The Washington times., 1903-05-31
PATHETIC SCENES
At ST. ELIzABETH'S
Reverence for Dead Mingled
With Pity for Living.
SOLDIERS WIDOWS THERE
Exercises in Charge of John A. Logan
Post, G. A. R.-Eloquent Addresses
and Songs by Children

Veterans of two wars and their de-
scendants combined to honor the Union
dead yesterday at St. El;zabeth's Asy-
lum. 1t was not the usual Decoration
Day observance, for with the solemn
memories of the dead were combined
sad evidences of the effects of war
in the long line of physically and men
tally injured soldiers who took part in
the ceremony. Reyeries upon the fate
of those already gone were mingled with
pity for those still alive. who have be-
come the charges of g grateful Govern
ment.
The attendance was large. The great
er proportion of the outsiders were de-
scendants or widows of veterans, but
there was also a large sprinkling of In
ion sympathizers from other places who
at st. Elizabeths paid the respect to the
dead which they were unable to pay at
their homes.
The exercises were conducted in deep
ravine, in which were number of seats.
while ranged On the hillsides were those
not able to secure places in the valley.
The acoustics were peculiarly good and
not word of the addresses was lost.
John A. Logan Post in Charge.
A B. Frisbie, post commander of John
A. Logan Post, Grand Army OF the Re-
public. was master of ceremonies, and
the exercises were under the direction Of
the post. Music was rendered by st.
Ehzabeth's and Anacostia Methodist
Episcopal Church choirs, directed by
| Daniel Smithson, and the St Elizabeth's
Band. Lille Zimmerman led the child
rem of the Van Buren, school in pa
triotic selections, which added much 60
| the occasion.
The full program was as follows:
| Sounding the assembly. at 1890 a. M,
bugler; "Tenting Tonight. band; open
! ing remarks. A B. Frisbie, pest com
mander: invocation, the Rev. w. G.
| Davenport, post chaplain; song. only
/ Remembered" tSankey). choir; address.
A. B. Richardson, NJ. D., superintendent
st. Elizabeth's; poem. ]. L. McCreery;
I'VE Deck Alike Their Graves Today
ehildren's chorus; reading, Lincoln's
Gettysburg address, Alpheus Dawson;
Good Night. Beloved (PinsutD, band;
Grafton, the Rev Asa s. Fiske, D. D..
pastor Gunton Temple Memorial Church;
Battle Hymn of the Republic" children's
chorus; address, Seiden NJ. Ely, princi-
pal Van Buren, School; song. Chris
tian's Good night (sankey). choir; ben
ediction. pest chaplain; taps, bugler.
Recalls the Past.
Commander Frisbie's address was
short. He recalled how thirteen years
ago the John a. Logan Post had assumed
the duty of decorating the graves of
their departed, and shat he presided on
that occasion. A high tribute was paid
to the ladies of the post, who each year
see that no grave is lacking in floral
tribute to its occupants devotion to his
country. The officers of the institution
were thanked for the zeal they have
shown Ia aiding the ladies and for the
facilities which they have annually Of
fered for a proper celebration of the
da..
Commander Frisbie reminded his hear
TO the dead. but to the living. He spoke
feeIingly of the rapid decrease in the
numbers of the veterans. Although
there could be only a few more Decora-
tion Days under the auspices of old SOL
diers. the day and its significance would
not be forgotten. and IN the years TO
come loving hands of proud descendants
would place flowers on the last resting
places of those who fought IN the great
est war in the history OF the world.
Deprecates Sectional Strife
Selden NJ Ely urged that the strife be-
tween the sections be allowed to subside.
Blind hero worship by the present gen
Grafton should not be encouraged, as il
breeds discord.
DR.. A s. Peck delivered a stirring ad-
dress on the Union after the civil war.
and pointed to the loyalty OF the South
in the war with Spain.
]. L. McCreery read a poem on Decora-
ton Day, which had for its theme the
burying OF past differences and the unit
ing of the two sections for war upon op-
preston wherever found