The Washington times., 1903-05-30
Memorial Day Observed
With Touching Reverence
at Arlington and Other
Cemeteries.
Thinner Line of Veterans
Who J0urneyed to the
Resting Places of Former
Comrades.
All honor to the nations dead.

All honor to the nations dead.
Responsive to this sentiment which IN
spires the heart of hearts of every pa
triotie American citizen, the people
Throughout all this broad land In every
city. town and hamlet have today laid
aside routine affairs and joined in pay
ing their annual tribute of affection TO
tioses of the country's brave defenders
who have answered their last call
Wherever there sleep beneath the sod
this day the mortal remains OF one who
in the youth and vigor of his manhood
reared aloft the banner of his country
and bore arms in support of that flag,
some gentle and sympathetic hand,
guided by kind heart. has placed a
II agrant blossom. Though the flowers
ere ephemeral, though they may whittier
and fade upon the morrow, the spirit
rnembrance of the deeds which have been
Gene live on forever.
Thus it is that as the ranks OF the
living heroes are daily decreasing, and
the army OF the dead correspondingly
aramenting, as each new-made soldiers
grave depIetes the marching column.
, fond memory will ever cherish and re-
ward the achievements of the nations
warriors.
Ar the Natfon's CapitaI
II is only proper that the most i'm
posing observance of Decoration Day
should be held in and about Washing
ton, the Nations Capital. 1t was here
that these defenders. now gone to their
long sleep, came in the hour of ter
rible conflict and greatest peril. Many
of them gave up their lives upon the
altar of their country while the strife
vas still on for the protection OF the
Government at Washington and the
preservation, ,of the Union While others,
Eore fortunate. emerged MANNED and
SCARED from the bloody conflict, and
lived to see the complete fulfllment OF
Liberty and union one andAinseparable,"
oily later to join the innunerable band.
The bodies of tens OF thousands Of
them lie today in the dozen or more
cemeteries in the vicinity OF this city,
some in picturesque Arlington. which
overlooks the river; others repose with
in the shadow of their last earthly
habitation, the Soldiers Home; still
others in that burial ground beyond
the towering dome OF the Capitol,
Congressional Cemetery, and more rest
across the river beside the tomb Of the
living-St. Elizabeths. but wherever
they are, the grassy mounds above their
dust have all been searched out today
and decorated with flowers and flags
Wherever the soldier or sailor lies
buried is hallowed ground. and is made
more hallowed by the ceremonies of this
day.
Origin of the Observance.
Thirty-fve years ago. touched by the
| tenderness OF the affection which thoss
/ or the Souln showed 10 lHc uiSAoEg "a
their dead in the fallen Confederacys
Gen. John A. Logan, then commanders
in-chief OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public. issued the first general order for
the observance of May 80. as national
memorial day. Religiously has each an
niversary OF that day been kept until
1t Is now a part OF recognized national
duty, tearfully, yet. in sense. cheer
fully. done Time, and the incidents
which have occurred since that frsr
Memorial Bay-for they must be cons
| sidered as mere incidents when COM
pared with those great events OF tbs
early sixties which now make the cere-
monies OF today necessary-have eradi-
Gated the Ill feeling and prejudice which
| existed. and left nothing but the memory
of them, though sad; for
No more shall the cry sever,
Or the winding rivers be red.
They Danish anger forever
When they laurel the graves Of our dead
Since last Memorial Day hundreds OF
new mounds have been builded IN the
great silent sepulchred cities, some OF
life's burden and entered were bowed