Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1904 — ON A HISTORIC FIELD [ARTICLE]

ON A HISTORIC FIELD

President Roosevelt, Standing Where Lincoln Once Stood, Eulogizes the Dead. HE SPEAKS IN A POURING RAIN Children Strew the Gettysburg' Graves with Fragrant Flowers. Chicago Veterans Turn Out Despite Bad Weather—Ceremonies at the World’s Fair.

Gettysburg. Pa.. May 31. —On historic Cemetery bill, overlooking ground hallowed by the blood of half a hundred thousand brave men, and in the presence of a concourse of thousands who had assembled to pay tribute to the memory of the nation’s dead. President Roosevelt delivered a notable address. On nearly the same spot, on Nov. 19, 18ti3, President Lincoln delivered the Immortal address enunciating principles which have rung around the world for more than a third of a century. Military Escort for the President.

President Roosevelt was escorted to the cemetery on the battlefield by a body of several hundred veterans of the civil war. The president and his special escort were preceded by several organizations, including a squadron of United States cavalry, the Third United States artillery and the Marine band, of Washington, which bad been ordered here for the occasion. Mrs. Roosevelt and other members of the president’s partj’ followed in’earriages. The rear of the procession consisted of civic organizations and citizens in carriages.

Children Strew the Flowers.

Governor Pennypacker presided at the ceremonies, which were held In the rostrum in the cemetery. After the Memorial Day services of the G. A. R. had been concluded, and the pupils of the public schools had strewn flowers over the graves of the thousands of dead, during which ceremony the Marine band played a solemn dirge. Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, chaplain of the United States senate, pronounced the invocation. The president was then introduced by Governor Pennypacker, and was accorded an enthusiastic reception. His speech was a glowing eulogy of the men of ’6l, and full of lofty patriotic sentiment. He also referred eulogistlcally to the late Senator Quaj’’s services in the civil war. He spoke during a pouring rain.

MEMORIAL DAY AT THE FAIR Five Thousand Soldiers March In Review In a Pouring Rain. St. Louis, May 31.—The first day of “Military week” at tbe World’s fair was rendered disagreeable by a torrential rain that threatened during the forenoon and broke in the afternoon. Accustomed to all kinds of weather and to strict discipline the soldiers and cadets marched in the pouring rain, apparently indifferent to the soaking, and the Plaza of St. Louis was thronged by thousands who cheered and dheered. Tbe military parade wa% the feature of the day. and was part of the ceremonies in commemoration of Decoration Day. Over 5,000 military and semi-mili-tary organizations passed in review before Major General John C. Bates, commander of the northern division of tbe United States army, and President D. It. Francis, of the exposition. After tbe parade Decoration Day exercises were held in Festival hall,which has a seating capacity of about 2,500, but which was thronged by probably twice that number, as every available bit of standing room was occupied, including tbe stage. After the invocation by Rev. Samuel I. Niccolls. of St. Louis, a member of Rajisom post, G. A. R., the presiding officer. Major Leo Rassleur, past comma nder-in-cbief of the G. A. R., made a brief introductory address. The reading of President Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg, Nov. 19, 1803, was a feature of the programme. Major William Warner, of Kansas City, past com-mander-in-chief, made the closing, address and the vast audience joined a quaretette in singing “America.” The exercises ended when “taps” was sounded by a bugler. Miss Alice Roosevelt and her friends braved the elements and visited the exposition.