The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-01
DECORATION DAY
Observed In ManyPlases Through
out the Country.
CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON
A ths FamoaS ArIinstOn NatOnAI Csns-
i'ry-uuvoilipE OF me West POlnt MOn-
umsnt-An Impressive soonS at CiusIa-
nAu - Celebrations AZ Many Othsr
Point,-Soathsrn elite, Homer the URiOn
Dsad-ssrvlooss At the Tomb OF Grant.

WASHINGTON, May si.-MemoriRl
Day was generally observed in WASH
lngton. The senate adjourned over for
the day and the house held only a fif-
teen minute session. All the departments
and the business houses were closed
and the day was given up to patriotic
observance and tributes to the heroic
dead. The bronze statues of the M
tlon's heroes on land and sea in the
government reservations and parks
were shrouded in the nags under which
they fought. At 10 o'clock there was an
Impressive parade OF the 6. A. h, and
other patriotic organizations, which at
II o'clock broke up, the several posts
holding memorial exercises in the va
rlous cemeteries. The most Imposing
ceremonies, OF course, were held ut the
national cemetery at Arlington, on the
Virginia side OF the Potomac, opposite
Washington, which was before the war
the magnificent estate OF Robert y Lee,
the Confederate chleftain. This beau-
tiful property had been sold little over
century ago to John Alexander Ior
six hOgsheadB OF tobacco, and was tn'
herited by Lee from John Parke Curtis,
the son OF Martha Washington by her
frst husband. who served as an aide
on WnshlnRton's stan. II was pur-
chased by the government from the Lee
heirs in 1888 for $4,000. after having
been held as q national cemetery since
the close OF the war.
Hero blyouac almost 5000 Of the ma.
tlon's dead, 1000 whose identity Will
never be known, being buried In SIN
gie grave. Among the most famous OF
the heroes buried beneath the spreading
oaks and elms are General Sheridan.
the great cavalry leader. Admiral Por-
ter. the hero Of Mobile; Brigadler Gen
eral Harvey and General Ricketts,.
The exercises at Arlington to'aay
were made particularly memorable by
the presence OF President Mehlnley'
They began at II o'clock with nation
al salute OF twenty-One guns from the
light battery. Fourth artillery, U. 5. A.
The beautiful ceremony OF streWlnB
flowers on the graves followed. Led by
the marine band, the g. A. r. and other
organizations which had formed IN
front OF the old Lee mansion, marched
10 the tomb OF the unknown dead,
where the band played a dirBe, while
the rnnssive monument was being deco
rated: after this the procession sepnra-
ted. With gentle HANDS ana lOVinB
hearts the graves OF the vast army oe-
meath the trees received their tributes
Of flowers. The humblest Of the coun-
try's defenders was not neglected The
organizations and guests RtterWard
gathered At the amplth theatre. which was
Fnprpsslvely decorated, where the eX-
erclses took place. The. programme AZ
the RrfpItheatFe opened with buglers
sounding Assembly" After the ''fun-
erai march" by the Marine band, the
Burial OF the Dead" was sung by the
choir, Thomas's. Hopkins. department
commander. called the assembly TO or,
der and the Rev. W. II. Black invoked
divine blessings. The choir sang again
and then Representative Dolllver, OF
iowa, delivered the oration OF the day.
The oratlon was followed by music
ana n poem delivered by DR.. Thomas
Calyer, Hon. Webster Davis. assistant
secretary OF the interior, followed with
nm oration, and the exercises eonelud.
ed iwth BeethoVens Funeral MRTSn MSn,So ~
hand