Evening star., 1933-05-28

our soldier dead? 1t is a question
the writer asked himself as he re-
Gently stood alone before the Con-
federate monument in Arlington
National Cemetery and copied the inscriptions
n1aced upon this beautiful memorial erected by
the Daughters of Confederate Veterans
II was dismal afternoon, the ground was
wet and soggy, and even the numerous gray
SQUIRRELS always so abundant here. seemed 10
have gone to rest or were hiding from the
fast approaching thunderstorm from the nortn-
west where the heavens were banked WIFI
menacing black clouds. There were lew Visi-
tors in the cemetery that day ana only
occasionally did an automobile pass along tne
road to disturb the peaceful quiet OF America
most celebrated metropolis, where lie burleo
soldiers from all the wars including even
those of the American Revolution, transferred
from other cemeteries.
Off in the far distance, in the direction Oh
the approaching storm, solder was DeiLg
given a military funeral, and the mournlui
notes of the bugle sounding taps coulo oe
family but distinctly heard as the body was
lowered into the grave, there TO Sleep ut'i
a greater trumpet shall sound from on nlgh
ON the resurrection morn. 1t matters not W
him nor to the many thousands OF his COM
rades who are here encamped until eteIhity'
if Congress shall or shall not fail 10 proVioe
funds for the placing of flowers upon tner
graves for their patriotism mas peen pfoveh'
and in many cases the supreme sacrlnce mas
been made that the Republic might endure.
With the living there still remains sacred
d,tv q dutv of keeping alive the glorious
deeds of the dead and the principles Tor Wnich
they fought and the full measure oil oeVotlon
they gave to the cause OF freedom ana ior
its perpetuation, by proper TRIBUTE Oh respec'
to their illustrious memory on Memorial oay'
And if we fail in this, we are surely not oeol-
eating ourselves to the unfinished work they
so nobly advanced-as, in substance, the martyr
Lincoln has so beautifully salo
TOMBSTONE dates not always correct
and. it was to check up on the date OF the
death of Mary Lee (Fitzhugh) Custis that the
writer went to Arlington upon this particular
occasion. This good woman is buried next to
her husband, George Washington Parke Cusus'
in what is probably the only inclosed plot IN
the cemetery, being surrounded by an IRON
railing fence, the graves being marked py TWO
modest white marble shafts. Growing IN pro-
fusion in the inclosure are lilies CT the valley
and originally three beautiful white oak trees
added to the attractiveness of the spot. 1t Is
so secluded and out -the-way, however, as to
make it little known and seldom seen.
One of the trees is dead and in its present
condition is unsightly, and should be removed
and replaced by an oak of similar species and
better care should be given to the plot, 1or ne
who here lies the adopted son ana name
sake of George Washington and the pulioer
of Arlington Mansion, while she who reposes
nearby was his devoted wife and companion
for nearly half a century. Besides this, they
were the parents of Mrs Robert E. Lee, who
was married in Arlington and lived there with
Gen Lee until he joined the Confederate Army
at the beginning of the Civil War.
Mrs Gusts was the first to pass away, and
the inscription on her monument on one side
reads:
Mary L. Gusts
Born April %, 1888
Died April %, 1883"
And on the other side:
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God"
There was little said here at the time OF
her death the announcement appearing In the
several local papers published at that time
being about the same as that published In the
national Intelligencer of April 25, 1853, which
simply stated
TT is with deep regret that we have
heard of the death of Mrs. M. L. Custis
wife of George w. P. Custis, Esq, of Ar
! hngton She expired on Saturday
The only additional information given by the
other papers was the statement that her death
occurred at 1870 pm.
The inscription on the shaft to George Wash
fneton Parke Gusts was as brief as that carved
30 the memory of his wife, and said
George Washington
Parke Gusts
Born April 80, 1871
Died October 10, 1857"
md on the reverse side:
b Blessed are the merciful Tor
b they shall obtain mercy.
Matt. Chap. v, 9eTsa."
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