The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-01

InELE is p tear AQL ali InaL QtEs
A mourner DER the hdmblest grave;
sBut nations swell the funeral cry
And Freedom weeps above the
brave"
Many charming scenes and interest
ing objects are TO be found in the en-
virons Of the city Of washington. AS
the preparations for the annual OBJ
servance Of Memorial day are being
completed Arlington cemetery, across
the Potomac from the capital buildings,
becomes again a place of great interest.
While the surviving members of the
Grand Army Of the Republic and the
member Of the WOman's Relief Corps
throughout the country are decorating
the graves of union and confederate sol
diers in their home cities on the thir-
tieth of this month, the minds Of tnou-
sands win travel back to the time Wnen
st was their good fortune TO visit AT
Hngton. the great Arlington, the most
beautiful national cemetery in the
United States.
tit has been reverently viewed by
thousands and tens of thousands OF
veterans and their wives and children,
and by those who knew that in one
of those unmarked graves lay the re-
mains of one who had been dear 70
them Tourists from all parts OF the
world have walked under the noDle
oaks of this beautiful place
The history of the Arlington is fun or
interest and alone would make the
great expanse Of 1,160 acres important;
The estate was formerly property or
the family of the greatest general til0
confederate army had. Robert r. Lee
Today many thousands OF union SOL
diers lie sleeping there
Situated on the Virginia slde OF tus
Potomac river on the summit OF 2 mil
200 feet above the stream, an excellent
view of the national capital is obtained
from this famous mansion. 1t is about
four miles from the capitol
With such naturally beautlful
piece of ground to work on, it IS no
wonder that the nation was able 70
make the grounds a sight worth travel
ing miles to see. The place was lald
out with special reference TO the pur-
0O0 soldiers from the battletlelds or
Virginia and the army nospltti5 al
the capital found resting places there.
The western part Of the cemetery
was devoted to the remains % wiz
troops. and the northern part 70 lne
black soldiers who did their share to-
ward freeing their fellow men.
earconhagus was placed south of the
mansion IN 1866 and surmounlea py
four cannon and balls, IL MARK ehe
last resting place of 2lll unknown
soldiers gathered after the war close9
from the battlehelds Of Bull Run ana
on tbe arch over the carriage en-
trance DIT AtiE 7thNA--t-N
eterv was inscribed:
.sfIere rest .5S5 of the 315,55S citizens
who died in defense of our country
from 1861 to 1850. .,
THE arch was formed of marble PHI
lore fron1 the portico of the old war
denartment building The once-Iaill,o JUS
C1etie snrines was located on the ieL1
III The road leading from the main gaze
to the river A handsome rupple-seoie
vail encioscs the grounds
r,i,e larger part of the burlals Wete
made in the southwestern part OF tlS
cemetery which is very Nearly Il isfSl
plateau. covered with groves o. 80 ~
frees The graves were afidhSe1 y
ion1 r,aralIel rows. and the grave OF
each soldier whose name IS kuoMH
hears a small. white marble headstone'
Inscribed with the name, company,
regiment. and date of death me
Graves Of the 5000 unknown dead are
also suitably marked.
This great burial ground has a calEl
raournful beauty that is rarely seen
elsewhere There is no sound but the
song Of birds and the wind signing
through the lofty trees. One can wen
see in the great lines of white head
stones a vast and silent encamument,
with the souls of those soldiers waiting
the final orders of the Great Com
Here. and there on the borders Of the
b,irtsf -1s,sss s-,,sf-- Sra mes were placed.
zach bearing poetic iIHSer lption- me
Following are some Of the n2Sst appFo~
PIRATE;
srvour own proud lands heroic soil
Must be your filter grave;
She claims from war his richest spoil
The ashes Of the brave
s.Rest on. embalmed and sainted dead,
Dear as the blood ye gave;
No impious footstep here shall tread
The heritage Of your grave.
ssThe mufled drums sad roll has beat
Tsfe soldiers last tattoo:
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and chosen few"
The entire Arlington estate consists
of 116O acres 1t was originally pa
of the vast landed possessions of Ed
mund Scarburgh. who was surveyor
general of Virginia in the early colo
nial period. Later it came into the
possession Of John Gusts, a wealthy
planter, whose only son, Daniel Parke