
Beautiful Music, Eloquent Speeches
and n Touching Poem Delivered.

AT ARLINGTON.
Beautiful Music, Eloquent Speeches
and n Touching Poem Delivered.
Under a sun whose shafts were midsum-
| mer-like in their burning intensity. and
over roads deep in dust that the countless
feet of horses and wheels of vehicles stir
| red into suffocating clouds. the thousands
| toiled to Arlington this morning to pay
tribute to the memories of those who
fought the battles Of freedom and achieved
the perpetuation of the stars and stripes.
Riding in slow procession or walking at
less rapid rate. there was no complaint
about physical discomfort on the part of
the pilgrims. Sentiment of the sweetest
character inspired them in the duty they
had gladly placed before them. and as they
struggled bravely on up the Virginia
| heights. until they reached Arlington, dou-
bly, beautiful today with its flag-marked,
fiower-covered graves.
There were probably but few in the great
throng who did not know and revere some
particular abode in the great dwelling
place of the dead and hasten to 1t with holy
feelings to tenderly lay fragrant flower
on the grassy roof, but no heart was selfish
in its tribute. While the tenements of near
and dear ones were first in the attention
Of those who mourned them. the common
cause in which all those who lay buried
there had struggled made all equally re-
membered. and the occasion was fndica-
tive only of the great love and honor which
the American living hold and keep for the
American dead.
strewing the Graves.
Ready and willing and gentle hands be-
gan early the love work Of strewing the
flowers on the grassy mounds that covered
patriot dust or garlanding the tomb that
rose above it. Delegations from the various
Grand Army posts remembered the graves
of their old comrades, and covered them
with wreath of sweet spring blossoms.
and everywhere moved the ladies' of the
Woman's Relief Corps, who had been dele
gated to perform the most of the import
ant work. and the Loyal Legion of Wo-
men, who ably seconded them. Great
wagon loads of flowers many Of them made
up In shields, crosses, stars, and other ap-
proprtate designs, were taken to the ceme-
terry early and before noon every grave
had been strewn with fragrant blossoms.
The duty of decorating the tomb of the
unknown dead was given to the Womans
Relief Corps and the ladies of the Sons of
Veterans and exercises were held at the
granite Sarcophagus that covers the dust
of 2.11l unidentified patriots of a pleasing
character before the regular services be-
gan. Mrs. Emma A. V. Anderson. assisted
by number of noble women, conducted
these. and notable portion of them was
the reading Of an original poem by Bessie
Boone Cheshire The mound and sarcopha-
gus were beautifully decorated. an Ameri-
can flag draped the top of the tomb and
from Its face hung a magnificent wreath of
roses, sent by Mrs. Cleveland Each corner
held another lovely wreath and the upright
cannon supported additional ones. Around
the mound in letters of flowers were the
words, Our country's unknown dead"
Sheridan Remembered.
At Sheridan's monument were masnifi-
cent remembrances. Resting at the foot
of the mound. beneath which rests the idol
lied darling Of a nation was an exquisite
wreath of Gala lilies and pink roses. To
the left of the tomb was pillow of white
roses and carnations with crossed swords
and stars In purple immortelles. and the
letters Post D, Chicago" in the same BIOS
SONS. Near this was a magnificent floral
Grand Army badge from Phil Sheridan
Post, No. Il.
The eagle above and star below were of
golden immortelles: the crossed cannon of
deep purple yiolets, while the flag was
strikingly reproduced in red, white and
blue immortelles To the right of the
military order Of the Loyal Legion, a guer-
don of red and white immortelles. Back of
this was the tribute from the Legion of
Loyal Women. saddle of rich red roses.
with stlrrups Of golden immorteles. Gen.
Rufus Ingalls, grave was remembered with
superb mantle of roses that covered the
entire mound and Gen. Hazen's ivy-covered
shaft was hung with garlands of rich bios
SONS and the mound hidden beneath pro-
fusion of blossoms.
1t would be impossible to individualize
the particular graves which were notably
remembered. McKibben. John B. Foster,
Gregg, Harvey, Rucker, Collins, White
head and hundreds of others were lavislly
covered with rare and beautiful exotics,
and the most illustrious as we'll as the
most humble tenement in the cemetery was
remembered with fragrant mark of a
nations love and gratitude.
A Choir of Young Girls.
The minute guns were pealing out when
the procession from Washington reached
the cemetery, and almost Immediately
thereafter the line Of march was taken up
in front of the mansion, and the program
Of the afternoon commenced.
At the tomb Of the unknown the process
sion halted, and as flowers were cast upon
those already covering the mound chorus
of young girls, who were attired in white
dresses, with red and blue sashes, sang,
Tread Softly, a Soldiers Sleeping Here"
There has seldom been a more affecting
incident upon such an occasion, and many
of the spectators were visibly touched
Exercises In the Amphitheater.
rne Band played Chopin's Funeral March,
and the procession made its way. to the
strains of Mendelssohn, to the amphithea-
ter, where the services were to be held,
Beneath the great canvas tent which had
been stretched over this historic place there
had assembled a large number of pers ons
on the platform were those who were to
take part in the exercises and many IN
vited guests.
1t was nearly I o'clock when the bugle
sounded assembly. The Marine Band rem
dered Gottschalk's Dying Poet with