Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-06-09
m. AA.sxrS
Following q tho sddre. delivered
by Mr.. w. A. Massey at Decoration

We have met to-day to honor u
memory OF the dead by placing upt
their graves. with reyerent hands, ga
ands of the early spring.time.
These exercises are not meanin
less-not mere empty, gaudy show
be looked upon in idle pleasure ar
curiosity for an hour, and forgotte
tomorrow but they come to US as q
imperative duty, laden with the poss
bility of ennobling our lives, our o
der and mankind. This memorial {
the dead should bscoms our instruc
or in the duties and responsibility
of life; should impress upon on
minds such lessons OF unseltish frient
ship, pure love and imperial trutl
that unforgotten in the coming year
and remembered in the hour Of deatt
as will enable each to look back upo
the past success and failure, pleasur
and pain, happiness and sorrow with
out M regret, conscious that through
those lessons an honest effort ha
been made to improve and eleyat'
self and thereby the race
This memorial day is for the dead
We crown their graves with flowers
painted by the hand Of God, Us em
blems Of life and Immortality.
The grave-the flowers! Death
and Immortality! How We have
welded in our simple and solemn
rites Of remembrance, the grave, from
the thought Of which our souls recoil
in fear and anguish, and the flowers
that bloom only in the sunlight, max,
ing the air fragrant with their per-
fume.
The grave, that cruel, dark, silent
and repulsiye prison. has closed its
portals forever over the forms OF those
we loved.
Cruel, for no ministering hand can
ever there be felt; dark, for no ray Of
sunshine aver has or ever can pene-
trate its gloom; silent, for no word
OF hope was rel heard within its sad
walls; repulsive, for its lone inmate,
our friend, is doomed to rot and moul-
der away in the companionship Of the
feasting worms The flowers-bright
fowers-that blossom upon every hill
side and Iii every vale-the first sweet
tokens of Spring-harbingers of JOY
ous summer -time-shed their beauty
and fragrance Us a benediction upon
all mankind.
Death and Immortality! Strange
contrasts woven into our thoughts as
We prepare to place our tributes OF re-
spect and love upon those mounds in
graveyard.
Death-intangible, immutable and
ineSorable-robs the eye Of it's luster;
tho heart to icy stiffness and
forever bushes the voice OF friend.
ship.
Intangible, it stalks with the vic
tors smile by the side OF each, unfelt
and unseen. In the home, by the
lire. side, in the store, shop and Office,
in the field, mine and workshop, it
follows everywhere; creeping along in
our shadow; gamboling by our side in
woeful glee secure OF its prey. 1t
stands by our bed side in the night
time, watching and waiting; closer
than friend or lover, it is our unwel.
come companion from the cradle to
he grave.
Immutable, its work of destruction
has been the same, since the parents
the race in the glorious dawn of
creation ate OF the forbidden fruit in
he Garden Of Eden; 1t has marked
its trail with tears and lamentations,
blasted hopes and ruined lives
md sought its only Joy in decay.
Inexorable, for no prayer that ever
arose from the human heart, stepped
n anguish and misery, racked with
pain and sorrow, prompted by love
'r hate has been able to stay for an
hour its wanton and relentless hand.
Unseen, Interchangeable and relent.
less, the storms OF winter and the gen.
lie rains OF summer beat upon the
unknown and unmarked graves OF its
millions Of victims, and the
busy world OF to-day rushes over the
ashes OF the dead, not conscious that
beneath it's feet reposes the dust OF
fellow-man.
A monster, it marks it's victims
without regard to age, condition or
sex. Without pity, it snatches the in.
fant, that budding promise of
mothers hope and love, from her
stills the hearts c~xpectant
throbbing OF youth and maid as thew |
stand before the mystic veil that con.
ceals the sacred altar OF manhood and
womhnhood; blasts woman in her
beauty and nan in his strength, and
with a pitiless hand strikes from our
lips tho cup that holds the sparkling
vino OF JOY and pleasure.
1t drags the Emperor and King to
the level OF tho beggar, ioils tho no.
blest plans oithe statesman. strikes
paralysis tho brain OF the philos.
opher, bushes the CONSOLES mutter.
terings OF the idiot, eflaces tho inspi.
OF tho poet, painter and sculp.
tor and laughs at the havoc IL has
Abstract death presents but fow
to the mind; but IL comes to ali
and must come to all. The certainty
q