The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-31
IN FOREST HILL. CEMETERY.
The Exercises There Were Directed
byC. y. Jadwin.

At DunmOre and Forest Hill come
terics the thrOngs began to enter soon
after daylight, and these beautiful
quiet cities never presented such n
lovely appearance. The floral deCOra-
tiOns everywhere We're lavshlY dis
played but fairer than all the wrcaths
and bouquets and the flower-heapcd
mounds were the great sheets of bloom
spread by the hand of the Creator at
every side on the bOughS of the dog
wood trees. White as snow, the masses
of the exquisite blossoms were seen in
most unusual perfection.
There We're many striking pictures
in the groups that were scattered over
the hillside. Very early one old vet
cran was seen cutting with a clasp
knife the tangled luXuriauCe of grass
about Il grave unmarked save by a
tattered flag. one old lady, bent and
worn, carried laboriously Il glass case
containing a snow white dove. 1t was
to stand by the mound where many
years ago was laid the fair body of
the only daughter of the home Near
newly-hcaped pile of earth knclt n
black-rohed figure, The heavy veil con-
Cealed the tear-wot face of Il mother
who buried her little baby the day be-
fore.
An old, old man leaned on his staff
by soldiers grave. For many Me
mortal Days he had been supported by
hright-cyed grandson. This day he
was alone, for the boy, the last of his
race, is at Camp Alger In a lonely
part of the cemetery, busy with flowers
which he tenderly placed on a grave,
bent an eX-membcr of the Thirteenth
regiment. The flowers We're for a dead
cOmrade, seemingly forgotten by all
but this friend, who remembered the
tent-mate Of camp life.
\ group of little children sedately
marching into Forest Hill attracted
much attention. They were from the
Home for the Friendless and mar
shalled in Miss Solomon's care, were
on their way to place their floral con-
tributions on the graves in the Home
plot. such wee, little babies did used
to die in the Home" remarked one
small maid as she surveyed the rows
of numbered graves. They couldn't
a-been near as big as us, for they were
all too little to have names" on every
small unnamed grave lay a bunch of
some blossom that the little fingers
had DluCked as a loving memorial Of
the dead children they never saw.
At 10 o'clock public services were
held at the soldiers plot i'm Forest Hill.
Commander \. B. Stevens, Of the G..
\. r., was unable to be present and
Comrade c. p. Jadwin directed the ex-
ercises. a vast crowd was III the
vicinity Of the platform. Besides Post
139 We're the Sons of Veterans, the
Woman's Relief Corps, No. 50, children
of schools y and 2S, and many others.
Badges of red, white and blue were
generally seem The big dag waved in
the breeze and the children's voices
raised in America stirred every list
eners heart.
After the roll call of the dead by f.
w. Pearce the regular Memorial SER
vices, a beautiful custom was followed,
that of planting flowers by AZ girls on
the a. graves Of the dead. Then A.
boys placed little flags on the mounds,
saying: I'VE pledge ourselves to place
the flag they loved so well in the graves
of the fallen soldiers on the return of
each Memorial Day" The Woman's
Relief Corps laid in the centre of the
plot a floral design inscribed ITO our
Unknown Dead"