The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-31

Circumstances-The Parade and
the Enjoyable Camp Fire That
Ended the Celebration.
! Memorial day, that cherished day of
| all the year by the surviving brave.
| received q fitting celebration in car
bondalc yesterday.
Under the adverse circumstances
which the exercises were carried on
in the midst of almost n dclugc of rain
the celebration was all the more cred
table and the old soldiers who doiicd
the elements. as they often doiicd the
terrors of war, were the subject of ad
mirng comments and words of warm
commendation throughout the day.
The exercises began with the process
sion. which left the post hail. on Salem
avenue. when captain j. :. IIaiStcad.
Of the Sons Of Veterans. sounded his
| buSlc, about $50 o'clock The parade
started over the line of march headed
by Colonel John McComb, who never
looked more commanding or carried Il
more military air
The Dundaff Fife and Drum corp.
provided music for the marchcrs, who
comprised the members of Commander
Davies post. the Sons of Veterans, etc.
\ number of carriages containing the
oldest and the most feeble of the vet
Grams brought UP the rear of the pro-
ccSSion.
When tn" line Of march was trav-
crSed. the procession halted in Memorial
park. whore deeply impressive and in
spring exercises were carried out
about the monument The rain. in the
meantime. seemed tn he outdoinc itself
in The way which it poured but the old
soldiers were made of sterncr stuff
than to beat Il retreat before u storm
of this charactor and they admirably
stood their ground and carried out the
entire programme.
The decorations of Wr"athS and naCs
We're deposited at the base of the
monument, and then came the salute
to the departed. fired by the firing
squad from the Sons of Veterans. com
manded by Captain G. s. Alexander.
Tattoo was sounded by Captain Hal
stead. hueler of the day.
This concluded the exercises here
and the procession broke up, the vol
untccr squads subsequently visiting the
several cemeteries and tondcrly de-
posting the SarlandS significant of how
sweet was the memory of those ''Who
died that the country might live" This
work of decorating the graves was
compile ted. despite the continued down
pour: and when the veterans returned
rain-Soaked and weary after their
tramp. there was no murmur of COM
plant because of the hardshipS they
endured in performing their sacred
duties.
a pleasant incident Of the parade
Was the haltng of the soldiers i'm
front Of She residence OF Rev. NJ. G.
Elliott. pastor of the First cnngrc-
gational church, and giving him three
rousing cheers. This was Il mark of
appreciation of Davies post for Eev.
Mr.. Elliott and the services he has
rendered in behalf OF the post.
At noon the veterans assembled in
the post hall tn partake of the tempt
ing dinner which the kindness of the
members of the Women's Relief corps
caused to be spread before the old sol
dierS.
The dinner was excellent. and it was
keenly enjoyed. Commander McComb.
who was the life of the gathering. pro-
vided most acceptable condiment in his
happy sallies, and his comrades Eeonly
enjoyed his equally humorous stories,
a campfire, which probably eNcellcd
in it's enjoyable features. followed, and
was il happy conclusion to the DAYS
cclebra ion.
Colonel Mccomh proved himself an
exemplary master OF ceremonies during
this period. and the fun which he
spread reached to every man in the
hall, until the old veterans We'd with
each other in contributing to the en-
joymcnt of the occasion.
Colonel McComb rected his original
poem, which appeared in The Tribune
Wednesday, besides Lincoln's address
at Gettysburg. He also had Il fund of
stories from which he literally handed
out his choicest.
The veterans responded to the spirit
of The occasion, and il was an inSpir-
ing scene as they gathered about the
organ and with all forvor sang patri-
otic selections. Mrs. William Dryden
was organist,
There werc several enjoyable num-
bers by young people.
Miss Irene Talmar rccitcC Clevorly
"If "A String Is in a Knot" Miss
Blanch Mills cntcrtainingly told tho
story of Decoration Day" Miss l.cnna
\, Dryden gave a splendid recitation Of
For Grandpa's Sake" and Miss Lizzie
Reddon delighted and amused the sol
dicrs with her ragtimc song, My Ann
Eliza"
Tho campfire was enjoyed from he
ginning to end. and the old soldiers
We're in IA happy mood when it was time
In go home,
Last night, the patriotic entertain
ment which the young people of the
High school held was highly successful
and the splendid programme thai was
printed yesterday WAS kecnly enjoyed