Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-30
EhRmtng Gl1at

spontaneous and hearty support to the
proposition for establishment of Me-
mortal day, when it was first proclaim
ed by Gen. John A. Logan back in
1858. The general was then the COM
mander in chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic in America and his sug
gestion that the memory of the fallen
be kept green and that, exercises, in
cluding the strewing of flowers, should
be held was issued on May of that
year. The idea was at once taken
mold of and while there was nothing
like the elaborate observance such as
we have known for the last twenty
years, yet there was general noticey
taken. In this city, where Gen. John
W. Geary was in Office as governor
and oliver Edwards was mayor, the
veterans of the civil war found many
TO JOIN with them and the exercises
ana parade attracted so much atten-
tloh that they were established as an
annual custom. Since that time Me-
mortal day has been observed in keen
ing with the traditions of the capital
OF the Keystone State and the site of
the great mobilization camp of the
civil war. This part of the country
is rich in memories of the civil war
ana there is not a hamlet or a ceme-
terry where the flag does not stand
over the grave of a veteran and flow
ers marx the last resting places.
One of the interesting things about
the lecture given to the school chill
dren OF the city at the Public Library
on saturday afternoon by O. p. Beck
ley was that so many children recog-
nlzed the flowers about which Mr..
nechley ,,.ssh spoke. The illustrations
were from photographs of flowers and
mounted at the Mcfarland establish
ment: When they were shown Mr..
Beckley would ask how many knew
the flower. 1t was surprising how
many youngsters held up their hands.
Ihey We're well acquainted with the
woodland beauties and demanded
many encores.
II plenteous unfurling of "Old
Glory to the breeze be any indica-
ton of Patriotism then all city and
county officialdom was nothing if not
patriotic For Memorial Day was OBJ
ways
From each window os the front
portlco a great flag flew: heretofore
not more than one banner adorned the
front OF the courthouse even on a holi-
DAY. Courthouse Custodian Charley
S,.e 9Ie[s VINO py the way, is an ardent
advocate of preparedness, inaugu-
rated the custom of swinging three
nags from the courthouse front on hoI-
ldays and a single flag from the middle
window at all times. So much for
the decorative effect. But the de-
rartmental chiefs and attaches cele-
prated the day to a man in another
way:
Everybody took day off.
something slipped a cog or two in
me pumping machinery of the pipe
organ in an uptown church recently
and two small boys from the conpre.
cation more or less willineIv VnI,,n-
teered Cat the suggestion of pleased
as-ple parents) to operate the pump
by hand. pump
The job quite evidently began TO
pan after awhile and the pair decided
In whispered conference to spell"
each other off. That each take every
other hymn turn about" was the basis
OF the agreement. The novelty Of that
arrangement wore off after awhile,
100 and during the rendition of the
hnal hymns the feebleness of the or
gan accompaniment was plainly no.
uceable. Eventually the service drew
along toward the end and the minister
announced the doxology; the vonne-
sters heaved long deep sighs. Conere-
Satlon and choir rose, as one, the
chorlster signaled with his book. the
organ pealed forth for a few bars,
SpuItered, trem bled-and finally
moaned itself into silence. Choir and
congregation shot inquiring glances
toward the organloft. There side bv
side before the motional levers, stood
the small bumpers, heads thrown back,
voices raised
Praise God" heartily sang the
youngsters, from whom all blessings
fowl"
1t remained for the National Geo
graphic Magazine, leader of all the
periodicals in artistic. reproduction of
beautiful America to recognize in the
! April number the grandeur of the pic
ture presented by the Rockville bridge.
the river and the ridges beyond Be
meath the etching is this line: zone
might travel all over Europe without
seeing more picturesque landscape
than this or more successful combi-
nation. of art and nature in a single
scene And this fine bit of local scenery
| Is included in an issue almost entirely
devoted to a showing of the wondrous
natural attractions of the United
States. 1t is high time that we an
preciate the sublime and incompatible
scenery at our own doors.
Isaac r. Pennypacker, who was
here yesterday to attend the meeting
! of the Meade Memorial commission. is
a noted author of books on Pennsvl-
lVania and Pennsylvanians. His book
on General Meade is noted and he is
an authority on the historic events in
eastern Pennsylvania.