The Old Soldiers Wept as Seattle's Schoolchildren Sang

Memorial Day was observed in the Seattle public schools yesterday with patriotic exercises, flags, flowers, and addresses by veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic. Although the impending maneuvers of the militia kept some attendance down, the scholars made up for it with fervor.

At the high school, Principal Twitmire presided over an impressive program of music and recitation. Miss Edna Wittier sang a rich contralto solo; pupils read papers on Abraham Lincoln and William Lloyd Garrison and recited Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and "High Tide at Gettysburg." J. M. Wiestling, in his address, said this was the first time in the history of the schools that Memorial Day had been so conspicuously recognized. He reviewed the political history of the war, argued that state sovereignty was a fallacy, and declared that at Appomattox the doctrine of state rights was buried forever and that the words "all men are equal before the law" now applied to all alike, white or black.

At the Cascade school, Comrade E. H. Hurd told the children of leaving home at sixteen to join the Army of the Potomac. He described the march to Washington, the first night in camp, and the battle of Antietam, where only thirty of his regiment answered roll call the next morning. At the Denny school, Col. J. W. Langley addressed the pupils as "fellow citizens." The rooms were decorated with flags, bunting, a stack of arms, and two crossed swords that had seen service from 1861 to 1865. Miss Edna Scott delivered an original oration on "Why We Commemorate Memorial Day." When the children sang "Just Before the Battle, Mother," several of the old soldiers were seen wiping away the mists gathering before their eyes. An express wagon load of flowers was sent from the Denny school to the Woman's Relief Corps.

Other schools—Pacific, Mercer, Columbia, Latona, B. F. Day, Minor, and Central—held their own exercises, with veterans telling of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and the Wilderness, and urging the children to love their country and respect their parents, teachers, and rulers. At the Pacific school, Comrade Schrack was deeply touched by a recitation of "Barbara Frietchie"; he said he had been there and the next day marched through Fredericksburg. At the Mercer school, J. H. Ekstrand told the pupils that women and girls had done as much as men to make the war a success, and that a man who would not defend his country in danger deserved neither country, family, nor sweetheart.

Today the Grand Army, auxiliary organizations, and civic societies will join in a parade and public observances at the Seattle Theater, after which the old soldiers will decorate the graves of their comrades in the cemeteries. The parade will form at 9:30 a.m. on Front Street with the right resting on Cherry, and will move at 10 under Marshal Amos Brown. Acting Mayor Miller has called all members of the city government, including the city council, to meet at the city hall at 9:30 to join the exercises.