The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-06
'oOSSS ) Ss.s.x @sm . 5...s.s.!
Pilgrims From Every State and Many
Foreign Lands Flock to Cemetery
That's Frightened by Birds and
Children, Just as the Colonel
Would Have 1t
By HARRY ESTY DCUNCE.

the most there had been and more
than Decoration Day. y guard is
always within few feet of the grave.
The entrance is under an old wooden
arch, with Youngs Memorial Cemetery
painted on IT. Originally 1t was the
private burial ground of the Young5
family. Cardboard arrows on stakes
show the way, but you don't need
them. The whole cemetery must be
twenty five yards frontage on the road
by less than $50 up the knoll. The
path goes up the right side, along the
hedge. On the left is the ridge OF the
knoll-a hogsback, as farmers would
call it-populous low down with graves
that thin out as you climb. The older
plots have iron rails. Their head
stones go back to the early sos. Half
way up stands one tall forest pine.
The path turns left over the ridge
There may not have been a branch
path when he was buried. II there
was it is obliterated now and n broader
one is scuffed into the yellow. sandy
soil. No sign, no emblem signalizes a
threshold, but just before they come
to it, before catching sight of the
grave or making out where it is from
the people around 1t, men invariably
uncover. Cigars are usually thrown
away, otherwise held inconspicuously,
| never smoked there. No one / saw
was smoking while he was on the
ridge.
1t Is only a sodded mound. made
rather high, like one or two other new
mounds in the cemetery. 1t is not yet
marked in any way except for bronze
marker-Spanish War Veterans, l
think; 1 couldn't see because It was
under the wreaths. Close by is the
guards wooden sentry box, painted
drab. Every bit of turf is worn off.
right to the grave itself. for yards
around. Down the slope toward the
fence on the other side is a sprinkling
of handful of quartz pebbles--all
that remains Of what the spades threw
out when the grave was dug. The
| rest the people have carried away, a
pebble or a pinch OF sand in an en-
velope at a time. Some who did this
were recognized as Rough Riders. The
lower corners OF the Roosevelt plot cit
Is IS by 90 feet) are marked with
| stake heads. Stumbling and stumbling
| over them is wearing the stake heads
/ down.
| Souvenir Hunters.
Our national propensity for souve-
Mrs, which has lately attracted such
attention in Europe. to the mortifica-
| ton of sundry elite Americans who
stayed at home, does show itself un-
pleasantly now and then. The day
| guard quietly sees every move made
by every one on the knoll, and he has
caught persons bending over ribboned
wreaths with scissors in their hands.
Caught. they ask II they may, and he
asks what they think he is there for.
Ono woman serenely wanted to carry
away two wreaths. Occasionally there
Is an offer to buy one.
| IF I'd get notice on a Saturday
evening" SAYS the day guard, that
guarding was discontinued and
needn't show up here next morning
I'd como just the same, or there
wouldn't be any mound by Sunday
night"
Ever since the funeral elaborate
new Moral pieces have been constantly
appearing on the grave-from the
houses OF Congress and other national
and State Government bodies, with the
cards OF foreign nations representa-
tves, from veterans organizations and
patriotic societies. one from a colored
regiment, believe. Last Sunday the
most imposing was a large wreath OF
black magnolia leaves and palm
fronds. Just left by the Finnish Minis.
ter. r. II. Saastamoinen. The ribbon
was Finland's blue and white. lettered
in silver: In memory OF the great
friend Of Finland, with deep graft.
tude."
A Stars and Stripes pillow in immor-
telles remained from Decoration Day
As highly as anything he would prize
the simple handfuls OF old fashioned
flowers that como from the gardens OF