The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY
Observed at the National Cemetery
in Grafton.
MANY THOUSAND PEOPLE UNITE
In Payinz Loving Tributes to the Mem.
Org OF Dead Iisros.-Grsa,esi Day Of the
Year Tor Grafton -ConErss,maa blue, OF
Kansas, Delivers thsoratiOn.


GRAFTON, vi va, May sO-The
shades OF night have fallen over this
little city nesting among the hills, and
the quiet stiffness OF almost deserted
streets is in great contrast to what has
been oil day the 1lveliest scene OF AMI
nation such only as can be made by
moving masses OF humanity In all the
abandon OF great holiday.
The location OF the national cemetery
hero makes Grafton an important point
in West Virginia on Decoration day. for
here the memorial services are OF an
official character for the state. and
Grafton Is the Mecca OF many a pilgrim
from far and near. The exercises Of the
day were as usual divided into two
parts. the morning celebration having
been devoted to memorial services at
the cemetery and the decoration OF the
graves, while the afternoon was prin-
clpaliy given up to the grafton Of the
day. which was delivered by Colonel
Richard w. Blue, congressman-at-large
from Kansas Interesting, solemn and
fitting were these ceremonies, and Wit
messed by thousands with rcverent ut
tentlon.
But aside from the solemn character
OF the day. there Is more than q passing
human interest in the scenes here as
presenting Vanity Fair" It Is the one
great time OF all the year to the people
of this place. for big crowds flock here
from all the neighbOrinR country md
from many towns In the state. while
from some very rural districts there
come delegations who perhaps never
leave their homo balliwicks at any
other season. Thus the scene is Of rare
interest, with the outpouring OF yaung
and old. rich and poor, representing all
Glasses and different natlonalities, all
mingllng together IN common good hui
NOR, and the 'cltifed" folks viewing
with delightful superiority the dress
and antics Of the eo-called "green ones
from the brush"
The crowd to-day. while not as large
as on some former years, was big
enough to make the streets moving
throngs of humanity, The railroad OFF,
clals reported about 1000 arrivals on
the morning trains, which. added to
large numbers who came in last even
ing and greater numbers still who
came from the immediate country sur
rounding, on foot, on horseback and in
many styled vehicles, made n sum total
OF visitors estimated ut about 5000,
The town has been in holiday attire,
business suspended, and everybody
given over to the celebration OF the day,
while the stars and stripes In all sizes
and styles was everywhere floating,
making conspicuous the patriotic pur-
pose and meaning of memorial day.
The public amusements In the way OF
horse races. merry go-rounds, etc, that
have in past years attracted many
pleasurp-seckerB were missing this
year. Those bent on amusement had
to find 1t in watching the crowds and
in furnishing II for themselves.
The formal exercises at the cemetery
began In the morning, and memorial
services were conducted there by Reno
Post, OF Grafton, g. a. r. a pleasing
and happy feature az these exercises
was the presence of $50 boys and girls,
who sang patriotic songs appropriate
to the occasion. The little girls were
all dressed in white and each one wore
a sosh OF red, white and blue, BY de-
tails, with the little children assisting,
beautiful flowers were bounteously
streWed over the graves. while over the
marble that marked each soldiers rest
Ing place were placed miniature em-
blems OF the national nag.
At o'clock the line OF procession
formed for tho afternoons exercises.
In the line Of march were G. a. r. posts
with a number nf societies in attend
ance, and with bands that filled the air
with martial music. Following this
came great line OF people that made
up one continuous march from the main
street Of the town to the cemetery.
There the scene was one of solemn
beauty, the well-ordered cemetery, rich,
In its bright green that cleaned in the
sunshine and with It's stately trees that
offered welcome shade, was nlive with
a living multitude that had come to pay
homage TO the dead. The Hon. John
W. Mason presided over the exercises
OF the afternoon, which were happily
inaugurated by a quintette OF little
girls who sang in a touching manner
the patriotic song. Unknown"
The Rev. c. Il, Shaw, of the M. d.
church here, then offered up prayer.
Mr. Mason, in q brief and fellcitous
address, presented Colonel Richard w.
Blue, who delivered the Grafton OF the
day. In his Introductory remarks, Mr..
Mason referred to the fact that In the
year 1868 the first memorial services
inter the war held in this section in
honor OF the Union dead were conduct
ed at spot near the present site of the
cemetery. which was then Just In pro-
cess OF formation, and on that occasion
he presided. while the address was
made by Colonel Blue. then resident
Of this county, where he spent his early
life
Colonel Blues grafton this afternoon
was listened to throughout with the
most profound attention by the vast
audience circled all around him and ex-
tending as far as his volca could reach.
He was eloquent In his tribute to those
who saved the Union and cemented that
Union In one undesirable bond. and
glowing in his presentation Of the in
calculable benefit TO mankind OF the
achievements then accomplished, and
yet withal there was no word harsh or
uncharitable for these on the other side.
In his reference to the manifest des-
tiny OF the United States to keep the
torch Of liberty burning throughout
this western hemisphere and defend all
of It's territory from ans EuOrne1n en-
croachment. he cited the case Of Venez-
uela and culOgized the resistance OF the
President and the Congress to the de-
mands OF Great Britain. The hearty
applause that this evoked was notice.
able. His sympathetic references to
Cuba end prediction that her people
would win I'm their struggle FOR freedom
also provoked noteworthy approval.
Before his address and for an hour
nfterward. Colonel Blue was greeted
personally by hundreds Of his friends
IN this county md by all M his old conf
rades In arms who We're present.