Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-17
Eaaha shaft sanasd by All aus.seTssa


esgle eeeuples p beautiful eirallns
drive way i1aar the aastarn eantef ef |
the field, To the northeast IS seen
the mast and fighting top of the war
ship Maine, while a short distance
away rests the giant anchor, just as
they were when fshed up from salt
water bottom of Havana harbor.
This brings one near the old Curtis
Lee burial place and not far removed
the plot where the husbands, fathers,
sons, brothers, and sweethearts from
Wisconsin lie IN great shaded and
powered graves, and may it not be
said, form the nucleus of the present
aacred consecrated grounds. For it is
a lamentable fact that the Grim
Reaper" exacted heavy toll of up
wards of $50 Badger Boys during their
Sojourn there of five or six months.
Indeed the minor strains of the
derge played on the fife, in low key,
accompanied by the roll of muffied
drum and slow tread of hearses and
firing squad was an almost daily oc-
curance.
On the extreme eastern portion of
the grounds and in plain view from
the Capitol and Washington monu-
nlent stands the recently dedicated
Memorial Amphitheater which is
modelled after the Greek style OF
architecture and said to be the only
one of like character in America
It consists of a thick wall of white
marble enclosing a near circle of
ground without cover, except the en-
on the east. The ground plan more
nearly takes on the form of an egg,
the wall gradually sloping from west.
The enclosure is seated with marble
| seats sufficient to accommodate 5000,
| while on the top of the wall there is
standing room for another 1000.
was told the G. A r. and W. r. c..
contributed about one-half of the cost,
some 100000, and the government
the other half. Altogether the struc-
! ture is unique and interesting and
aside from two window sash in the
east end there is not wood enough
in it's makeup sufficient to make a
toothpick.
The drives through the grounds are
mainly Of a winding character and
bordered by low-cut shrubbery and all
shades of flowers. The start is made
where the timber line crosses the road,
thence south. On the left are several
| entrances, each Of which are adorn-
ed with arches of various design and
named for some noted military man,
such as Sheridan Gate" Hooker
Gate" etc.
Shortly after starting on this drive
our attention was called to a party Of
men out on the open ground to the
right We were informed that they
were engaged in preparing graves for
| the reception Of those from overseas,
and that goodly number are arriving
every week.
The old Lee Mansion is intact and
vacant, except for an attendant or
care taker-an old German who claims
he was one of General Lees slaves
when he vacated his ancestral home
to take up arms against the govern
ment they had fought to establish.
And now, my Comrade, as one
stands on this now hallowed ground
Of honors-the highest, too, that the
power of man or greatful country
can bestow-vast clouds of memories
seem to open up the view that greeted
our eyes sixty years ago, when, for
the first time we unslung knapsacks
on the soil of our 3country's enemies.
| There seems to appear a figure or
maze of doubt; floating mist of
imaginations and doubts as to our
real personality to day, and one is
almost persuaded that what we call
our experiences was really and truly
| those of some other fellow mortal.
The balance of our two days stay
in Washington was given over to visit
ing the Capitol building, Mount Yer
non, Washington Monument, 500foot
above the water level of the river.
The ascent is made in an elevator
seating thirty-six people to. trip.
Our visit to the National Musium
was by far too brief-limited to only
| two hours, because of closing at $500
p. m. of our last day.
The Capitol interior has not changed
materially since our prior visit so
years ago. The Statuary Hall in the
rctunda has been greatly added to
| during that time, however, and there
are only a few vacant inches left.
| The grounds east of the Capitol have
| been greatly changed from what they
were when we of 81 cought our first
glimps of them. Now instead of the
bleak open space far out to the east
one sees full f1edged city with the
street cars chasing each other for
miles away. Pennsylvania Ave. has
been made into a boulevard. A wide
strip shrubbery and flowers divide