Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-24
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MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE.
When and Where Inaugurafed-
Some Interesting Facts.


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Memory of ones own, Is. as taxed NOR
tails have sorey found, but as q sorr.
sieve. so few may lay claim to 1t phenom
enally, as a virtue, whilst regard for ser
vice and sacrifice in life. devotion of gra,
hairs, is as caprice or individual vanit.
may will. 1t is as idle TO claim indiyidu
ally superior memory, as II Is unseeml!
for a callow and interruptions aspiran
to advance accidental relationship TO thu
famous as a claim or passport to reward
and renown.
This moralizing may be deemed irrele
want. when as a plea general frailty Of
memory, might simply be advanced ir
| prefacing what follows:
My immediate excuse for this offering 4.
that a day or so since / had "A request
from our beloved Dr. NJ ID. Hoge, who
has been so blessedly long ministrant and
sustenant I'm so many things essential ia
| our well-being.
love to try and serve, as may, DR..
| Hoge, when he asks me, as ne does, occa-
sionally.
| He last requested information which all
might have held indellibly fixed in MEM
| DRY.
The gentle shepherd who holds in his
heart so much of the past in which he
has been participant with us, In joy and
sorrow. in prosperity and in adversely, 1t
is said, has In preparation, an inspiring
legacy, "Reminiscences" of his truly re-
markable life Of blessedness.
Now, DR.. Hoge asked as to the initial
Inauguration of the annual observances,
so honoring to us as the very loadstone
of virtue, and the key to our hearts, our
recurrent acknowledgment in grateful
words. our cessation from grosser de-
mand, that we may, with loving hand,
strew with fragrant flowers the last
sleeping-places of our heroes who fought
for principle and for fireside, and who
died for us.
Yet so frail Is memory, the question of
DR.. Hoge was found to be difficult TO an
swer definitely.
After futile effort and conversation
yesterday with those who might have
known, to-day / had reference to a truly
invaluable repository-our Confederate
Museum. Whilst pathetic memorials OF
heroism and sacrifice may as potently
move our hearts as may sweet and weird
song. yet the object OF our noble women
so tirelessly find measure with constant
hand to beat OF loving heart, that they
seek as well by irrefragible evidence in
Ms. and print to establish the business |
of the Southern Cause and its claim to |
everlasting regard. At the Museum 1 |
found what l had been seeking. Miss |
Isabel Maury, the efficient regent in /
charge, at once brought the records OF |
the Hollywood Memorial Association,
which presented the date of it's organiza-
ton as May 3, 1866 and / was informed
that the first obseryances were on the |
10th following. 1t is thought that labor
on the graves of the soldiers was per-
formed some days before the 10th by the
adde's, with the assistance OF veterans OF
The Richmond commands. About the re-
time Of song and flowers last
year, some patriot OF beyond Mason and
Dlxon's line, in effervescent spirit. made
,laim for the Grand Army OF the Repub-
ic of priority in the touching offering of
lowers, and the matter was vented us
newspapers may.
A communication In the New York
Herald. from Mrs. Logan, the widow of
General John A. Logan, has been pre-
erved by Miss Maury. In 1t Mrs 10
an states mat she was present in Rich
nond at our observance in 1868, and that.
at her suggestion. General
.ogan, then Commander-in-Chief OF the
rand Army of the Republic, recognizing |
ne beauty Of our custom. ordered IL 10 |
Q followed In the North. Thus the north
m claim was cffectually sllenced, but
ne newspapers kept up the contention
$ to the South. My cajoling memory Z,