The Washington times., 1909-05-31
Thinning Line USherS in
Formal Observance of
Memorial Day.
FLOWERS STREWN
ON HEROES GRAVES
Drizzling Rain Does Not Interfere
With Loving Tribute of
the Living.

A thinning line OF veterans in blue.
their steps in faltCring rhythm 70 the
stirring war songs OF nearly half. a
century ago, many Of their forms belt
and their eyes misty, as a flood OF
memories swept over them, marched
from the Grand Army Of the Republic
Hall. in a drizzling rain, through the
streets Of the Capital this morning, and
formally ushered in the hallowed oo-
servances Of another Memorial Day.
This afternoon at Arlington, the Con-
gressional Cemetery. the Old Soldiers
Home. the grave of the Father OF His
Country. and at every oft fRequented
as well as secluded spot where the SOL
dier dead lie buried, tender hands are
attestiA.s trough their offerings Of
flowers and tears, Oratory and music,
that the years have not caused the liv-
The day, excep. for the fact that the
sun has but intermittently smiled upon
the reverential -hrongs, is being cele-
united country has decreed during the
fOrty-four years following the greatest
civil strife of modern times.
Old, Old Story.
Orators are telling the same old story.
a story that never grows old; martial
music has thrilled the old and young.
from the empty-sleeved veteran to the
the Little Baby Bunting who marched
proudly at "grandpas siies tears have
been shed over. the graves of loved
ones and over the immortal tomb OF the
unnumbeTed dead, called -The IN
known the ashes of memories that
sleep. because il causes poignant SOr-
row 70 remember, have been rekindled,
and IN every place where flies the flag
the day has had its significance.
TIE annual parade has been the same
sad commentary upon the constant
dWlndiing OF the little army OF surVIV-
ors-the passing over to the silent corps
IN the be5r1ld- There are those who
marched year ago whose graves are
being made green hy the comrades who
are stin with the living ibis afternoons
there were empty places IN the line
that were filled on last Memorial Day.
and more than one veteran looked un-
derstandingly at the gap 20 his left or
right today and longsd for the missing
form ard face. The crowds along the
Curb-Stope seemed to realize IL, too, and
some OF their eyes grew dim and their
hats were lifted as the little band went
by.
Wavering Line.
Thus they marched on-sOme Of them
still erect despite the advance Of years
and the ceaseless struggle with the sOr-
rows OF nfe-others with a little pathetic
limp. a form that refused &c stand
erect although the old music fred 'he
blood; still others with an arm or an
eve nfssing-and all for country'c
sake. And thus il VIII eeVr be so long
as men are willing 10 fight Tor that
thing We all call-patTiOtism.
BY evening every grave VIII have re-
ceiVed lis baptism of flowers, its caress
at the hands Of some one who under
stands the sacrifices made by the soul
sleeping there. And who can say that
nights benedictiOn viii not fall The
sWeeter over the bivOuac OF the dead,
because OF this homage of the living and
because Memorial Day has once more
paid its devotional tribute TO the hero
ism and 10 the memory Of those who
save up their all?
Never before, perhaps, have the COM
blned patriotic societies Of the District.
under the general auspices Of tic Grand
Army OF the Republic arranged moro
elaborate program OF music duC ora
SOry in commemoration of the day.
At Arlington.
At Arlington Cemetery, where II may
be said the principal celebration in the
Capital began at noon. Senator Porter
J. McCumbeT, of North Dakota, was
the orator Of the day the musical pro-
gram IN the main, being By the Dunn
barton Avenue Methodist Church choir,
Here, as at many other places where
1Tfbute-paying thousands gathered
Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg address
the first 10 commemorate the deeds OF
val0r on battlefield, was read
ST. Elizabeth's Services.
The Rev. F. /. Bardens. pastor OF
.Anacostia Baptist Church. was the ora
TOR al ST. Elizabeths. where impressive
CONTINUED on Eleventh Page.)