The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-31

For them that wrought so well,
For them that fought SO we'll
Once more farewell, farewelli
From an original poem by John Vance Cheney
read at the exercises by Mrs Nellie Holbrook
BlinnI
A vast concourse of people made their
way to the National cemetery in the Presi-
dio reservation, where exercises were held
under the auspices of George II. Thomas
Post No. 2, Department of California and
Nevada, G. A. r. Amid the last resting
places of the heroic dead, beside the roofs
OF living comrades of the regular troops,
with fair music and oratory, accompanied
by the booming of minute guns and the
distant anthem of the sea, impressive cere-
monies marked the significance of the day.
It was nearly noon when the strains of
the Fifth United States Artillery band an
nOunced the arrival of the procession
which had formed on Central avenue, be-
tween Pacific and Jackson streets. First
came R. II. Warfeld, grand marshal; C. A.
. Macomber, chief of the staff; aids-A. J.
Nining, John Tuttle, J. w. Howell, E. T.
Alien, NJ. C. Dunn, A. Mautner, followed
by the Fifth United States Artillery,
Colonel William NJ. Graham, Brevet Brig
adier-General, commanding. Then came
the First Regiment, \. G. c.; Third Regi-
Sons Of the American Revolution; Vet
eran Guard of California, G. A. R.; George
II. Thomas Post, T. K. Stateler COM
mander; Horace Mann School pupils and
guests in carriages.
Past the almost deserted barracks, where
flags hoated at nalfmast, through the lines
of thronging spectators, and the silent
rows of headstones set in the hillside sward,
the cortege wound its solemn way to the
plat of the George II. Thomas Post on the
eastern slope, where a temporary rostrum
had been prepared for the exercises. Ma
tional flags tluttered from many point
and the face OF the rostrum was concealed
beneath a tasteful arrangement of bios
SONS and foliage, focusing in handsome
portrait OF General Thomas. The portrait
faced the post monument and between
seats had been arranged for special guests.
Every inch OF space on the platform and
encircling points of vantage was filed with
interesting humanity as the echoes of a
salute of twenty-one guns announced the
opening of the exercises. As they pro-
ceeded a special detail of regulars were
decorating the graves, including the pa
thetic rows of nameless headstones simply
inscribed GA Soldier" with number. and
not single one was permitted to go un-
honored.
After an overture Jerusalem, the Gold
en-" by the band, Frederick Frank leader,
J. C.. Currier made a brief Introductory
speech in which he welcomed the COM
rades to the annual memorial exercises.
1t was the first time the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution had participated as body
and he welcomed their advent, as well as
that of the navy and National Guard rep
resentatives, the Mexican Veterans and
the public.
Rev. A. c. Hirst offered an eloquent
prayer and then Mrs. B. e. Paxton, as
sisted by a grand chorus of the Mckenzie
Musical Society, rendered the "Battle
Hymn of the Republic" in spirited man.
ner.
Comrade Elisha Brooks then made
brief Gettysburg dedication" address. He
said that our forefathers had generated a
great Nation and it remained for the pres
ent generation to perpetuate it. His audi
ence had come to dedicate a portion of
their work in the resting place of those
who gave their lives to consolidate the
Nation. But 1t was rather for the living to
dedicate their lives to the preservation of
that success to which the glorious dead
had given full measure of devotion in
order that government of the people, for
the people and by the people might not
perish from the earth.
The band rendered, Nearer, My God, to
Thee" and then the president of the dav
introduced Mrs. Nellie Holbrook Blum.
who he said hardly needed introduction
to a soldier audience, as her heart and
hand were ever ready to assist the cause of
the old soldier. Mrs. Blinn recited "The
Fallen" an unpublished poem by John
Vance Cheney, specially written for Mrs.
Blinn. She rendered the lines with re-
markable fire and dramatic expression. so
that despite the force of fresh breeze she
held her audience in thrall from the first
to the last line.
The ''Star-spangled Banner" was then
given, the soloists being Miss Minnie