OCR Text |
Show I MEMORIAL 1 DAY 1 Sj Not Entirely Odd of Mournlnrf MEMOHIAL DAY should not bo regarded ns a day of mourning. Symbols of grief used in connection con-nection with tho memorial exorcises all savo tho draping of flags seem out of place. Tho annual celebration of the fame, tho sacrifices and tho glory of tho sol-dlors sol-dlors of tho union Is a beautiful custom, cus-tom, but tho day was nover moant for a tlmo sot apart for lamentation. Tho nation pays a trlbuto of flowers, flow-ers, of Bong nnd words of pralso and aporeclntlon to Its glorious dead, and It Is In a spirit of tendor prldo nnd exaltation that tho holiday should bo colebratcd. It has boon a mistake to cover tho day with crepe. Cortalnly thoro must bo sad hearts on this day, but It Memorial day Is mado what It should bo thoro will bo brought to tho widow and the fa-thorless fa-thorless consolation and strength. Comfort and wholesomo thought aro suggested by tho trlbuto of a wholo country to thoso who plodgcd their llvos for tho land of their lovo In its tlmo of 'nood. Lot us not put on mourning garments gar-ments and mako a gloomy day out of the beautiful festival of honoring tho glorious dead. "For how can man ills hotter than facing fearful odd For tho nslief! of lila fathers, and the altars al-tars of his KO(l?" If you want to got tho - a! Inspiration Inspira-tion of tho day, go early In tho morning morn-ing to any of tho "Cod's acres" which aro ever around tho dwellings of the living. There, In tho dowy qulot, whoro thoro Is no sound but tho bongs of birds and tho sighing of tho wind In tho trees, you will look upon tho graves whero loving hands hnvo not tho llttlo flags which tell that u soldier sloops his last sloop below. Thon, ob tho morning troshncLs wtthors under tho sun, you see tho forms of men and women and children chil-dren bonding ovor tho places whoro their loved ones rest, and you will bo reminded that lovo outlives death. Tho comfort of God comes to thoso who sot flowers ovor long-mado graves. You will, at last, hear the sound of music, nnd so will bo announced tho arrival of the Grand Army and other veleruus ou their duty cf the day. The old mon march to a contral place nnd with bowed heads listen to u prayer and thon sing a hymn. The voice of ono, perhaps, rises In an oration ora-tion upon tho horoes of patriotism. Thon the llttlo procession starts upon Its Journey and visits every soldter'a grave, laying flowers upon tho grass so lately sprung from tho sloop of wlntor. YeB, your eyes will bo full of tears, but thoy will not bo tho tears which burn; not tears of misery and grlof, but those tears of universal, uplifting emotion which mako us all feel the bonds of human brothorhood. Reno-uttlng Reno-uttlng tears, that relievo tho heart nd make it scorn loss of an enigma. All day long loving hands bring flowors as offorlngs to tho momory of tho unsolflsh bravo; on and on till tho sun sets tireless feet walk by tho decorated graves, pausing now and thon whllo a stroller reads a tribute graven upon somo stone, or notes tho offering of blossoms on some otherwise other-wise unmarkod mound. And when ovonlng falls the lovol rays of tho sun Ho, llko a benediction, upon tho places where tho love of human hearts has heaped up the treasures treas-ures of May, In trlbuto to the sons and tN) martyrs of freedom. The 30th of May Is a day of glorious, glo-rious, Inspiring romombranco, ono when, If tears aro shed, thoy aro only tears which sanctify, without burdening, burden-ing, tho heart. |