Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1915 — Congressman Wood Delivered Able Address in Monticello. [ARTICLE]

Congressman Wood Delivered Able Address in Monticello.

The writer Monday attended the Memorial service in Monticello. A, parade, similar to the one held here Sunday, was conducted, and there were 30 old soldiers in line and several others in carriages and automobiles. The parade marched to the cemetery, where the graves were decorated, a potted geranium being placed on each soldier’s grave. A brief service of song and prayer was then held. There were many more Sunday school children in the parade than there were here and much more attention paid to the decoration of business houses and residences than and Rensselaer. It is probably safe to say that there were displayed in Monticello 75 large flags, many of them of quite mammoth size. The cemetery’where almost all of the old veterans are buried is now not very much used as a burial ground, the Odd Fellows having a new cemetery where most burying is done? The old cemetery is not well kept and we are unable to see how those who have relatives and friends buried there could permit it to get into such a dilapidated condition. Over a part of the cemetery the grass had been mowed with a sythe a day or so before the service and it was the only mowing that had occurred this year. Over much of the cemetery the grass was still high, in some instances half as high as the headstones. The lots were not elevated and there was a lack of system in laying them out. Some graves .were sunken and the place had a lonely and cold appearance. It is magnificently located, on a high hill, with a view of the dam across the classic *Tippecanoe and with the services of a landscape gardener and a few employees and the needed money could be made a very beautiful burying ground. The roadway alongside the cemetery is not improved and the approach for pedestrians has no sidewalk of any kind and waß sloping and it was almost impossible for two persons to walk side by side. It seems that a live board of trustees should be able to secure the needed funds by assessment against the lot owners or by ah appeal to civic pride to rescue this burying ground from its present dilapidated appearance. From the cemetery the parade remarched to the business section and then to the Presbyterian church, where the program was held. Congressman Will R. Wood, of Lafayette, delivered the address and it was a splendidly patriotic message, \ filled with praise for the old soldiers and expressing a hope that the United States might remain. out of the eastern war and that all should rally to the support of President Wilson in his effort to protect American rights and ht the same time not involve us in conflict. As the delegate to Chattanooga recently to attend the Dixie Highway meeting Congressman Wood had spent some time at the National Cemetery and he related an interesting conversation with a confederate soldier, who spent an hour and a half in showing him over the old battlefield and pointing out the places of interest. This veteran of the gray had sent back by Mr. Wood his greetings to the union soldiers of the north and this act was one of a number he mentioned that had cemented the natio more firmly than ever before. His address was interrupted several times for applause and at the conclusion there was another display of applause, proving the general appreciation of his very excellent address. Comarde James Mcßeth read Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and young ladies gave readings of “Appomattox” and Riley’s “Who Gave You the Name of Old Glory?” All the stores in town were closed from 1 until 4 o’clock. There was a large crowd in town and it was a sort of patriotic love feast. In general respects it was more elaborate than the celebrations held each year in Rensselaer. Two mounted cannon were drawn to the cemetery, members of the militia mounting them, and the appearance added vastly to the interest in the parade.