Cañon City record., 1901-06-20
FIRST MEMORIAL DAY.

bellion are fresh in the minds of many
still living beside those who partici-
pated actively in many Of those stir
ring and eventful scenes never to be
forgotten by those who took an act
i've part in them, and not only them
but the widow and the orphan OF both
North and South. Desolate homes,
wrecked financially and many physi-
cslly, the result of that mighty strug.
gle, completing the work of civil liber-
ty, solving the great problem of mans
capacity for self-goyernment, endow-
ing this mighty republic with innu-
merable possibilities of growth and
greatness beyond our power at this
time to conceive. Or imagine Of the
mighty destiny God in his wisdom had
in view in creating this grand and
free republican form Of government,
and the surprising influence Of liber-
ty that has taken place in the old
monarchies and empires of the world
since the establishment of this repub-
lican form Of government, giving lib
erty to the whole world; unlifting
mankind to the higher plane Of self
government hitherto unknown to the
world.
II we have spark of patriotism
we shall not fail to remember the
true significance of Decoration Day.
How often do We see this sacred day
thoughtlessly and carelessly turned
into holiday. with no misgivings or
prickings Of conscience. Memorial
or Decoration Day is too young an in
stitution to be made a holiday; il
should be observed in the spirit in
which it was set apart. A recent
writer Of the Independent, West Va,
says it was his privilege few months
ago to stand on the spot where Me-
mortal Day was first observed and in
stituted. and gathered the facts Of
Importance in reference to it.
Strange as it may seem to US yet
il is true the day was first observed
on Confederate soil by man and bis
wife with five women from one of the
suburban towns of Boston. 1t seems
than they were the first to go South
after the war to assist in educating
the illiterate freemen. They were
assigned to the public schools OF
Richmond, Virginia. In May 1866 a
proposition was made that they make
a journey to Belle Isle and deck with
flowers the graves Of union soldiers
who had been prisoners. The plan
met with hearty response, and so May
80 was the day decided upon. The
day previous the children Of white
families and those of the colored en-
rolled as scholars, by request, brought
all the flowers they could find. In
the evening the teachers assembled
in the kitchen of one Of the families
: and made beautiful wreaths and bo-
quets. The next day the 30th-in
spite of gentle rain and thick mist
the little band of eight in all, six
ladies' and two men, started for Belle
Isle on their mission of love. The
weather caused no delay in the cere-
mony. First cross placed on the
little mounds and then boquet nailed
on each headboard; this being done
the little company gathered about the
cross when one of the women who had
been nurse in the hospital sang a
hymn, the rest joining in the refrain.
After the hymn was finished suddenly
the clouds parted and beam of bright
sunshine rested on the cross, and at
that moment the little party knelt in
prayer; this ended the ceremony
This was the first Memorial observance
But what beautiful picture! The
thick mist, the bare hillside on the
islet, the rude graves, the rift in the
clouds and the sunlight on the cross
The hearts of that little company
must have been filled with joy. In
1867 the women decorated the graves
of the confederates in Hollywood