The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
GRAVES STREWN
WITH FLOWERS.
Memorial Day Celebrated at Ma
tiOn's Capital
With Ceremonies More EIabO-
rate Than Is Customary.
TINY G. A. R. FLAGS
We're Placed on 1000 Graves
by Women
Before the Procession Reached
Arlington Cemetery.

Washington. May 30-With solemn
and Impressive ceremonies Memorial
day was observed i'm the national capi-
tai on a more elaborate scale than ever
before. Business was suspended, noI
only i'm the departments of the govern
ment. but also throughout the city.
People of an classes united in perpetn-
ating the memory of the heroic dead
who i'm thousands. sleep peacefully i4
the national cemeteries Of the District
OF Columbia.
Soldier monuments and statues of the
government reservations were draDed
hags of an the public buildings We're
out and national colors with folds
caught in bands of crepe, were dis
played from hundreds of residences.
notwithstanding the absence from the
city OF the president, who is usually Il
conspicuous figure i'm the memorial eX-
ercises of Washington at Arlington, the
arrangements We're beautiful and elab~
crate. They were under the direction
of the Department of the Potomac O..
a. r., and included a parade of 6. A.
E. posts, the old guard other prOml
nent citizens and the militia of the
District. headed by the Marine band
decoration of monuments and graves
and addresses by men prominent ifr
public life
The weather was perfect, cool and
brilliant sun.
the organizations III the parade boarded
electric trains for Arlington, where the
principal exercises of the day occurred.
The procession formed at the gates and
q national salute was fired by the
Fourth battery, United States artillery.
as it entered the grounds. Already
$4,000 graves in the cemetery had been
streWn with flowers and each marked
by tiny American c.. A r. flag wOm-
en- of the societies auxiliary to the vet
Grams ORGANIZATIONS having been i'm this
patriotic work since early morning. A
touching feature of the CEREMONY
feature typitying country throughout
united-was the decoration Of the graves
IN that section of the cemetery where lie
the Confederate soldiers. The process
sion marched to the tomb of the "Iin-
known dead" which had been beautiful
" decorated by flowers and the Marine
band rendered selection.
AT the conclusion of the ceremony of
decoration of the graves great crowd
gathered in the amphitheater. There UNI
mander 7. Q. kimhall of the 6. A. r. and
other department officials impressive cere-
monies were conducted Mr. Charles
Emory Smith, editor of the Philadelphia
Press. delivered the grafton of the day.
Later in the day the monument and bust
OF the late Senator Davis of Minnesota
was unveiled. The grafton was pronounced
BY Henry A. Castle. of Minnesota, auditor
for the pQst0nice department.
Under the auspices of various posts of
the O. A. r. memorial services were held
in am of the cemeteries of the District of
Columbia, national and public The ora
tors Of the day at the several cemeteries
Were Soldiers home cemetery. Edward
ID Seeds Congressional home cemetery, C.
III. Thomas, Greenwood, Prospect Hill, ST.
Nlarys and Mt Olive jointly. John w
1erkes collector of internal revenue; ST.
Fisk pastor Of Gunton Temple Memorial
church.