The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-05-23
Mrs. John A. Logan
Tells Ho4v Annual
Ceremony Was In
augurated By Her
Husband Il Il %

@~HE widow of great general
,~. who led many victorious
w u charges in the Civil war,
NNE and mother of soldier who
laid down his life in the
service of his country, Mrs. John A.
Logan, has given her time and efforts
since the commencement of foreign
hostilities to work for the afflicted Of
the present war.
II cannot rest, and will not, so long
as strength is given me, for / know
what sorrow and suffering is wrought
upon the helpless by war" she said.
1t was in the spacious workrOom at
the top of her beautiful home in
Washington that her visitor found her.
1t was not a sewing day, and instead
of European work, Mrs. Logan was
sitting at her desk absorbed in the
perusal of letters, papers and books
which related to the long past of her
own life, to a war nearer home and
to her participation in the events
which made American history at a
crucial period of this cOuntry's life,
and it was of those things she was in
a mood to talk.
II have been thinking of what the
coming Memorial day must mean to us
ALL" she said. "The survivors Of the
Civil war are rapidly passing off the
stage of life, but those who yet remain
from that time, and they who are fol-
lowing us, will see to it that homage is
done to those who paid the price Of
nations salvation. 1t is a duty we owe
and it should never die.
"This year, as we strew with flow
ers the graves of those who died for
a just cause we cannot but think of
the terrible cataclysm Of suffering and
death now overwhelming Europe, and
the great range of memorial days
which will be it's heritage ere long.
II prefer the name Memorial day
to Decoration day, for although ours
is a national holiday, it should not be
forgotten that it is a day of national
remembrance of the dead and ought
to be observed with seemly quietude
and dignity. I have been very much
panied these later years to note that
many of the younger generation have
lost all sight of the original meaning
Of the day, and that in some places it
is celebrated by such diversions as
horse racing and other riOtOus sports
which seem to be a very prostitution
~ Tn nf ha Cfn
"The Grand Army of the Republic
has made strong protestatiOns against
the misuse of our national day Of
mourning for the soldiers who gave
their lives for our country, and 1t is
good to note that the Sons of Veterans,
who are now filling the places of their
fathers, take a very serious view Of
their duty in consecrating this one day
to sacred memory and affectiOnate
tribute to our soldier dead, and are
carrying out appropriate programs
at the various grounds where soldiers
Of the Civil war lie buried.
II can, too, say in all truth that Me-
mortal day has brought forth a great
harvest of wOrthily expressed senti-
ment. the occasion having inspired
men and women to utterances of real
eIOquence, beautiful thoughts and
true poetry, because the theme is
worthy of the best that loyal hearts
can feel and gifted tongues or pens
express.
"Yes, Decoration day was the
thought and institution of General
Logan, and recall every detail Of
every incident which led to its inaugu-
ration. It was in March. 1858, that
General Logan, redeeming a promise
made during the election campaign OF
Grant and COlfax, made an engage
ment for himself and me to accom-
pany his good friend, Col. Charles L.
Wilson, editor Of the Chicago Journal,
upon a visit to the city of Richmond
and the battlefelds Of Virginia. The
colonel, who was a bachelor, was ac-
cOmpanied by his fiancee, Miss Farrar
Of Boston.
General Logan was then in con-
gress, and matters Of great importance
were before the national legislature,