AMERICAN GOSSIP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 166, 13 July 1880, Page 4

AMERICAN GOSSIP.

" Silver Pen," the Son Francisco correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes:— -" Decoration Day" hasbeen solemnised with unusual honours th<s year. Yeu know it is the day dedicated to the memory ofthe soldiers who fell in the civil war years ago. I went myself to witness tbe ceremonies for the first time. The day is a legal holiday, and at 10 a.m. the procession began its march through tbe city. It was a truly magnifioent sight; the shops were all closed, but from every window, balcony, and roof of the gigantic buildings along Montgomery and Kearney - streets looked forth a living mass of faces, all in holiday costume. The streets also were lined with spectators, each being laden with flowers. The procession, whioh consisted of tbe entire military force of the city, with four splendid bands, marched io companies. Among them were the sailors of the men-of-war, dragging their guns wreathed in roses, and the veterans of the Mexican

ml " ..111- , war. These were decor nted wilh immense wr.aths of evergreen., slung oyer one shoulder aod under tbe otber. The Grand Army of the Republic formed a striking picture, each man carrying a beautiful floral emblem in his hand. Following the whole were three large waggons filled with flowers, made up in the most exquisite designs, conspicuous among which wps a large cannon composed of roses nnd ferns, and a broken column made of similar blooms. The whole eight was touching in its grandeur, which was enhanced by the solemn dirges played by the bands, tbe reversed arms, and banners draped with crape. The prooessibn, after marching- and counter-march-ing through the city, took its way to tbe cemetery, I following with the reßt of the sight-seers. The cemetery, to begin witb, is a perfectly entrancing sight. It is laid out io square blocks interspersed with wide street-like wa'ks; each block is raised some two feet above the level of the walks, running round whicb is a white marble wall, with two steps leading up to each lot, (here being four in either block. These lots are exquisitely laid out as flower plots, with rare and beautiful shrubs ; a white headstone or miniature oval marks tbe i -ap-V- n« W & \\ _> -to-* dest., b\>. vbere is nothing else to remind one of the tomb. The cypress tress are cut in conical form round a magnificent fountain at the entrance, end on this occasion were embroidered with letters and wreaths of scarlet and white bloom. The Soldiers' Lot was the poiut of the attraction, towards which the procession moved. The oration over, the soldiers strewed the graves of their dead comrades with the vast wreaths of flowers which bad been contributed. The grounds, which are very large, were literally enamelled with colour, and tb6 walks were lined by a walking parterre, everyone carrying flower tributes. The Celestial* of the city, not to be behind their white brothers in courtesy and reßpect, shut up their stores, and drraped their places in white crape, observing the day in funeral sileuce. The evening exercises were given at the Opera Houee, whicb was filled to overflowing, and preeented a gorgeous sight, between the flowers and the uniforms of the soldiers. An oration by MBJor-General Barnes, one of the most distinguished aud brilliant speakers in the State, and a poem with other addressee, closed this eventful day, which surpassed in beauty and pomp any of its predeeeßßors.