Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06

cation of orphan children of veterans was
presented and resulted in the founding in
various sections Of the Union Of most excel
lent SOLDIERS orphan schools "
Decoration Day.
Memorial day, called Decoration day at
first. is purely Grand Army Institution.
General John A. Logan was commander-in-
chief and General Norton P. Chapman who
was secretary Of the first territorial gov
eminent of the District Of Columbia, was
adjutant general. Early in May, 1885, Cen
eral Chapman received a letter from Ger
man friend in Cincinnati who had served in
the German army before coming to the
United States to enter the Union army. He
spoke of the pretty custom in Germany Of
the people assembling in the spring to scat
ter flowers to the memory Of the dead, and
said that he thought X would be an excel
lent time to inaugurate such a custom in
this country, further suggesting that the
Grand Army make the observance its own
and decorate the graves of the dead
General Chapman was so pleased with the
idea that he wrote ont a rough draft of
general order to send out from national
headquarters omit subject, and then sub
mitted 1t to COMMUNICATIVE Chief Logan, who
approved it most heartily. He added a
paragraph or two and the order was sent
forth. At first 1t was not well received as
many thought 1t would revive the old men,
cries each year and Keep up the bitterness
OF sectional feeling. ." 49,
AS the years have increased however,
love for the observances Of the day has
grown. So far from rousing sectional feel
ing, 1t has done much TO decrease it, as
the dead of two great armies often lie side
by side in the great national cemeteries,
and under the flowers there Is no distinc-
ton between the blue and gray. This ten
der memorial each recurring year has
aroused interest In the burial places of SOL
der dead, north and south, and resulted in
a general renovating OF neglected ceme-
teries.
The Grand Army Of the Republic secured
legislation through Congress which makes
1t forever impossible that any soldier of the
Union shall sleep In pauper's grave. Mar
BILE headstones suitably inscribed are now
furnished for every veteran whose friends
cannot properly mark his grave. Very
early in Memorial day observances it was
found necessary to buy the flowers to dec
crate the graves in the national cemeteries
little flags and thousands Of dollars in
money are sent south for that purpose.
The Grand Army of the Republic counts
Memorial day its national Sabbath. and all
the duties connected with it of the most
sacred character. The custom is growing
for posts to own their own burial plats,
where they erect a monument to the mem
ory of all there inferred, and plant the flag
to float day and night.
Histories in the Schools
In 1889 the attention of the Grand Army
was called to the histories taught in the
public schools Of the various states, and
committee was appointed to investigate this
matter This committee reported that very
few of the so-called histories in current
use were fit to be in the hands of loyal
children, as they were full of glazing errors
and misStatements concerning the civil war
In many instances the children found it