Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1896-06-03

Memorial Day was celebrated by
a general suspension OF business ana
thegatheringatthePl ePleasantvillecemetery
o people. In the forenoon the details
of the Joe Hooker Post, G. A. r. visited
the different cemeteries along the Shore
and decorated the graves of their fallen
comrades All the forenoon the special
and motor trains from Atlantic City
came over well laden with passengers,
while hundreds came on their bicycles,
and still others in omnibuses, barouches
and private teams OF all kinds. The
weather was perfect, clear, moderate
and comfortable. There was no dust
of any consequence, and the wheelmen
found the roads in good condition. In
the afternoon large crowd numbering
abouttwenty y-iivehundredpe opiegathered
at the Pleasantville cemetery expecting
to hear appropriate public addresses
as has been the custom heretofore. In
this they were much disappointed, for
only the G. A. r. service brief, but appro-
pirate was read. A few members ofJoe
Hooker Post, G. A. R., were present,
together with the Sons OF Veterans and
the Baptist Boys Brigade from Atlantic
City
At two CLOCK special train OF eleven
cars, crowded to the platforms, came
over on the West Jersey railroad, and
the hundreds OF passenger entered the
grounds from the main southern entrance
to the cemetery. There was no public
procession, and no marching on the
streets, and the military and most of
the passengers returned to Atlantic City
on the special train. The cemetery was
filled with flowers for the beautiful Gus
tom OF decorating the graves OF the dead
is not confined to the soldiers. Hun
dreds brought the ilowery tributes OF
remembrances and tenderly and teaTfully
placed them upon the last resting place
OF those who have passed on" to the
higher sphere OF existence. The subdued
con yersation, the moistened eye and
the Quiveringvoice,a ,alltoldthenever-en0irg
story OF the loved and lost. The crowds
wandered back ad forth through the
strets OF the "city OF the Dead" and into
the spacious hall OF the new chapel, until
the day was nearly gone, and one after
another took their departure for home.
Picnic parties came in abundance and
under shade OF trees by the roadside
orinthewo DDS, opened theirlunch baskets
and sprad the contents upon laps boards
or napkins for a table.
At three clock large crowd repaired
to the ball ground and witnessed the
Atlantic City club "do up our home
team by score of Z to 5.
Manyresidencesands ereta stefully
draped with flags and bunting, and
sandstripeswereliberallydisplayed
everywhere.
The only evening service, was at the
St. John g M. P. Church, where Pastor
Lufbary hadma madeelaborateprep
for the event. The chrch and chancel
were tastefully draped with handsome
American flags, and the altar was
mass Of beautiful flowers and bouquets.
A miniatuer shelter tent, a stack OF arms,
shell from the historic backgrounds
of Gettysburg, q Confederate payroll
and bills OF Confederate money were
someof the object lessons to remind
the old soldiers OF the great conflict in
which they took part. In front of all
were three empty chairs Graped
Observation-Disclosures ls-tfe
silent announcement that Death had
thrice invaded the ranks during the past
year. The regular choir OF st. John s
WAS increased by the organist and several
Salem choir who had responded to the
invitation to be present and assist in
the musical exercises Together they
sang theNationslairsand other selections
in grand style, and the large audience
present Joined in to help them. The patri-
otic program included America" "Coro-
nation" "The Star Spangled Banner"
"The Red, White and Blue" and the
Doxology. In addition to this Miss
Lufbarry, the Pastors daughter, sang
welcome to the Boys in Blue," and
again she sang, "Tenting tonight on
the old Camp Ground" assisted by Miss
Bertha Irelan and Miss Alice Horton
Comrade Henry Lake, Senior vice
Commander OF the Joe Hooker Poat,
was introduced as the first speaker of
the evening, andhe spoke for half an
hour upon the subject. OF Memorial Day
and it's proper observance. He gave
brief history of the organization OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic and
spoke of the gradually increasing obser
vance of Memorial Day. A community
might safely be u dyed by the manne
in which it reverances its dead. 1t should
be day set apart for solemn thought
and patriotic memories, and nor for
commercial gain, or the sale OF peanuts
and hokey-poke Herelated the disadvan
.tages hisown post had at first in dealing
with the railroads for transportation
but recently a more liberal policy had
prevailed. No good soldier ever received
too much for the srvices he gave to
his country. Even though he might
never have been touched by bullet or
sword, and never have seen the inside
OF hospital, yet if he was ever under
iire he was subjected to strain that
told upon him in after years. He was
never again the same man he was before
he entered the army. These services
should be SO impressively conducted
that they would teach the lessonsoi
patriotism and love OF country to the
young. 1t is said that in everything
the lawof Nature hold good that "one
extreme follows another" In 1861 there
was an neutrality-suspicious. OF patri-
'otism, and some maintain that it has
been succeeded by generation less patri-