Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-06-02
| MEMORIAL day
SCENES and SERVICES.
Patriotism and Peanuts at
the Cemetery.
GRAVES DECORATED WITH BANANA SKINS.
UNsEEMLY SIGHTS AND NOISES MAR THE
OCCAsION-A LARGE CROWD PRESENT
DAY SERVICES AT THE CEMETERY AND
AT SALEM CHURCH IN THE EVENING,

If a stranger visiting our Borough for
the first time, had gone up to the beau IT,
full grounds of the Pleasantville Cemetery
| on Monday afternoon (Memorial Day..
he would have been justified in believing
that circus had struck town. All that
was lacking was Punch and Judy
show to reinforce the booths and peanut
wagons to make the illusion complete
Going up West Washington avenue he
would have found large ice cream and
lemonade booth run by the Baptist
Church, and further up the road, and
directly opposite the entrance to the
Cemetery, line of rickety wagons from
which a lot of noisy fakirs shouted them
selves hoarse in crying the merits of their
stock OF peanuts and bananas. 1t was a
perfect babel of shouting and cursing,
wholly unbefitting such an occasion and
a disgrace to the Borough authorities
who permitted it. Inside the gates on
the north side of the grounds, picnic par
ties were sitting on the graves talking
and laughing, eating lunches. and throw
ing the remnants wherever most conven-
lent. The walks and graves, everywhere
in that part of the enclosure, were COW
cred with paper bags, peanut shells,
banana skins, egg shells, ham gristle and
whatever else anybody couldn't eat.
During the solemn services at the
monument OF the G, A. R. there was
continual gable OF conversation by
lot of love-sick girls and gossiping old
women, and few men who could not
permit their tongues to rest even during
prayer. The PRESS hopes there will
never be another celebration like that of
Monday. 1t would be far better to
abandon all public demonstrations if
they cannot be fittingly and becomingly
conducted. The day is one that has out
grown the object for which it was
originally instituted, the decoration of
the graves Of dead heroes. 1t has become
the one day in all the year when all
classes and conditions ofpeople repair to
cities of the dead, where rest all that
was mortal of their loved and lost, and
there, in fearful remembrance, pay the
tribute of Gods beautiful flowers laid
upon their graves. No custom is more
touching or more fitting, and the day is
observed from one end of the country to
the other. Its sOlemnity should never be
marred by such scenes as were witnessed
here on Monday. The blame must rest
upon the Borough authorities who for
one dollar licensed the hawkers who
took away the business that belonged to
our own citizens down in the village
who do a regular and legitimate fruit
and ice cream business. In the name OF
God. has Pleasantville become so poor
that she must replenish her treasury
with paltry eight or ten dollars on
such day and in such manner? If SO
then let a committee of citizens pass
around the hat, and if any of our
churches must raise funds outside the
usual methods of support, let them seek
some other day and occasion to do it.
Probably the Borough authorities did
not realize what would occur when they
granted the licenses, but the abuse of the
privilege should be sufficient to deter
them from granting any in the future
and to insist, next year, upon having
the most orderly and decorous celebra-
ton ever seen here.
SERVICES AT THE CEMETERY.
The day was one of varying moods SO
far as the weather was concerned. The
early morning was cloudy and fOggy-
the forenoon partly rainy, but the after
noon brought bright sunshine and
refreshing breeze. The early trains
brought quite crowd of picnic parties.
fiowers-gathers, and bicyclers, mostly
from Atlantic City. All the afternoon
trains were heavily loaded including the
motors, and the 2 o'clock extra that
came over from Atlantic with twelve
cars on the West Jersey and Seashore
Railroad.
The PleasantviIle Band met this train
at the Cemetery and escorted the men,
bers of the Joe Hooker Post g. A. R. and
the Sons of Veterans from Atlantic City.
The services at the graves of the dead
were of the usual solemn and impressive
ritual of the G. A. r., Rev. Mr.. Jewett, of
Salem Church offered up q most fervent
prayer. Rev. James Luffbarry, himself
soldier, made q very forcible address,
and the united choirs of the several
churches sang america" "Blest be the
tie that binds," and Nearer, my God. to
Thee" Probably not less than 5000
persons were present, the most of whom
soon left after the conclusion of the
exercises.
The Furney CommaDdery, of the
Knights of Pythias, of Atlantic City-a
colored organization-came over to
decorate the grave of W. Fl. Furney.
They made fine appearance and
marched well.
EVENING EXERCISES.
Salem Church was crowded to the
doors-both audience and Sunday-schOol
rooms in the evening-to listen to the
exercises arranged by Pastor Jewett, and
Mrs. G. H. Jenness of the Epworth
League. The pastors of the other
churches were present and took part,
and the united choirs sang the National
Airs with inspiring effect. The church
was profusely aud tastefully draped
with American flags, and portraits of
Gems. Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
were pinned to q flag in the rear OF the
altar. All the addresses were of STIR
ring and patriotic character and were
vigorously delivered, as though each
speaker felt the inspiration of the
occasion. The following was the
PROGRAM.
Organ Voluntary, Miss Ethel Risley
March, Members of the ,Jr. League
Singing. Coronation United Choirs
Prayer, Rev. J. M. Ferguson,
Presby terian Church
Singing, "Red, White and Blue"
Address of Welcome, ReY. F. L. Jewett,
Salem Church
Duet, Mrs. Geo. Frambes, Mrs. VIM. Edge
Reading, s'The Bivouac of the Dead"
Rev. J. M. Ferguson,
Address, Rev. Arthur Douglas,
Baptist Church
Singing, America United Choirs