The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-03

iol SOl NibVos anu WhCu IL COllCo ~
bear the body of the last Union sol.
der to its resting place may it be per-
formed by hearts of love and may a
grateful people still year by year
gather to deck those graves"
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
BY all their country's wishes blest;
When spring with dewy fingers cold
Returns to deck their hallowed mold
She there shall dress a richer sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trodW
MEMORIAL DAY.
The day was perfect The town was
radiant with flags and bunting. Bust.
ness was practically suspended. The
crowd was not 30 large as it has been
other years, because the bad weather
has put the farmers go much behind
that they could not leave their work.
But the attendance was large enough
to make the exercises Of very great
impressiyeness and interest.
The program as published was car
ried out, the procession being led by
the Hum boldt band, which furnished
excellent music for the occasion. In
the park, vocal music was furnished
by chorus under the direction of
Mr.. J. +. Henderson, the feature of
which was "rhe Star Spangled Ban
ner," sung by Miss Bonner with fine
effect.
Hon. j. r.. Hessin, of Manhattan,
was the orator of the day and spoke,
in part, as follows:
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen.
1t gives me great pleasure to be
able to join with you today in com
memorating the lives and services of
those patriot soldiers who have pre-
ceeded us upon this long march, and
who weary and worn have attained
their position ordered and directed by
the great commander. Each succeed
ing year brings together a less num-
Der of those who participated in the
late struggle, and but a few years
more will elapse until the whole mum.
Der remaining in these posts can be
numbered upon the fingers of one
hand. So that while we meet today
with mingled feelings of pleasure and
sadness to revive the memories of the
past and to scatter flowers upon the
graves Of loved ones gone before, we
may also contemplate the inevitable
fact that all too soon there shall be
sounded the call which announces
that you and / are numbered with
the great majority.
The very youngest who participant
ed are now middle aged men and q
few years added to those already
resting upon them will soon carry
them to the three score and ten allot-
ted to mortal man and they too shall
be numbered among the dead. And
see today additional evidence of APP
preaching years and you have had 1t
pressed upon you this day, by an
order from your commandment direct
ing that transportation be furnished
to all the members of these posts to
convey you to the spot where lie bur-
led your former comrades. Time has
with stealthy tread moved onward
and forward and in passing has laid
his hand upon you, pressing hard I'M
til at length we must ask assistance
in performing the duty which rests
upon us as the survivors of the great
conflict. Next year, may be, someone
will occupy my place and yours. The
roll will be called as it has been to-
day, these ranks will be ordered
closed up again as it has been done in
the past, and those of you who remain
will, perhaps, speak of us as among
those who participated with us last
and will say we knew him we'll.
Sooner or later we shall lie here, too.
Slowly, thickly, lastly fall the snow
flakes, like the storms upon the life of
man. At first they lose themselves
in the brown mat of heritage or gent
ly melt as they fall upon the broad
stepping stone at the door. But as
hour after hour passes the feathery
flakes stretch then white cloak plain
ly on the meadow and chilling the
doorstep with their multitude cover
it with mat of pearl. The dried
grasstips pierce the mantle of white
like 80 many serried spears; but as
the storm goes softly on they sink one
by one into their snowy tomb, and
presently show nothing OF their army
save one or two struggling banners of
blackened and shrunken daisies.
Thlrty-seven years ago we gave but
little heed to the gently falling years,
and they passed without impression
upon the boys of '6l. But they have
continued, silently and relentlessly