The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-06-07
At the Exposition Building.

| City.
At the Exposition Building.
The exercises in the afternoon were
to commence at 2:30 o'clock but long
before that hour crowds of people COM
menced vending their way to the En-
position building and by the time the
program began there was not vacant
chair in the large room and number
of people had to stand up during the
exercises. The front portion of the
room was reserved for the members Of
the G. A. r. and w. r. G.
Commander Hall had charged of the
program and called the two orders to
their feet while he read the Introduce
ory service of the exercises. A mixed
chorus by Misses Silsby, Davenport,
Colvin, Mrs. F. H. Winsor, Messrs
Cleminger, Daniels and Wolgemuth,
sang an appropriate selection entitled
THE Flag We Served so WE'LL" and
Josie Willkomm recited a patriotic sell
ection. Phyllis Mckay rendered a
Memorial Day Story" in pleasing
manner, while little Marie and Eleanor
Ward Blended their pretty voices in a
soldiers song. The University Male
quartette sang ''Rest Soldiers Rest"
very creditably and the Mitchell Male
quartet richly earned the applause
which followed their rendition of THE
Vacant Chair"
Commander Hall introduced Hon.
D. Haney of this city as the orator of
the day. Below is the speech in full:
| have always been profoundly i'm
pressed with the serious and sacred
character of our memorial festival
When properly observed, it is at once
simple and sublime. Its essential fca
lures are these: a flower. a loyal heart
and soldiers grave. There may be
flowers IN prOfuslon, crowds OF patriotic
participants and mausoieum of ilhpos-
ing grandeur, still the soul of the GER
emony remains the same.
Doubtless there were assembled about
the tomb of the great commander
today, at Riverside Park, thousands of
loyal citizens: long lines of military
and civic organizations: there were the
inspiring influences of music, art and
eloquence: there was the magic of a
matchless name, everything required
to render the occasion one of high in
tellectual eXaltati9n.
Consider the season with its sugges-
tions OF immortality Consider the
beauty Of the flowers Consider the
deathless glory of those who died that
liberty might live. What language
l~
celebration?
But. let me suggest another scene:
1t was on memorial day, years ago. be-
fore the day was generally observed as
in these later times. The shadows of
impending night were beginning TO
lengthen among the forest trees of a
quiet valley. had idly wandered into
an old and neglec' ed graveyard. Many
OF the inscriptions on its timeworn
monuments were etfaced: some we're
gone. leaving no trace OF the forgotten
dead. The graves were overgrown
with rank weeds and grass. No longer
used as burial ground except by the
very poor, it was a sadly lonesome
place. AS | stood there amid the deep
ening gloom, ''while thoughts of the
last bitter hour came like blight over
my spirit" the figure of a young girl
came out of the shadows. She was
poorly clad and alone. Coming on hur-
riedly, she paused near where | was
standing. | saw that she carried few
wild flowers: that she was only child:
she seemed to be child made old too
soon by care Then | saw her kneel:
gently part the tangled grass and place
her flowers upon one of those neglected
graves. Having paid this tribute OF
| q ~ ,1n l. \
like frightened fawn. When she was
gone I approached the grave, feeling it
was sacred ground, made holy by her
loyal love. Upon a mouldering board
| found name: no matter whose. and
the simple story that the dead had been
a private in the civil war
However marked the contrast be-
tween the scene at the generals tomb
and the scene at the private's grave
there We're in each the elements of one
of the most impressive ceremonies
humanity has ever witnessed In each
were the physical beauty Of the flowers,
the spiritual beauty of royal love and
sacredness of soldiers grave. In the
one there was much of pomp and power:
in the other moro of tenderness and
truth; in both the outer and visible
sign of a pure and patriotic sentiment.
| have made use Of these illustrations
to impress upon your minds thought
upon which [ have always loved to
dwell. 1t is this: Among The low
green tents whose curtains never out
ward swing" there should be no recog-
milton of rank: no distinction or degrees
of merit. Each union soldiers grave
deserves an equal share of our respect
and reverence.
Throughout this fair land today,
each union soldiers grave should be a
shrine, each loyal citizen devotee. 1t
is not a day for merriment or mirth
This is not an occasion for partisan dis
cussion. 1t is not time for expressions
OF selfish discomfort: it is not a time for
even harmless pleasure. The dav
should be set apart. Itshould be given
to earnest thought. 1t should be mere
sacred than the Sabbath. 1t should be
wholly devoted to the promotion of pat
riotism.
When upon the c'tel cross the white
| flesh of Gods own Son uuiVercQ with