The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-06
MRS. IOB[Y VISITS ARLINGTON
Sank Centre Woman Writes Account of What She
Saw in Great Nationai Cemetery Where Rest
Remains of Defenders Of the Union

/ below. The view from this place has
been famed for more than a century
When Lafayette was guest at the
Arlington House. he pronounced the
view from its porch as one of the
most beautiful he had ever looked
upon, and indeed 1t is a rare scene.
From the farther shore of the Potomac
rise Georgetown (now West Washing
toni and Washington, and "the encir-
cling hills beyond roll away to the
horizons rim" To the north stands
the white tower of the Soldiers Home
Ca place | am to visit later To the
south can be seen the spires of Alex.
aadrla. Virginia, far reaching view
that one would never tire Of. But.
while the eye fingers long upon the
surrounding scene, Washington, with
its great monument and it's many
beautiful white marble buildings. is
ever the central and commanding fea-
tnre. Az some one has said: Here
stands federal city and national Gene
terJ, close together. and each looks
upor the other And this is we'll. For
il II must needs have been that the
mon who rest at Arlington should die
for their country. what more sitting
than that in the hivDuac Of the long
night. they should sleep on the hsights
overlooking the capitol itself, close to
the heart of the Nation they gave
their blood to maintain?.
The groaud of this sacred cemetery
are noble IN every particular. Every
thing the art Of the landscape gar
densr was capable Of has been done
70 beAuttfy the surroundings. Flower
beds and lawns. ornamental ahrubs
ana tsoess ass seen IN great profusion.
But greater than the skill of man is
the msjestic beauty OF the site itself.
Izllss bnS s1Aaes snrsred xssth sAesursss
trees. kPiis and rayfnes, stretches Of
Eat srrface In all, believe. the en-
closure contains over eleven hundred
acres. 1t is a good days work TO
cover even the places of greatest In
terest. All the day long the Stars and
Stripes Hoat from the flag staff before
the house, until the sunset gun from
Fort Myer sends its echoes answer
ing from shore to shore"
To the south of Arlington House
rises the Temple of Fame, an open
colonnade with low. dome-like roof
upon the cornice OF which we read the
names Of our great nen-Washington,
Grant. Lincoln and Farragut. On the
columns that support the roof appear
the names Of many heroes of war, like
Mcpherson, Meade, Thomas, Garfield
and Others. Near this is the monu-
ment to the unknown dead:
Many Of the flower beds are ar
ranged in forms of names of our great
commanders. badges of army corps
and other symbols. AS you go about
you lind here and there a black bronze
tablet upon which you read one of
the verses of O'Hara's "Bivouac of
the bead Near the monument to
the unknown dead you find the first
verse:
THE muffled drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo;
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few
Each verse is repeated several
times, seeming more solemn and
fitting every time you see it. advise
every one to hunt up this poem and
read it afresh. Eight verses in all.
and each one repeated several times,
throughout the grounds makes them
very impressive. Little did Colonel
O'Hara think to what noble use
his poem would be put.
On the grounds back of the house
we come to a temple of vines. sylvan
bower, an amphitheater, formed by an
embankment of earth, green and vel
vety, and shaded with beautiful vines
On rostrum is a reading desk of
marble In classic design. The stone
columns that support the latticed roof
Of vines are ornamental and impress
sive. The ceremonies at this beautf-
full place on Decoration Day, under
the direction of loving care of the G..
A. r., are said to be very imposing and
always attract many thousands of the
surviving veterans and their friends.
Mrs. Boobar's father owns a lot in