The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1921-05-28

1850 > -
their French comrades blowing over
them, stirs the deeps of reverence and
'oyalty.
A scene in France, in one of the
largest cemeteries in which American
soldiers are buried, is thus beautifully
described:
Scene Most Picturesque.
Beyond the wall masses of purple
lilacs spread against the low red roofs
of the houses. In the distance a few
lazy clouds, in sky of blue, hung about
the old cathedral spires. Bird calls
and scent of flowers filled the air. At
our feet low mounds and white
crosses. Above our heads, at half mast,
the Stars and Stripes.
Monsieur Gounelle, in black cassock,
spoke in French and explained to his
people the meaning of Memorial day.
One felt, instinetively, their sympathy
and love.
q Then we laid on every grave a spray
of flowers and breathed a prayer for
the absent ones. Each girl felt per-
eonally responsible for each mound in
the row she decorated. How clear the
names on those crosses stood out even
though a year had passed!
The French officers laid a wreath at
he foot of the flag pole and one of
them spoke with tenderness of the he
roes who had gone on. Already there
hung upon the pole lovely wreaths
from the Vile de C~hateauroux, from
the French mothers association, and
other local organizations.
The chaplain from the post at Mon
fierchaume addressed us, and then
Tree volleys rang out upon the air,
- missives %ihging their WHY over
ness of the natian's Valhalla. The
white marble edifice, completed at a
cost of SS50,G00, Is the magnificent re-
2dlt. 1t Is a great circular amphithea-
ter with n seating capacity of 5000.
The marble is from the famous quar-
ries ar DrabE ~
snowy white. The location OF me a.
phitheater Is on the crest of the same
high ridge occupied by the historic
Lee mansion with its huge white pill
lars, but the former is located some
distance apart, just outside of the
heavily wooded portion of the ceme-
terry which is filled with soldier graves.
AS years pass and the young trees ur-
rounding the amphitheater grow the
place will increase in beauty and maj
esty.
The first national cemetery was es-
tablished at Gettysburg to make an
honored resting place for those who
on that great battlefield gave their
lives that the nation might live, and
then came the inspiration to make at
Arlington a cemetery that would be
national In It's widest sense. To pro-
vide this final resting place for the ma
tons dead, the government paid to the
heirs of Gen. Robert E. Lees wife,
$150,000 for property which had been
assessed in 1860 at $35, 1000.
The Arlington National cemetery
embraces AS acres and since it's es-
Establishment the government has spared
expense to make it the most beau
tiful and attractive city of the dead
upon which the sun shines. Over ST.
100000 have been thus expended In
landscape engineering to enhance the
natural beauty of the spot.
WonId LaIIs kJa4biao 4 liz IA
The amphitheater is a majestic adj
dition which constitutes Arlington the
most magnificent of cemeteries. There
Is nothing like it In the whole world.
Other nations have erected monuments
to successful generals, admirals and
statesmen. They have provided fam
Gus places of sepulture, rs Westmin-
ster abbey, Pere La Chaise, the Pan
theon, and the Pyramids of Egypt. But
Westminster abbey is reserved for men
Of the highest distinction In any walk
life craftsmanship, invention,
science, letters, philanthropy, as well
as war. 1t Is the same with Pere La
Chaise, while the Pyramids were tombs
for kings and queens only. But not so
With Arlington cemetery. Here equality
Of service and sacrifice dominates.
general and humble pri-
7ate are on the same level the simple
rule of eligibility for burial Is the
yet it is iron-clad. Wealth,
birth, social station and political emil
hence, without military service, try for
admission in vain.
At Arlington have gathered during
he past generation the greatest OF the
lation's military heroes to listen to and
% participate in eulogies and tributes
o their silent comrades all encamped
lbout, and here each year in ever-in-
number are laid to their final
est many Of these same heroes of the
Every year sees a multitude of
lew graves in Arlington and every
Memorial day witnesses the thinned
'anks of the participants in the ire
nendous conflict of half Il century ago
which has contributed the great ma
GRITTY of the members Of this Silent
'ity.