The Washington times., 1913-06-08

brave hearts that throbbed their last
on the field of honor, the last sad days
and the surrender-aH come thronging
on the soul with a sense of eXultation
and exquisite pain. The observance OF
yesterday and preceding Years have
proved that
"'An are not dead who die; death can
The memory of the loved:
Yelled from our vision, they are with
us still,
Whose hearts the years have proved.
THE memorial address in 1866 was
delivered by Col j. n. Ramsey. in St
Lukes Church, in the morning; decora-
ton of graves in the afternoon. In 1861
DR.. L. F. Colzey delivered his address in
Temperance Hall; decorations as before.
In 1858, Major r. J. Moses delivered the
address in the cemetery in the after
noon; decorations afterward. In 1863,
Capt J. F. Pou spoke in the same place
at the same hour. In 1870, T. w. Grimes,
ESQ.,, spoke in Temperance Hall: deco
ration in the afternoon. In ls1l, c. II.
Williams. Esq, delivered the address in
Sprinser's Opera House; decorations in
the afternoon"
AT the time of the first memorial
service there in Columbus, Ga. there
was stationed a regiment of Federal
soldiers, and IL was reported that the
officers objected to a public demonstra-
ton. committee of ladies called on
Colonel Ramsey. telling him what they
had heard. and asked if the exercises
should be called off. He replier to
their invitation to be orator for the
occasion:
Il accept the honor with all its re-
sponsibilities. and, by the help Of God
and the presence of the women. I will
tell the world Of the heroic deeds and
patriotic devotion of my fallen COM
radeS."
When he began to speak an April
cloud gathered over the assembled
crowd, composed mostly of women and
children.
Angels Weep.
Lifting his eyes toward heaven, he
said: Women of the South, be en-
couraged; the angels are in sympathy
with you, and are now mingling their
tears with yours over the graves of
cur noble dead
Thus We see that Memorial Day
originated in the hearts of Southern
wcmanhood. who gathered togethe- on
that 25th OF April, 1866 in Columbus.
Ga. to pay homage TO the valor, ccur-
age. and heroism of the sons of the
South who at the bugie blast of duty
laid down their lives on the altar of
their beloved land
This beautiful custom spread through
the South, then the North took IL up.
Day The decorating with flowers both
the graves of the Blue and the Gray
has helped TO cement the friendship of
the North and South. and to make this
a reunited country.
In Washington. where the seasons
are late. the first Sunday in June has
been chosen as Memorial Day. and to-
day the scions of the South will gather
at Arlington to commemorate in song
and story deeds of valor, heroism and
patriotism which have stirred the souls
of thousands, and which, like martial
music. for half century have gone
sounding down the ages, inspiring youth
to higher ideals and higher courage.
Today is the forty-seventh anniversary
of Memorial Day. and the same spirit
of love and devotion that inspired that
little band of Southern women still ex-
lists. and will today animate the loving
hearts and gentle hands which will
scatter flowers over the mounds. meath
which sleep the heroes of half CEN
tury in beautiful Arlington, the 'bivouac
of the nations dead.