Evening star., 1897-05-31

men and maidens, soon to take their places
on the stage Of action as the men and wo-
men of tomorrow; those in the prime of
manhood and wOmanhood, who were born
prior to or during the struggle in freedom s
cause, and to whom the dark days of war
and rebellion are but faint memory, as
well as those who lived in the time when
mems souls were tried, may all here learn
the needed lessons of patriotism-love for
country, the Union and the flag and also
realize something of the cost of the bless
ings which we now enjoy, made possible by
the sacrifices of the living, as well as the
dead, whose memory we honor this day.
;',Fime, the tomb builder; time, the healer
of all wounds, has Softened the bitterness
and thrown into shadow much Of the sor-
rows and suffering incident to the prose-
cution of that long and bloody war Add
ed to this. the persistent attempts which
achievements of the defenders of the Union,
1t is not strange that the survivors,
after the lapse of third of century, find
themselves obliged to raise their voices in
note of warning, lest the lessons of the
struggle be not read Alright and our heroes
have died in vain.
Let us here and now receive anew q
baptism of the spirit which animated those
who from 1861 to '65 laid their all upon the
altar of their country. and honor the MEM
ory of our noble dead, who gave the last
full measure of the sacrifice demanded
even life itself-that our country might re-
After Adjutant W. w. Deloe had read
the memorial orders. quartet, composed
Of Messrs. George P. Tucker, A. r. Tay-
lor, c. G. Abbott and ]. w. Taylor, rem
dered How Sleep the Brave after which
the school children took part in a very
beautiful exercise, decorating a miniature
monument placed upon the stage, and in
scribed I'm Honor of Our Dead" Each
little girl was dressed in white with a
black sash across her shoulders. On her
head was crown. on which was written
the name of the state she represented, The
boys wore white caps, on the bands of
which were the names of the respective
states they represented. Every state in
the Union was represented, and every boy
and girl carried small copy of "Old
Glory" Each girl also carried a wreath
or bunch of flowers, and as Mrs. Mamie p
Dorsey called the names of the states the
boy and girl representing that state would
step to the front, recite a verse of poetry
typical of the state, and then the girl would
place her flowers on the monument and
the boy would salute the flag Miss Dor
othy Houcher, attired as the Goddess of
Liberty, recited a patriotic selection, in
connection with part of the program, after
which the children sang America
The school children then lest the stand
to the music by the band of Onward.
Christian Soldiers" when the officers of
Ihomas Post recited the impressive GAR.
memorial services. quartet, composed of
Misses Clara Tucker and Matte Blanchard
and Messrs. George p Tucker and. G. g.
Abbott, following rendition of THE Hon
ored Brave" Comrade ]. B. Dowd next
read Lincoln's Gettysburg address, when
Comrade E. ]. Brooking read the following
original poem:
Forget Me Not.
Their work is done, their tale is told;
Fast are ttcse deadly years of strife receding
-, Into the vista of the long ago;
The once new graves have now grown old
And Natures sheen has many years been feedin,
Upon the dust Of those who lie below.
Why meet we here? Why bring these aowers3
Why tokens scatter of our love and SORROW
And life's new cares now share the hours!
So soon today is merged into tomorrow,
And other scenes upon its canvas swiftly press.
How soon we may forget-forget!
Leaves out the part we mortals try to play,
Ere We have learned the lesson yet!
Ever Into the past our years are drifting,
It'll death makes every life a yesterday.
The story Of those years of dread and danger
The story Of that fratricidal strife.
Made brothers love to brother then a stranger,
And each but sought to end his brothers 1ife
Because these dead are yours ye come;
Because for you these warriors now lie sleeping
The sleep Of death: They fought and died for
Forget them not; from. hearth and home
They went while hearts did bleed and eyes were
And ties were sundered-tender ties and true.
Braved they the storm, the deadly heat
BraSed thoy the SHOWS upon their bosoms beating
Breved they disease that lurked their path
Tne conncn's roar. the fiery sleet
RaAned from ten thousand muzkets-bravely
TIL victory or death had won the day.
Tho prison cell, starving for food,
Shivering with cold, with pestilence coutending-
Taunted and tortured by the unpiteous foe;
Barred they their breasts and shed their blood.
Their c0untry'B cause with heart and soTl de-
Tending,
Tho lie were spent and every hope lay low.
These dead are yours, forget them not
They died to shield c0untry's life and honor:
Yours 10 the heritage they sought to save.
shall such - these be soon forgotf
Nayl Round these graves should memory's
Forever wreathe it, circlet 10 the brave.
FceSet them not fbsget them not;
Would that some heavenly hsnd might weave
me silver cords that bind u to the past;
No. never shan they be forgot,
TN death. perchance, those silver cords shan
seyer,
And earfh's broad bassn claim its es,n 1t last.
~ Nen 1aithss y1sfea Iooku ahcve--