The Washington times., 1895-05-30
WOMEN'S GRAVES COVERED
Flowers Placed Over the Resting
Places of Relief Corps Members.
Flora mblems sPrepared
for the Exercises of the Day.
Sweet Young Girls TO ssist.

In accordance with custom of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps for some years past, that
organization yesterday commenced their
memorial and Decoration Day exercises by
strewing flowers on the graves of their
dead members, who are now sleeping in
the various cemeteries about Washington
Among the beautiful floral pieces was a
large wreath for the grave OF Mrs. Urell,
wife of Past Department Commander
Urell, both of whom were members of the
old Potomac corps.
Three figures made of flowers were
placed on the tomb of Mrs. Quinn, another
was sent by Mrs. Rose, the conductor OF
the corps, two by Mrs Van Fleet, and one
by Mrs. Chambers. Mrs. Mary NJ. North,
the department. chaplain, assisted by a
committee of ladies and gentlemen, held
appropriate exercises at Chestnut Grove
Cemetery at HeTudon, Va, where several
soldiers lie buried. There was not a
departed members grave forgotten, and all
We're left fuli OF sweet-smelllng flowers
and fresh evergreen, the only tribute
which the corps can pay to the noble
careers of their dead
Considerable interest was lent to the
occasion from the presence OF Mrs. Joseph
harthon, wife of the deceased commander
brave officer died while on duty in Chinese
waters, and after delay OF some years
his body was brought to this country and
now rests in the cemetery at Arlington
Mrs .Marthon was sent here by Lafayette
Post, or New York. to decorate her hus-
bands grave with most costly and elegant
floral emblems
Fifteen wagon loads of flowers were
received by the Woman's Relief Corns
from EnhnnI ri .f nft,
of them worked into beautiful figures and
others, curiously wrought by infantile
fingers, into all sorts OF odd conceptions
The corps has prepared a masterpiece of
the florists art for the sarcophagus of the
unknown.
1t consists or the words "Our Country's
Unknown Dead worked in white, pink
and red roses and white daisies. One of
these words viii be placed on each sidd
of the tomb As whole it is regarded as
one of the most beau tiful floral decorations
ever seen in this city
The ladies' OF the corps Were hard at work
all of yesterday in their preparations for
the memorial exercises, their efforts being
directed toward making the day long to be
remembered
The subcommittee on decoration con-
sists often ladies' selected by he department
commander from the various corps organi-
cations. Mrs. Anna Hamilton. department
president, is chairman, and her assistants
are: Mrs. Emma A. v Anderson. national
aide; Mrs. Susie H Rose, department l. and
/. officer, Mrs Eliza N&ilor of Lincoln
Corps; Mrs Isabel WarreIl Ball, depart
ment secretary; Mrs. Elizabeth Months,
senior yice-president Mrs. Katie Harris,
of Potomac Corps; and Mrs. Maria H
Chapman.
The ladies have arranged three hundred
set pieces for the Officers section at
Arlington, and the other sections VIII be
remembered quite as generously. The
w. R G. is being ably seconded in the work
by the Ladies Aid 10 the Sons of Veterans,
the latter having Charge of section Z. One
hundred floral pieces have been made. one
for each of the graves in thei TchaIge. The
Sons of Veterans have also given valuable
aid.
Twenty OF the lie young ladies who
VIII sing at Arlington to-day wiz each
carry a floral letter over foot in length
to form the decoration in their section.
The singers viii be attired in white, and
each viii wear a red. white and Diac SgsSa.
furnished by the w. R. c., Mrs. E. a. z:
Anderson will have charge OF the decora-
ton Of graves of the unknown, and VIII be
assisted by Mrs. Anna Johnson, Miss Susie
Rose. Mrs Lizzie Farquhar, Mrs l. Z.
johnson, Mrs. E. Months, Mrs. Mcclure.
Mrs. Nailor. Miss Ruth Hamilton and Mrs.
Isabel W. Ball.
Mrs. Nora Edgar will have charge of
section Z, assisteu by Potomac Corps
Mrs. Georgia Balm viii be in charge of
the Officers section. assisted by Mrs Au-
gusta Starkey, Mrs. Neal, Mrs Anna shinn,
Miss Flora Sijnn, Mrs. Gladys Tonpkins.
Mrs s. r. Jacobs, Mrs. Isabel W Ball,
and Mrs Martha Burgess
The ladies OF tE> Loyal Legion were
also busy yesterday carrying out the prep
aratioDs which have already been out
lined in these columns.