Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-05-18
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
KANSAS CRY, Mo-, May 4th, 1869.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May 4th, 1859.
Mr.. Editor ii will again iutrude upon
your columns for the purpose of calling the
attention of the patriotic and philanthropic
people of the Valley to a matter which it
seems they have in some way overlooked.-
Indeed it is with pride and pleasure that
review their conduct during and since the
war. With their homes at the mercy of
merciless foe-subject to all the rigors and
hardships imposed upon them by the hostile
army-their devotion was unfiDching, their
loyalty unsullied; 1 say loyalty, because to
their State their fealty was due ; from it they
had derived whatever of good they possessed
and to it they owed the duty of defending
from invasion. That was loyalty it has an
other meaning now. But what las been
their action since the war? Placed in cir
cumstances that would have tried the patient
JOB, bereft of the comforts which had before
surrounded them, left in the hour of deepest
humiliation, with poverty staring them in the
face and the iron heel of despotism uplifted
over them, they have evinced spirit of
forbearance, courage and hope worthy of
martyrs. At no time have they yielded to
despair, but under the yoke of an imperious
necessity, they have struggled with heroic
endeavor to pour oil on the lacerated wounds
of the people and to restore their desolated
homes to prosperity and happiness. Frus-
trated in one way by the maligrancy of po-
litcal intrigue, they have assiduously turned
to another. Our dead lay scattered over their
tramping grounds. Scarce had the notes of
the last tramp OF war died away in the dis
tance, than with ardent zeal and earnest de-
votion they set to work to gather up these
scattered remains and to inter them in cem-
eteries dedicated to their memory, and now
ooob ravoIuipor ha ID tbo c,i-
daughters of the South may be seen vending
their way to these sacred shrines, bearing in
their hands the richest and choicest flowers
of tho garden, to scatter them Upon the tombs
of the sleeping warriors. Oh it is a spec
tacle which touches even the inner heart of
vindictive conqueror, for-as he views the
solemn assemblage, moving in the grandeur
and cloquence of silence to pour out this Ii
baton at the shrine of the loved and lost, the
arrows of his malignant hate fall aimless and
poHerless to the ground. But while they
have thus acted, have they not fallen short of
their duty to the dead The rude savage,
who boasts the freedom CT his hunting grounds
and looks with terror upon the approaching
footsteps of civilization, who is bereft of the
sweet quality of mercy, leaves not his dead
brother along the war path, but bears him to the
burial grounds of his tribe and accompanies
his spirit with war dance to the hunting
grounds of the Great Spirit. But ciyiliza-
tion imposes another duty upon us, yea, it is
one which the fallen demand of us. The
dying soldier asked not of you the luxury of
a tomb among his comrades or friends. lie
cared but little what should become of his
perishing body, but his last words were "rry
wife and my children" These have q claim
upon your sympathy as we'll as upon your as
sistance. How many poor orphans are there
in the path of that great Simeon that swept
over that once beautiful Valley who have not
the means of subsistence, much less the
means 10 afford them an education. The
fathers of these children aud the husbands Of
poor destitute widows have claims upon your
means, however scanty they be. They de-
serve consideration at your hands. With
united effort much can be done to alleviate
their sufTerings and tighten their BURDENS
1t will only require the earnest effort to
render scheme successful. About mile
from the Southern limits Of this city, the
good people of this section of the State have,
through the untiring energy of Mrs. NJ. A.
Lykins, of this place, succeeded in providing
a Home for this unfortunate class. They
have purchased forty acres of ground and
erected comfortable mansion house, in which
is now sheltered some forty to fifty widows
a school, where the children are instructed in
the rudiments of thorough education, it be-
ing the intention of the managers to prepare
them for teachers or TO enter any of the learn
ed professions. The children are well clad
and look healthy and robust. Now all this
has been effected in a somewhat divided COM
munity, so far as regards the issues involved
in the war, and by people who were pillaged
and burned to a much more alarming extent
than yours. Indeed Mrs. Lykins deserves tho
whole credit as both the founder and sup
porter Of the institution and it will only re-
quire that some earnest working advocate to
take hold of the matter to render it success
with you. Is it not worth a trial ? Will
you let it be said that in the far west on the
frontiers of civilization, that the hardy pion-
GERS lead you in an undertaking which ap-
peals to the finer feelings, emotions and sem
sibilities of our natures If not then you
must be up and doing. for the spirit is at
work and Kansas city today can boast that
she was, if not the first among the first, to
establish an Asylum for the Widows and Or
phans of the Confederate Dead.
Very Truly, JEB.
VALUABLE RELIC.-Mr. James Fossett
has presented Mr.. Harric Bell, the keeper of
the Alexandria Museum, with hatchet, which