The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-05-30

.
thereby providing a shelter for elab
crate floral pieces, has also seemingly
had an influence in inspiring this
form Of tribute. The vault is constant
ly filled with such pieces, including
representations of flags, corps badges
and other military insignia. Some OF
those to be seen are fashioned from
fresh flowers, but the walls of the vault
are covered with permanent wreaths
and other memorials fashioned from
artificial flowers that closely counter
felt natures most delicate products in
appearance.
The Logan tomb is near the main
entrance to the cemetery, and is ap.
preached through a massive monu-
mental gateway, the white pillars of
which bear the names of a number of
the republics military heroes. Be
side the vault, as though standing
guard over it, is an old war cannon,
and a few steps beyond the visitor
enters a labyrinth Of low hedge, form
ed from the sweet-scented box.
The principal exercises are held on
the morning of Memorial day in a
natural amphitheater formed by the
wooded slope which descends at the
rear of the Logan vault. The speak
ers occupy a rostrum conforming in
its memorial pillars to the architecture
Of the gateway already mentioned, and
the orator of the day never fails to
make reference to the cemetery,s most
distinguished occupant and the part
he played in giving to the nation one
of its most significant holidays Fol-
lowing the general program special
services are held at the Logan vault,
these services being, as a rule, in
charge of either the Grand Army of
the Republic, of which organization
General Logan served for three terms
as commander-in-chief, or one or an
other Of the associations made up of
natives of the state of Illinois. The
place of honor at these services is al
ways accorded to Mrs. John A. Logan,
the widow of the general.
Persons who have visited the Lo-
gan tomb in the past and who return
for this years Memorial day exercises
will find one important change in the
surroundings. Occupying a site just
across the road and overlooking the
tomb there has lately been completed
the largest and most important build
ing of the United States Soldiers
home. Grant hall, as the new struc-
ture has been named in honor of the
Union leader, is a splendid marble
structure that will COST with its fur
nishings, close to one and onchalf
million dollars. 1t is designed for in
mates of the home, and a large pro-
portion of the windows in the big
building will command a view of the
last shelter tent of General Logan and
the floral tokens banked behind its
iron gates.
IT may, perhaps, strike the reader as
a trihe odd that there should be need
of new building to enlarge the quar-
ters Of a soldiers home, whereas the
old soldiers in the national and state
homes in all parts of the United States
are rapidly responding to their last
roll-call The explanation Of the sit
uation at the institution on the heights
beyond Washington is found in the
fact that this refuge is absolutely
unique among all the soldiers homes
in our land. Whereas the other homes
are supported by the national or state
governments as havens for volunteer
veterans principally of the Civil war;
when overtaken by i'll health or ad-
vancing years, the institution where