Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
IN ADVANCE OF DAY
g. P. o. EMPLOYEES ANTICIPATE
MEMORIAL CUSTOM.
Services Held This Afternoon In
Tribute to Soldier Dead-Mr.
Stillings' Address.

About 2,0o0 of the employees of the gov
eminent printing Office attended memorial
services this afternoon on the main stair
way of the sixth floor of the big printery
in honor of the soldier dead of the repub-
lie. The rooms had been prettIly decorated
with flowers loaned by Mr. A. GUIDE. and
flags that were furnished by Mr.. M. g..
Copeland.
After the assemblage had sung the
chorus Boys of the Old Brigade" DR..
Manning, the medical director, read an ad-
dress that had been prepared by Mr.
Charles A. Stillings, the public printer. 1t
was explained that Mr. Stillings had met
with painful accident and was unable to
be present. in consequence. The address in
part follows
THE origin of the beautiful custom of
decorating the graves of those who were
near and dear to us Is somewhat difficult
to trace, for the reason that all nations,
from time immemorial. have al some period
during the year paid tribute of respect
and honor to the distinguished dead in
flowers. music and oratory, commemorative
of their services to their country.
Origon of the Custom.
with us In America, however, it is claim
ed that Memorial day was first conceived
by James Redpath native of Kansas, and
an occasional correspondent of the New
York Tribune, who In 1866, was a journey
man printer, working at the case and
travelling from town to town throughout the
south, where he went in search of health.
In April, 1865, according to the records.
while attempting to teach lot of little
colored boys, In Presbyterian church Ghe
overflow from the regular schools in
Charleston he overheard one of them sug-
costing to another that they gather flowers
on May day to cover and strew over the
graves until they were hidden from sight.
This suggestion Mr. Redpath acted upon
quickly, with the result that May /, 1865,
in Charleston, s. c., over ten thousand per-
sons. with full battalion of soldiers, par
ticipated In the first recognition of what to
us is known as Memorial day, wherein the
graves of those who had gone before were
simply covered from sight with the flowers
which were strewn freely over them.
From 1865 until 1868. May day (the list
OF May was considered throughout the
south to be the day for paying this beauti-
full tribute to the dead.
May 5, 1865 Gen. John A. Logan. COM
mander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic. issued general order No. IL, desig-
mating the Both of May as Memorial day,
and providing regulations for its proper OBJ
servanee by members Of the Grand Army
of the Republic.
I'm memory of those of our fellow work
ers of the government printing Office who
have gone to the great beyond, in memory
of the faithful ard loyal service in their
CHOSEN aVOcdtioi III illc anu III toheii VI tiic
respect and honor In which we hold, not
only Them but the distinguished dead who
have served their country faithfully, wheth-
er from the north or the south. we pay this
loving tribute of music and flowers and bow
our heads In reverence"
Remainder of the Program.
THE remainder OF the program was as
follows:
Chorus-"Cover Them over With Beau
tifui Flowers.
Chorus-"Brave Heart. Sleep On" Parks
The singers were-First tenors, Messrs.
Wiedman, Tompkins Sullivan. Cooper;
second tenors, Messrs. Bridwell. Rooney,
Morrison, Patterson; bartones. Messrs-
Clough. Knapp Chattaway; bassos, Messrs.
Brown Jackson, Baldwin. Redfield, Line
back Ben A. Lineback director.