The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-05-26
CGHFEDt RATE VETERAN

the war between tne states there has
been a day dedicated 10 placing the
garlands of memory on the graves OF
those whose unselfish sacrifice OF life
aroused the admiration af .ha @ha!a
world.
1t was fitting that this custom has
originated in the South The South
was the battle ground: and when the
sounds of strife had, died out OF the
land In the silence OF desolation there
was time Of memory and tears. Few
were the homes without the vacant
chair; the new made graves were raw
wounds In the bosom Of the Southland
and there was mourning for those who
came not back from war. What won
der then. that the sorely stricken mo-
theirs, wives, daughters. sisters turned
to the graves OF heir warrior dead and
look comfort in keeping their memory
green?
And IL was the memory of little
child that brought the idea of a Cen
oral Memorial day, TO n sad mothers
heart. The wife OF Mai. Charles w.
Williams, who died In 1862, and her
little girl visited his grave every day
and often comforted themselves with
wreathing 1t in flowers; then while the
mother sat abstractly thinking OF the
loved and lost one the child would
decorate the other graves near by and
call them her soldiers graves. After
awile the dear little girl was summon
ed to join her father and the hersaved
mother took charge OF these graves of
the unknown for the child's sake. As
she cared for them she thought OF the
thousands of patriots graves through
out the South far away from home
and kindred and in this way the plan
was suggested to her OF setting apart
one day in each year that love might
pay tribute TO valor throughout the
Southern States" So In March, 1866,
she published an appeal for the people
OF the South to join in setting apart
a certain day to be handed down
though time as a>religious custom of
the South TO wreathe the graves OF
CTR ITaTttyTeIi Ieai with fiowers,:: anu
she proposed the 26th of April as the
day. Ready response was given and
Mrs. Williams lived to see the day
when her plan was adopted all over
the South and in 1868 throughout the
United States. She died II 1874 and
on each recurring Memorial Day the
Columbus (Ga.) military. company now
march around her grave. and each OF
the men deposits . floral Offering.
The beauty and pathos of this GUS
tom so impressed Mrs. John A.. Lo-
gan. while on visit to the South that
through her influence It was adopted
by the North. 1t was long known up
there as decoration day, but of late
years 1t has beer, called Memorial
Day, and it is observed by that sec
tion everywhere On May 80.
While the South has tha credit for
this beautiful custom, no
special day has yet been adopted by
the different states OF the South, diff
ferent dates being observed as seem
most appropriate for the States.
In Georgia where the custom orig
mated, the legislature In 1866 set
apart the 26th of April as legal hol-
lday and that day has since been OBJ
served in the State as memorial day.
The same date is observed in Alaba-
ma, Mississippi and Florida and Tex
as except that In Texas, It hiss been
made a state holiday. In North Caro-
lima tn 10th of May was established
in 1886 as Memorial Day for that
State In honor of Stonewall jackson,
and 1t was made legal holiday in 1891
and South Carolina also observes the
same date by legal enactment. The
Sunday nearest the 10th OF May, June
3, and other dates, optional with the
Chapters U. d. G.. are observed In
Arkansas. Virginia observes differ
ent oates in 'fay as does West Vir-
ginia, as most appropriate for the diff
ferent communities. June 3. the BIRTH
day of President Davis. has been since
adopted by other states-Kentuclzy,
Oklahoma. Louisiana and Tennessee.
and in the last two has been made
a legal holiday. Missouri has no me-
mortal day for the South.
II these states could decide upon one
special day for the general observance
throughout the Gonth as Memorial
Day. 1t would make It of stronger ef-
feet, Some day in the early part of