Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-17
a..s LOCAL.
MEMORIAL DAY.

Its Observance I'm Neutrality-suspicious.
eraI SusDer.s1ono of fBusiness-Address
of Mai. C. w. NcCiammy-UnVeilin
the atatue-DecOrattOn of Graves.
Memorial Day was observed in our city
by general suspension of business and
interesting ceremonies at the Cemetery.
These were afforded unusual interest by
che llnveiling Of the statue upon the monu-
ment very recently erected by the Ladies'
Memorial Association of our city, to the
memory of our gallant Confederate dead.
At the appointed hour the various bodies
that were to comprise the procession as
sembled, according toprogramme previous
ly published at the places respectively desig-
mated. At 4 p. NJ. the procession moved
towards the Cemetery, headed by the Ca
diets of the Cape Fear Academy and a
brass band. The remainder of the pro-
cession followed in the published order.
The children of the several schools bore
several handsome banners with appropri-
ate inscriptions in Latin. Owing to the
intense heat and dust, there were many
who did not join in the procession, but the
Cemetery was thronged with our people,
numbering several thousand. AS the pro-
cession approached the grounds minute
guns were fired by detachment of the
Cape Fear Light Artillery
Arrived at the lodge at the foot of the
eminence upon which the Confederate
| Cemetery is situated, the ceremonies were
inaugurated by the memorial choir with
| the
! ANTHEM
UI heard a voice from Heaven"
| The Rev. A. T. DICKSON, Chaplain on
the occasion, then offered a feeling and
| eloquent
| PRAYER,
After which the choir sang the follow
| ing
ORIGINAL ODE.
Along thy silent, lonely vale,
! Low draped with m6sssaRd willows weepin.
| Oh city of the dead-Oak8ale
Here Sleep our dead, forever sleeping
! Magnolia's flowers along the gale
But never more our dead shall hail
. The jasmn's bloom around them springng.
The summers sun still lights one way
Where crowds Thy a;i Glisnt streets @ & are trsadng
Heed not the steps above them spreading
! On waving fields of ripening grain
The autumn's fading sun is shining,
fsThe busy reapers' song, in vain,
Upon tleir silent ears is falling
| Old Winter snresds his lev snow
Above their er-hallOWed bed
But yet no mortal power below
| Can call TO earth the slumbering dead.
Z or loving watch around their tomb
Ans chiidren's tottering footsteps COME
Old age, and lovely maidens weeping
IIe1eHsldiers of our Sunny South,
| Who for your country fought and died,
| Meier shall the land that gave you birth
Forget their loved, their lost, their pride
! And when3dr chdren's children come
To view Old Oakdale's lovely spot,
! They pause before your hallOWed toms
Oh soldiers dead but not forgot.
Mai. C. W. McClammy, the Orator OF
the Day, then ascended the stand and de-
. livered the following beautiful and most
appropriate
! ADDRESS.
| Indies Orthe Memorial association ,. -.
| the memories Of our fallen heroes is one which
! l rain would leave to tongues inspired with 1er-
vid elo0uence, and potent to excite within the
soul its deepest and most haloWed emotions
| within this sacred sanctuary where lies the dust
OF faithful chivalric followers Of cause forever
lost, and on this day when woman comes with
natures lOveliest offerings to deck with graceful
! beauty each ConSeCrated mound; only that voice
| should be heard which flows rich and full OF
! nations deep and deathless love. The holy
! quiet that reigns around the home of the tried
! and true of the land should only be broken by
! that music of language which melts into unisOn
| their deeds And though shouGi fail to expTes IS
any exalted admiration OF their LOFTY courage,
4 or grief for their cOuntryS loss, win not ven
ture to pay the tribute OF acknowledgment tC
| their nluStrious service. Though impaSsiOned
| elouuence should shrink from the undertaking
though harps attuned to richest melody shoulc
fail to make the ecstasy which their deeds in
| spire; though matchless verse should fail tC
sparkle with the glory of their brilliant fame
j the measure of our gratitude shall not re-
main unpaid while lovely hands and loving
| hearts perform this pious work. How elo-
! quent these ministratiOns of love How
| desirable the need of praise which these blessed
acts afford! Whata recOmpenSe Tor the toll:
of the march aud the dangers OF the field that
she who watched earliest at The cradle OF patrl-
otism should linger longest to bedew with tears
and beautify with flowers, the spot where its
ashes slumber. What higher niche of fame
could the most unsullied ambition wish for?
what more beautiful Or touching instance of re-
gard could be shown the memory OF the dead?
Ancient Thebps abOunded in 1vramids Curi-
| warriors The battle fields of Greece -rcre
dotted with statues. But no dumb marble is
| needed here, no costly pile, nor polished shaft
to perpetuate memories committed to the keep
! ing of the nOblest and purest and best OF the
| land. Brighter than the dadem which flashes
from the naughty cOnquerOr's brow is the corone1
which woman wreathes, and more enduring tha1
monuments OF brass is the immeasuTable love
which she consecrates to the virtues OF oul
dead. .,.,, ,,.,- -, ,>o. 40.
ON Memorial Day, make his pilgrimage to the
tomb of his country's hopes, and there review il
pride and sadness the long train OF 1nourntul
hut oil
. qOed forth ? What hero in all the earth
, ! scene SUI
. But ysterdav. songs OF triumph and strains
L | of gladnes were heard throughout the land
: No rude siAck of battle had fallen upon the
e ear! NO political commissions had disturbed the
peace! No geamfng bayOnet had usurped the
, place of law Noremorseless tyrant had done
violence to the plain and primitive principle;
beneath the folds OF . com mon flag, with tradl-
tienal honors maeuaIly shared, sought only
, letters wlIch had contributed so immensely
the charAs OF society and the excellence of &c, ~
ernUaept. The South iejolced III the fullness OF
plenty Her fields were ladened with the rich
Rewards of industry; her shops adorned with
! the implements OF, husbandry; her Streams
| white with the fleets OF commerce; her univer-
stiles flied with devotees OF learning, and
| brightest in the galaxy of nations were the
| names of her hOnored sons. Year after year III
| creased the treasures of her wealth. The bones
| of her sons, bleaching upon distant battle fields
| attested their valOr and devotion to principle
! and honor. The far-reaching policy OF her
statesmen asserted the superiority of her kingly
| intellect. The impassioned appeals OF her ora
| tors demonstrated the power OF mind over num-
/ bers while the beauty and refinement % } Of her
1 daughters cOnSpired to make hers land such
5 reIaRcy had pictured in her own oeautlf'll
4 rumble 13er-eve the spell was broken. The
4 out the land earthq~ake was heard through
= through her hoAe tocsin Of war sounded
n manhood in strenrTs, and youth and age and
: tshumiIiation the INTO save from defeat auG