The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-31
The Fioral Decorations.

Ibe eenterrieca OF the decorations -ax
the monument erected in tie orchestra
sfaA, which lowered twelve feet IN the
AR, SIX fest OF IL being a solid column OF
movers tspering 70 a broken top The
pedestal AID its pllnth we're made 10 OF
4 nase. die ard 8 eornice- Each was COW
eFea with green moss. forming a natural
Del Tor TIE many floral offerings ranged
upon II with great taste up 70 the column
proper The richest OF roses now n hioom
formed the ground work OF all these beau
tiful SCI pieces. The face OF the base had
the initials o. A r. in two-foot letters
the first OF red roses, the second % white
roses and the third OF blue pansies ana
Iris Among this parterTe OF exquisite
fowers were several wreaths and baskets
dedicated 70 the memory OF known dead
Among these was wreath in memory of
Col. /. y. stadden, OF the Tventy-fourth
Kansas Infantry. and ore in memory OF
Robert Phillips. first sergeant Company
4. First Virginia infantry. One handsoms
basket was labeled Charles r. Cowter
Miller's Relief. Mrs. Webster" and an
other was In memory of Lieut. Thomas
Harris, Battery u. First Virginia artil-
lery.
The broken column OF solid flowers vss
masterpiece OF the florists art and
combined every species OF flowers with
their colors and shades srsisticaiiy blend
ed ard relieved with foliage and maiden
hair fern-s Near the top OF the shaft the
single word Unknown" made of blue
immorteiies. called up many sad recoIIec-
tions IN the minds OF the veterans pres
emit wreath Of laurel formed a fitting
crown for this memento TO the known and
unknown dead. The floral decorations
throughout the house were exceptionally
fine and reflect great credit on all hay-
Ing the matter ia charge
Gathering of the Hosts.
The procession had been fairly well
timed so that by few minutes after II
O'Clock the various organizations were in
their respective places and the galleries
and remaining vacant seats down stairs
were crowded with spectators. The men,
bers OF Stevens Relief Corps occupied
seats to the left OF and facing the stage
and those OF Miller Relief Corps occupied
seats TO the right. Gushing Relief Corps.
No. p. OF Ballard, also occupied seats I'm
the body of OF the house. Several rows
OF chairs had been placed on either side
Of the stage with an open passageway
in the center, and these were occupied by
the veterans from Miller and Stevens
posts. while seats in the center al the
rear of the stage were occupied by those
participating in the exercises.
Commander r. II. Hurd acted as mas
ter OF ceremonies and the programme OF
exercises, excepting the singing by the
the Post-fnteIligencer
The hugle call for Assembly at fI.d5
announced the commencement OF the ex-
ercises, after which the two color guards
OF honor. carrying the flag OF each post,
duly draped ia mourning. advanced TO
the front OF the house. and after receiv-
ing the proper salute from all the stand
ing veterans, took their positions on eth
er side of the stage.
Owing TO the order from the board of
health forbidding the assemblage OF chill
dren. the singing during the exercises was
done by the Perfection quartette. COM
posed OF Messrs. NJ. VI. Grout, q. A. Ed
monds. L. f. siegley and Z. l.. McAllis-
ter. These rendered very effec lively the
stirring song. speed the Republic"
Chaplain Il. III. Moss, OF Miller Post.
gave short prayer full OF patriotic al
lusions to the dead and living heroes OF
the war, as well as the lessons to be
drawn from the result OF the var.
The Orders of the Day.
Adjutant II. 5. Keene. of Stevens Post,
read the orders Issued from the headquar-
ters OF the Grand Army of the Republic
at Rockford H. az which the following
is the leading feature:
'"Twenty-seven years ago the beautiful
and impressive custom OF strewing flow
ers on the last resting place OF fallen
comrades was first publicly observed and
each year since has witnessed a more
general observance of the day. Memorial
day Is now, indeed. a time when CRATE
full people of a great. nation vie with
each other In honoring The memory OF its
soldier and sailor dead. who died that the
nation might live. and also showing TO
the survivors OF that great struggle that
our republic is grateful. and does honor
the men who dared death in its defense.
and whose sacrifices and brave deeds
n n nd Sfp 70 he Y.se
ing generation that they. too. may learn
to love our country and its flag, learn
what II has cost 70 preserve our free in
stitutions. learn that we have the best
and most liberal form OF government on
the face OF the earth today learn that
eternal vigilance is the price OF liberty
learn that its constitution guarantees to
all it's citizens free speech. free thought.
political and religious. free ballot. y ich
is the PATRIOTS weapon in time OF peace:
learn that the safety or the nation lies
in having every citizen protected in his
rights. learn that education and patriot
ism so hand in hand that we are one ma
ton. and that our motto is one country
and one flag and that flag. Old Glory. the
stars and stripes. the flag which on this
Memorial day waves over every Union
soldier and sailors grave in this broad
land"
Comrade Keene also read orders issued
in this state. OF which the following is
the important section:
The day set apart by the action OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic twenty
seven years ago. and by the patriotic
sentiment CT the country. sanctioned I'm
many states by legislative recognition,
Tor commemorative the sarvices and sac
rifces Of our dead comrades and strew-
ing with flowers their hallowed graves.
In our own department Of the Grand
Army. since the last recurrence Of this
sacred day. there are fovty-three new
graves - receive the offering. forty-thrae
fewer comrades 20 make Il. As the years
go on and as oar ranks are thinncd. LEI
the survivors he all the more pInctuai
I'm the discharge OF this pa trioiic duty.
This Is no formal ceremonial. II Is the
heart service OF loyal comradeshlp. II
Is not 70 add honors 70 the memory OF
the dead. Il IS rather 20 teach lesson
81 patriotic duty 20 the living. AS We
stand by the last resting place % our
heroic lead. en- he inspired words - him
Who later took his place among them. the
greatest. 1t is rather for us ~ be here
dedicated 20 the great task hefore rs.
that from these honored dead We take
Increased devotion: that We here highly
resolve that these dead shalt not have
died IN vain. that the nation shah under
thar government az the people by the
people and Tor the people shall not PER
ish from the earth"
Commander Huri's Address.
Af{er the sin ding Of .'Tha Battle Hymn
81 the Reuuhllc' BY tAe Quartette. Com
1nan4er =. II. Hurd spoke ss follows:
'sCorprades. obedience - soldiers
duty L is not however. merely IN che-
,'ien-e II ors'c-s thst We assemble here