The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-31
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Patriotic Songs and Recitntfons-
American Salute Given.

American Salute Given.
The. children of the public schools bad
exercises appropriate to Decoration day
yesterday morning. The children were ex-
pected to be in their places at the usual
hour, but many took the whole day for
a holiday, and in some OF the rooms only
about half of the usual number were
present. The children brought flowers from
their homes and these were all gathered
in one part of the lower hall, where they
were made ready for the collection made
Of them by the G. A. II. There were
quantities of syringa, peonies, roses, pansies
and even clover garlands and wreaths were
contributed. The flowers were distributed
at Crown Hill by the members OF the
w. r. c. The children were only kept
till 1890 O'Clock, when they were dis
missed. The remainder Of the day was their
own to do as they or their parents pleased.
The time they were in school was given
to exercises. with Memorial day as the
central theme. In the lower grades the
little children had recitations about flowers
and sang pretty little songs In the upper
grades there were readings about the day.
Some boys read descriptions of Arlington,
others about battlefielGs, and all the poems
were of the honored dead; One exercise
was called a round" In which each little
child told what he or she might do to be
a soldier. Patriotic hymns sounded from
every room where children were congre-
gated. and America "-.arching through
neighborhood with their melody. Not a few
of the rooms were decorated with flags
and flowers and the spirit of patriotism
was abroad in the land. In some. of the
schools there was a display OF drawings.
That at No. 2 was particularly good. The
fagstaffs at the school buildings all Haunted
- - <-s.a nn1 Iffl4 hon frnr.
the kindergarten had a tiny flag stuck into
the button hole of his waist and he proud
ly said. I'm a soldia." The children are
much better posted in the history of the
day than thousands of their elders. and the
thought of Decoration day is kept bright
in their minds from year TO year. Not only
but Of the other great wars OF this coun.
try. Many of the schools are having half
holiday every day and two weeks more
and vacation will be due.
There were memorial ceremonies at school
No.. SO, corner Of Twelfth and Illinois. Miss
c. NJ. Day, principal. there was an UNI
of the ceremony was a flag drill by thirty
little girls. ranging from ten TO fourteen
years of age. under the leadership Of Bessie
Trout. The flags used were regular army
corps flags loaned by Capt. Wallace Fos-
ter. The OF this little I'm
fantry company" were inspiring. The most
lean patriotic salute, w give our heads
and our hearts to GOD and our country;
one country. one language. one flag" The
next drill was rally Round the Flag"
The flag bearer. Rosa Fithian, and two
little girls as guards, took their position
in the center, while the company formed
in a circle around the colors singing
rally Round the Flag" At the COM
mand Halt; defend the flag" the COM
pany faced to the front and brought their
flags down to a charge.
The roster OF No. 80 Drill Club Is as fol-
lows: Bessie Trout, captain; Rosa Fithian.
color bearer: Henrietta Frenzel. Carrie
Frenzel, Ethel Reeves, Bessie Cannon, Sallie
Hams, Flossie Winter, Carrie Mansfield.
Nellie Carter. Matte Wilsey,. Rose Sell
frich, Amelia Kalb, Avis Jake Sadie
Bowe. Fay Harris, Dyer Stevenson. Kate
Crawford. Grace Galloway, Amber Ensiey,
Francis Hame, Freda Warner.
There was a profusion of flags and
patriotic decorations in every room in
which memorial exercises were held Patri-
otto music, both vocal and instrumental.
was given in each room during the morn
ing service. The Drill ~lub was photo
graphed rallying round the flag. At the
close OF the services the scholars went TO
the lawn in front of the Flagstaff and wit
messed the patriotic drill of the club. the
concluding drill being the American
Patriotic Salute to the flag, in which
every scholar joined.