Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-05-28
VETERANS TO FALL IN LINE


try roadsides blossomed with flags and
bunting. Stock exchanges met to pass
resolutions. Bells rang. Every man
who could make Il speech was on his
feet 1t was u millennium day. restOr
ing broken homes. quieting aching
hearts. easing distracted minds. Even
those who morrned- and who could
count the number whom that dreadful
four years had stripped Of those they
held dearest ?-even those who mourn.
ed exulted Their dead had saved a
nation. freed a people. And so q sub
tie Joy. mingled triumph. resignu ton
and hope swept over the north. 1t
WAS with MI men ~ James Russell
Lowell ;wrote to Mis- friend Norton that
1t WIS with him:
The news. my dear Charles. In
from heaven. felt Il strange and ten
der exaitatiou. fwanted to laugh and
/ wanted to cry und ended by holding
my peace and feeling devoutly thank
ful.'"e
: Washington almost went literally
mad With joy when 1t heard Of Lees
surrender. A contemporary account
Aays: r. '."-''e''e'''' ,'
Yesterday (April 10. the day after
Lees surrender was gaia day III
Washington. A 'vaca ton was given
the clerks ln the treasury department,
and the wUrkmen in the navy yard.
who immediately formed IN procession.
accompanied by bands. proceeded to
call ON the leading officials. The
president Mnd General Halleck made
addresses. the cannon on the fortifica
lions Numbered forth s,ilutes. bells
were rung and the general enthusiasm
given vent to III innumerable spon
tnne0us manifestations"
Writing Of the surrender In the New
York Tribune. Horace Greeley said
lee has surrendered. Three words
only. but how mut b they mean: Last
night ut II o'clock this news reached
ils. and before We had finished read
Ing the dispatch cheer upon cheer rang
through the night air. ~ quickly had
the Intelligence. not ten minutes or
the wires. escaped to the street. to be
carried, like the dash from mountain
top to mountain top that gathered the
clans"frO a"wholp mountain side. into
thousands Of households. to he repeat.
ed In prayers Of thanksgiving from
thousands Of family AFFAIRS .-,-' ;;.;'a
The feeling OF thanksgiving was well
expressed In poem by George Fl.
Boxer, written soon after the close Of
the war. r>,g
The poem reads:
Thank God. the bloody days are past!
Our patient hopes are crowned at last.
And sounds Of bugle. drum and fife
But lead our heroes home from strife
Thank God. there beams DER land and sea
Our blazing star Of victory.
And every where from main to main,
The old flag flies and rules again!
Thank God! Oh. dark and trodden race,
Your Lord no longer wells his face.
But through the clouds and woes Of fight
Shines on your souls better light.
Thank God: We see on every hand
Breast high the ripenin2 grain crops,
stand: M, rsa
The orchards bend. the herds increase: i
But. oh. thank God. thank God for
PEACE!
Before the north could 'fairiy don fts
garments Of rejoicing ana before the
south could realize 1t must thereafter
set its feet ON the path Of industrial re
building came the terrific shock "
I!neoln's assassinn ton. only five days
after Lees surrender Gloom, over
spread both sections. the north because
It had lost its father and its friend: the
south felt the dread. happily unbound
ed Of reprisals for a mudman's deed