Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-30
RAIN=MARS THEDAY
Memorial Exercises Conducted
Under UnfaVorable Cir
cumstances.
MORNING PROGRAM AT ILLINOIS
Afternoon Observances at Chippi-
annock Cemetery Aban-
JE6 doned.

for Memorial day than that which
this community experienced today.
After night of rain driven by a raw
northeast wind the morning opened
cloudy and cold with the temperature
declining throughout the forenoon.
just at the close of the morning
parade rain began falling, and after
the first brisk shower it continued
to fall Internationally during the day,
greatly interfering with the observ-
ances that had been planned.
The parade formed at 10 o'clock at
Fifteenth street and Fourth avenue,
then marched on Fourth avenue to
Eighteenth street, thence to Fifth
avenue and over to Twentieth street,
down Twentieth to Second avenue, on
that street to the court house, then
back to the Illinois theatre. where
ranks were broken. \ squad of six
teen police officers in charge of Chief
Phil Miller came first, then Bleucr's
band, Marshal of the Day McCono-
chic and his aides. the Woodmen drill
team, Co. \, 9th l. n. G., John Buford
post No. 243. q. y. r., Judge Gest. Mai.
LaNelle in carriage, carriages, Marine
band, Linemen's union, Naval Reserves.
Owing TO the inclement weather the
exercises of the morning were held at
the Illinois theatre instead of at the
court house square as originally
planned. The program opened with
the bugle call by y. y. Coons. Music
by the band followed and Rev. o. w.
Lawrence gave the opening prayer. The
Choral union then sang From Heav-
ems Battlements." Hon. W. III. Gest,
in introducing the speaker, Hon. Il. j.
Fitzpatrick, of Dubuque, took occa-
sion to make a few brief remarks to
the effect that the day was one which
always brought to him a feeling of
sadness. and especially so on this par
ticular day when the sky was over
cast in seeming sympathy. He spoke
of the members Of the q. \. Il. who
had passed away during the year and
the rapid thinning of the ranks of
those who wore the blue in the dark
days of the COS.
The Address.
The speaker. in opening. said
that he, too. was filled with the feel
ing of sadness referred to. He came
not as stranger, though unknown
personally, as he brought with him
the greetings from the Dubuque boys
in blue TO the comrades of Rock Isl
and. He would not attempt to culo-
gize the veterans, as it would be as
vain as to attempt to paint the sun
rise, but they were the glory Of Amer
ip., Il Il Ia
He thought that there was too,
of an element of pleasure in thus re-
membcring the brave dead. not as
some duty 10 be performed through
that sense only, but the ability to be
of service in their remembrance. The
day is past when this was a nation of
one people. but this country is a com
posite of the nations with "A rich heri-
tage from all. The fraternity of all
men is to be desired and here the APP
proach to a common brotherhood is
closer than anywhere else.
Tells Story.
The speaker. referring to his com
ing az stranger, stated that he
could not refrain from telling a story
on the point. An Irishman of Belfast
bought a suit of clothing from a
stranger in that city and paid a dol
lar down with the understanding that
the balance was to be made good in
regular amounts. Nothing came to
the cIothier, and one day he went to
the depot, to see his Celtic customer
climbing on a train with a grip in his
hand. The clothing merchant said:
Where is my money. You were max
ed, and l clothed you?" Well" said
Pat, you were stranger, and l took
you in
The speaker hoped that the people
of Rock Island would not take him
just that way, but he hoped he would
have an opportunity to become better
acquainted and more closely identi-
fed.
A Three-fOId Duty
The duty which falls to the public
Decoration day is three-fold one
1t is sad. patriotic and pleasant. 1t
is sad in the loss of father. brother or
husband recalled through the dark
days of the rebellion. 1t is patriotic
in that the deeds and acts of the ma
tons heroes are brought back to
mind and their memory is honored
and reverenced. 1t is pleasant to be
able to assist in the exercises on such
an occasion and TO take some part in
the activities of the day. \ splendid
lesson in patriotism would be for ev-
cry parent in the country TO take his
children to the tomb of the great
Washington and let them there drink
in the great inspiration to patriotism
which could not help but result. If
that had been the case there never
would have been any north or south
or divided people. Then, too. there
is the memory of the immortal Lin
celn, whose credit, while he did not
carry gun or appear in actual bat
tie, is greater than of those who did.
His was the sublime art. of leading
while seeming to follow.
A Hallowed Day.
Whi1a soma T1oaU com oil that fhfc