The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-05-16
Confederate Decoration on the 10th.

SOuIS0SkGIG OCCOItt51O11 ILL bLS LObl&
The noble ladies of Marietta are true to tn,
memory of the Confederate soldiers. Mrs, w
T. VIM, President of the Ladies' Memorial
Association, deserves great credit for the inter
est she manifes,s each year n making The nee
essary arrangements. The 10th of May was
set apart for the floral decoration of the graves
of our silent heroes, and on last Saturday even
| ing, at o'clock. our citizens wendell their way
to the Confederate Cemetery for that purpose
A large number of our people of all ages.
sizes and sexes, were assembled on the ground,
and fair hands We're busiiy engaged in placing
flowers, wreathes and crosses of evergreens,
upon the graves of our slumbering braves,
| when the muttering thunder and dark clouds
| indicated that foul weather would take the
place the fair, Still CIR ladies braved the
unlayorabe tokens and the work OF love pro-
ceeded, until the rain began to descend in tor
rents. The overhangine foliage OF the spread
| ing oaks, served. to some extent, as shelter
ing retreat, and under each stately tree men,
and women gathered still the rain fell, and
those who were more thoughtful in bringing
umbrellas, were the only ones who exhibited
dry apparel after the cessation Of the rain,
while others had their spring costumes consld-
erably demo,aizrd and the starchy stiffness
taken out.
But after am interval Of an half hour the
clouds began to break the rain held up, the
sun appeared, and on the ilower-laden mounds
the sun-rays tell with touch impartialy ten
der, and the water drops on the grasses, lilies,
roses and evergreens, sparkled IN diamond
splendor, ind the sir was mellowed and fra
grant with The perfume Of the flowers, that
We're profusely strewed ON the graves. The
crowd at this propitous moment, congregated
to hear the address of Mr. w Penn McClatchey
who had been chosen oratortor the occasion.-
After prayer bv Rev VIM. A. Rogers, Mr..
McCistehey was Introduced and delivered
very appropriate opelitable and feeling adj
dress replete with choice language, and EN-
bodying thoughts that duly paid the dead de-
Tenders of the Lost Cause" tribute worthy
Of their glorious memory and valor.
The deeds of heroisn, the unAinehing cour-
age, the intrepid bravery, and the unfalterng
fidelity, the Confederate soldiers displayed dur
ing the late bloody war, under circumstances
too of privation, scanty rations and thin cloth
ing, with the recollection that their suffering
families needed them at home, and all against
an enemy of such vast odds, has ELECTED the
admiration of the world and stamped them as
the hravest Of the brave Aud as long as the
Southern people exist, in the enjoyment of the
liberty of action and the freedom of speech,
they will never forget their own kindred and
bcoH who slumber under the sod and the dew,
who wore the gray and fought for cause they
loved and deemed just aud right. Annually
will this beautiful custom be observed, and
their deeds COMMUNICATED and their valor,
virtues and memories transmitted to rising gen
erations as worthy of their reverence, respect
and remembrance. Though the cause, for
which they fought and won many battles, is
lost, yet their failure should not make us love
them less, but more. Providence saw fit to
award to the more powerful army the vetors
wreath, yet in the end His heart cannot fail to
reward the unfaltering devotion thatthe South
ern people, ever since their defeat, have paid to
their dead warriors.
"Dear Southern land thy bleeding form,
Though rent by many battle-storm.
Sweet peace shall clothe and cheer again,
With all the blessings in her train
BY her command the sun shall rise
To chase the darkness from thy skies,
And make, with soft perennial showers,
Thy cross of pain cross of howersw