The Washington times., 1903-05-31
NATIONS LOVE FEAST
ON DECORATION DAY
Tender Memories of Great
Sacrifices HallOW 1t.
SERVICES AT CEMETERIES
All Government Offices Closed and
Business Generally Suspended in
Difference to Public Sentiment

The graves of tens of thousands Of
brave soldiers in almost every GENE
terry of the land last night lay strewn
with flowers wet with the dew and The
rain. This was only a part of the trib
ute of love and tenderness which their
surviving comrades. brothers friends,
and grateful people paid to the mem
DRY of those who have fought their last
fight. IN the most noble of all causes,
for home and country.
OF the great army of 81, divided into
two divisions, the living and the dead.
the latter far outnunbers the former,
and each year adds to its numbers. and
increases the list of mourners, so that
every recurring Memorial Day finds more
and more hands to distribute the Of
ferings of flowers which those who re-
main bestow upon those who have gone
before. With unstinted bounty, with
hearts overlooking with gentleness and
sorrowing love, were they distributed
yesterday wherever there slept one of
the heroic dead.
All Business Suspended.
In Washington. as was especially fit
ting, the day was observed with reli-
gious devotion. The Offices of the Gov
eminent were closed throughout the day,
business was generally suspended. and
thousands of people repaired to the
great cities of the dead in and about
Washington to do homage 10 the nation 8
defenders.
The Grand Army of the Republic, the
fast diminishing remnant of that great
army which fought for the preservation
of the Union, as was proper, took the
lead in all the ceremonies of the day,
and was ably assisted by younger vet
erans the boys of the Spanish American
war. and by scores of loyal women, as
we'll as by members of other patriotic
organizations.
IN speech and song was told again the
cid. yet ever new, story of the soldier IS
struggles and triumphs. of his sacrifices
and his successes. a story which viii
always be the spark which kindles the
fire of patriotism within the breast OF
every true lover OF his country.
Confederate Graves Not Sighted.
After the welcome rain of the day lie
fore the morning dawned bright and
cheerful, though sad were the hearts OF
those who wended their way toward the
last resting places of their beloved dead
= AT every soldiers grave was placed a
flag, and even those who, in fighting for
what they believed to be a just cause
for there are number of graves of
Confederates at ArIinston-fred upon
that banner, were not forgotten.
In fact, Memorial Day has come TO be
a day when not alone are the toInbs, OF
the soldier defenders strewn with floral
offerings, but when the great unnum-
bered dead of every class and creed and
kind are remembered by those whom
they loved and were loved by in life.
This was especially noticeable yester-
day. for there were in every cemetery
hundreds of graves OF others than SOL
diers decorated with sweet-scented bios
SONS.
Children Interested.
The school children, quick to learn
the lesson of patriotic duty were large
~ instrumental in the distribution of
flowers upon the graves of soldiers and
civilians. Thousands congregated after
the floral offerings had been bestowed
and listened TO further tributes of love
from the lips of those who spoke the
praises OF the heroic dead.
At Arlington, at the Soldiers Home,
at the Congressional, at the Battle
ground. Glenwood. Prospect Hill, Oak
Eiu, st. Elizabeth's. Mount Olivet. and
other cemeteries there was speech max
ing and song service.
AS if in benediction upon these
scenes. heaven at the close of the days
ceremonies sent a shower of tears that
the flowers might not so soon fade. and
that the grass might remain longer
green upon the sod over the soldier
grave.