Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-02
THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD.
Flowers Oratons Music and Patriotic Spirit Mark the
Memory Of the Nations Dead.

| fatalities, was never equalled in ancient
or modern history.
Many, very many, of these now sleep
in unknown graves and it is fitting that
the efforts of the living should be
directed toward the memory of fallen
Comrades. Some people, with little
patriotism, have said that the idea of
holding memorial services each year is
al sentiment. Perhaps it is, but it is 8
noble sentiment. 1t was sentiment
| also that inspired these men to enlist
and go to the front-a sentiment COM
mendable, indeed-a sentiment that is
characteristic of this nation and one
which will always meet with our ap-
proyal, and it will likewise be a senti-
ment with us to keep their memory
green. The soldier in that war, though
Injured to scenes of pain and to horrors
of battle, was in most instances as ten
der as any civilian and as Christian in
in character. Rosecrans, as an instance,
at one time asked his men to pray and
every one of them took off their caps
and repeated the Lords prayer. At
the close of the war they gathered at
Washington and marching up Penn
sylvania avenue before the reviewing
stand wherein sat the immortal Lin
coin, they stacked arms, were paid off
AID returned to their homes to again
take up the peaceful pursuits of life.
Was ever there grander body of men?
It is therefore not only a duty which
we owe to these fallen heroes but a
pleasure as we'll for all good citizens to
each year on the SOth of May turn out
and with fitting exercises hallow their
memories in living testimonials of our
appreciation of their deeds.
At the conclusion of the address
Father James ascended the platform
and sang "The Veterans Last Song"
very pretty piece by A. Chaplain
Loizer, dedicated to Gen. John A.
Logan, which met with the applause of
those present. The first verse of
America was sung by the Post and
assemblage, accompanied by Cones
band and following the denediction by
the Rev. S. N. Wilson the march was
again taken up for home.
NOTES.
A very pretty feature of the parade
was the boys pony brigade. About
twenty youngsters, mounted on Shet-
land ponies, the latter gayly decorated
with the national colors, took part, rid
ing two abreast and under the cap
taincy of Marshal Jones rode in good
formation.
Supt Thomas of the Marathon county
asylum allowed about fifty of his pa
tients to witness the ceremonies. A
bus filled with women and two wagon
loads of men joined in the pro-
cession and followed to the cemetery.
They listened with interest to the re-
marks of the speakers and appeared to
comprehend the intent of them.
Those speaking from the platform
had difficulty to overcome which an
noyed both speaker aud audience. The
wind was blowing gale which greatly
interfered with the exercises.
Everything passed off smoothly at
the cemetery. AS soon as the flower
girls arrived members of the Cutler
Post. who rad been delegated for that
purpose, were on hand to show them
the graves of soldiers, and in few
minutes time each grave had received
its allotment of flowers
NEAL BROWN AT MARsHFIELD.
Neal Brown delivered the Memorial
day Grafton at Marshfeld and spoke in
part as follows;
but it is not alone for our dead that
we should mourn on this day; some
thing of remembrance will come to
US all, of those who died for the Lost
Cause. They are lying ION every hill
and under every green tree" of the
South land. We know they were
wrong, but they thought they were
right. They sacrificed to their stand
ard of duty as equally as you did to
yours. We cannot remember kindly
the cause they fought for. That we
will execrate while life remains in us.
But tor the southern dead as men and
brothers of ours, you will, | am sure,
give the generous tribute of brave men
to brave men. Their rebellion was not
inspired like that of Hampden or Wash
ington by hatred or tyranny, but was
begotten of a desire TO maintain the
tyranny and oppression of the slave
power. You can be aided in this spirit
of generous concession towards your
southern brethren by the thought that
in many bloody battles of earlier times
when we fought invaders and hordes
of savage red men, the best bioO,, at the
North and South flowed out together in
one stream. United thus in death. we
may surely be united in life as one
people.
Il know it is easy now to see the mis-
takes of the war and of the reconstruc-
ton period Immediately following the
| war. Our politicians have not always
treated the southern people with the
generous magnanimity due TO those
who were our own kindred. We
should have pardoned much of bitter
ness on their part because their bur-
dens were so much greater than ours.
| The South was vast battlefield OF uni
versal ruin and devastation. Nearly
every battle was fought on southern
soil and the harrying of contending
armies made the earth a desert I'm
paid aud 'unclothed the southern sol