New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-31
FLOWERS FOR THE GRAVES.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC START
ED THE IDEA.
ONLY JEW NATIONS FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE,
SET BY AMERICA IN SHOWING THOUGHT
OF THE DEAD

With tn. passing Of another Memorial Day,
with It's flowers and flags and tears for Tho Blue
and tho Gray" Il IS Of interest TO remember that
no other nation but ours and tho sister republic
Mexico strews the graves Of its soldier dead with
sweet flowers embaiming the prlnclhes lor
which they gave their lives
Previous 10 our establishment of National hon-
osy by the Grand Army Of the Republic. the idea Of
thus paying respects 10 the common soluleT hau
never occurred to any one in the older countries
The Catholic Church has from early times incu'-
Gated in It's adheren,s the necessity OF praying
for the souls OF the departed but this was purely
q religious rite and was in no sense national In
France there Is usually a liberal display OF flowers
around the Column vendome and the Hotel des In
valdes In honor Of Napoleon and at the Picpus
Cemetery in honor OF Lafayette. This. however Is
due to Americans who instituted the custom
Yesterday as usual. the annual American mani
fastatton took place at the tomb OF Lafayette
United States Ambassador Horace Porter and all
Of the leading Americans in Paris were present
General Porter delivered speech. IN when ne
dwelt upon the sympathy Of France with the
United States NJ Barthold and others made sim
liar addresses The usual banquet. with toasts
given and responded to- was held last evening.
In England on every anniversary OF Prince Al
berts death the Queen pays honor TO her late nus
band The memory OF Waterloo IS preserved IN
England through tho curious custom Of the Duke
Of Wellingtons successor travelling 10 Windsor TO
present three French nags Her Majesty. And in
a similar Spirit and as sort OF Tory rite the grave
OF Lord Beaconsfeld and the various monuments
erected 10 his memory are decorated with the pr1m-
rose on each April "a Put neither in France nor In
England has there been any announcement given
70 this wholesome pra ctice IN national sense 20
the soldiers who fell at Waterloo even in tho
charge OF the Light Brigade az Balaklavs- Those
nations seem 10 exhaust themselves in tho cases 81
tllustrtous persons and take every possible means
Of forgetting their common dead
What little progress Memorial Day has made In
Europe is 10 he attributed to the influence Of tho
large number OF wealthy Americans who now re-
aide in most European cities Though many OK
these have ceased TO De Americans IN spirit and
have in many taken on the color OF their
environments the members Of the respective Colo
MES celebrate such battles as those Of gettysburg
and Of Appomattox by banQuets and other social
festivities and thus aid In creating an atmosphere
favorable to the great American holiday. Were
there no colony OF wealthy Americans In rams Tor
example, the grave OF Lafayette would nave Deeh
forgotten long since Dy ms 0w, 80 s,yr,cen Mo
mortal Day IS crOwd.ng out OF rern"inDi once ma VI
November . which has from time lnin" IA pen
fixed by the Church the day devoted 10 t!e ueI
parted dead II is a season or gloomy W'ai her .1,.
~ h,,ing cold when people find It hard 20 he ont OF
doors much more 80 to visit those lone. ana dark
ened streets Of metropolis. which are tle VIZ "if -,
Canada until within the last few years vigorously
mortal Day is observed there much as II IS mere,
though the Canadian brothers hardy apprecI"tee
the fact that the idea Of decorating the graves Il
fallen soldiers is purely OF American origin;
In Mexico the celebration Of May - "hlIn cot
responds to America celebration OF May %, dignav
more elaborate IN respects thal w u.spo;21
here while the American so.diers VINO lc'i !" '0''
are always included in the ceremonies .o-
The Mexicans indeed. are 80 enthusiastic 49,
their celebration that they extend IL over uroo
days and besides costly floral tributes Govern
ment military band accompanies the pf'Geshlon:
pouring forth strains Of martial music Flowers
are marvellously cheap that the graves pieSen5S
the appearance OF one vast fowerbed OF Vai,esa1eu
color stream Of people pour continugnsy III
the cemeteries from daylight 70 dusk, ana as VIII"
us. the day IL q National holiday.