Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1913-06-03
OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
IN THIS CITY ON FRI
DAY LAST.
JUDGE AYERS GRAFTON
A Thoughtful and Eloquent Address
High Tribute to Those Who Took
Part in the Titanic StruggIe-The
Pioneers Come in for Word Of
Praise-Fine Music.

Memorial Day has never been more
generally observed in Lewistown than
on Friday last, when business was
suspended and everyone took holi-
day. The feature of the day, OF
course, was the program carried out
at Culver's opera house. The exer-
cises began shortly after 2 o'clock and
the hall was crowded by that time.
The stage had been tastefully deco
rated by the Woman's club and line
of potted plants extended across it,
while flags and bunting were used
with artistic effect.
Following selection by the band,
Rev. George Hirst offered prayer and
Mrs. Harry Wright gave a beautiful
solo. The Presbyteian church choir
sang "Tenting Tonight" and following
another selection by the band, w. H.
Smith, who presided, made an elo-
quent Introductory address.
BY request, Mrs. Wright sang "The
Star-Spangled Banner" her spirited
rendition stirring the audience, and
the choir gave another selection.
Judge Ayers Grafton.
Judge Roy E. Ayers delivered the
Grafton and it was an eloquent effort.
The great lessons of the Civil war
were touched upon, the heroes praised
and near the close the judge paid a
tribute to those who fought the bat
land-the pioneers.
Judge Ayers spoke in part as fol-
lows:
The American people are charged
with hero worship. 1t is decidedly an
American characteristic, but it is one
of which we need not be ashamed,
for it is only the manifestation Of
appreciation Of the deeds of our great
men. The one hundred and thirty
seven years of unparalleled progress
which this country has experienced is
in large measure due to the skilful
and ingenious leadership of our
fathers, both in civil and military life.
1t is only meet and just that we should
celebrate this occasion set apart for
the commemoration of those who died
that we might enjoy liberty and happi-
ness. Their virtues and public serv-
ices have endeared them to the
hearts of their countrymen so that
their names are inseparable from
true and impartial history of our cOun-
try. Monuments of stone, the sculp-
tured marble and the animated can
vas may preserve to posterity for a
few years the names of our states
men, patriots and heroes, but it re-
mains for us who are living to per-
petuate what is far more useful to
mankind and far more worthy to be
an everlasting remembrance,-thei
great and noble deeds, the examples
of wisdom and virtue displayed in
their lives.
From the moment Columbus first
viewed the West India Islands to the
emancipation of the slave and on to
the freedom of the Cuban, the story
of America is wonderfully full of the
grand achievements of her illustrious
sons. 1t is an open book of hardships
endured and contests fought and won;
it displays unparalleled latitude of
bold generalship and wise executive
foresight. For the life of a nation is
much the same as that of an indi-
vidual: Good if we choose to make it
good, but bad if we permit it to be-
come bad. The prevailing influence
exerted upon Americas future were
by those who lend their aid in estab-
fishing and upholding our government
in time of need. So in our nation
their memory must become enshrined
in the hearts of our people.
This day is sacred to our heroes
dead, and Nature has lovingly laid
upon their tombs wreath of green,
the wealth of spring. Today a mighty
nation is bending over it's noble dead
and paying to them a beautiful tribute
of it's love and appreciation of their