Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-16

for many years in many ways, and du-
ring all that time. the vision of the
birth-right on the one haNd, and the
mess of potage on the other, has been
displayed before our eyes. 1t is good
for us i'll the hour of doubt to stand in
places like this, and dlaw our inspira-
ton from these silent sepulchres
They echo the voice which comes to us
from the tomb at Lexington, saying,
Human virtue should be equal to hu-
man calamity" "D,ty is the sublim-
est word in our language" Let us
heed the voice which thus speaks to
us. If we do, these, our friends, will
not have died in vain. Themselves,
'tthe victims of grand despair, ;"
Hope is the flower that blossoms on
their graves-hope, not for a revival
of the contest in which they gave up
their lives, but hope that their coun-
trymen, purified by adversely. and en-
nobled by their example, may, by
the exercise of patience, fortitude.
wisdom and justice, yet redeem
the land they loved SO well
nations. Shall we let this flower Of
hope perish? If SO, vain, worse than
vain, will be these annual tributes
| shame-the Observance of this day a
mockerv. These are some of the les
sors We learn here. Let us grapple
with adverse fortune rs they did with
the foe. Let rs be rs faithful and
heroic in advancing our country III all
the arts of peace, us they were to de-
fend her in the dreadful time of war.
Thus Will we do inost honor to their
memory and tn ourselves. / speak rs
L believe they, # they could return to
us, woHId have ne speak. They need
no enlog,v from mortal lips. The
world has Flln@ with the story OF their
splendid achievements. and their
former enemies themselves ackuowl-
edge their snpassing horoism.
q Nonss.t shall make elm the flower Of Their
fame
Forever, hut the winds increasingly
Shall II III. s:trt!' : inhabitants their name
"''e a., re Wings OF song, their '''des, praise
/ would have their surviving conn
trymen strive to prove themselves fit
guardians of that fame. It IS, and
always viii he, safe in the keeping Of
their country-acO acOnacn. No change of
time, or circumstance can ever cause
them to falter in their devotion to the
memory of those who fill our soldiers
graves.
Come then, oh women of the South,
on each recurring anniversary of this
day on which StOnewall Jackson died,
and strew the tokens of your love and
gratitude above this hallowed dust.
Multiply these monuments, teach your
sons the lessons to be learned here, in
love and not i'll hate, and thus pro-
mote the welfare of yolIr native land.
And remember. too, when engaged
in this pious duty, that scattered
throughout this country, from the
heights of Gettysburg to the towering
valleys of Texas, and from the Atlantic
to the Father OF Waters, lie the re-
mains OF others of our countrymen
whose bones no loving hands have
gathered-whose requiem remains un-
sung save by the night wind-alld
above whose last resting place 10 other
flowers bloom than those with which
generous Nature decks neglected
graves. They, too. are our dead.
Place a garland here for them, also,
and drop q tear to their memory
Methinks the breeze will sweep more
gently and the daisies will snring
fresher above them for the deed.
What need is there for further cpeacil
Why longer dwell OF d theme which
already fills our hearts? tbs evening
hour apprenticeship bright sun IS
sinking 10 his rest ana Natures vesper
hymn viii soon begin; but there is
other music here. Floating up from
ont the souls mysterious depths, like
the sound of far OFF Sabbath bells,
come tender memories Of the LY-gone
time. Silence is more eloquent now
than words. Our friends sleep sweetly,
We will meet them ut the Reveille.
As Col. Wadden concluded, a Ne
moral Hymn. prepared for the occas-
ion, was rendered by the Choir, after
which floral offerings for those who
do not rest in Oakdaia were laid
around the base of tie monument. |
The Doxology was then sung by The
Choir, the Benediction pronounced by /
rate lot was deserted for other parts |.
of the Cemetery to adorn the graves I
of those who sleep III private los
Everything passed of well, proving
that the arrangements made for the !
occasion We're most excellent. The I
Chief Marshal and his Assistants were !
very efficient, the music rendered by
the Choir was simply exquisite, and !
the floral offerings and adornments I
were made of the loveliest and rarest !
of flowers. Among these adorrGlents !
may be reckoned the banners that !
were borne by the schools. three Of t
which are worthy of especial notice. |
One os these. borne by two young |
la,'iea Of Misses Kennedy & Hart's /
Schoo'. presented Il white front, with !
the words Honour All courage
mai iEeIlre!lX EuG reverse was
crimson. with Il picture Of General
LEE IN the centre, surrounded by the
Inscription "GInria Coranatus.' \
beautiful wreati. OF flowers WAS sus-
pended from the top OF the banner
That borne by the Young ladies of
Misses Burr K James school presented !
a white front with the Inscription, IN !,
gilt letters, ''The Glorious Army Of
Mar yrs. The reverse was ,traped
with gray moss, witt, si,..- words "Our
Dead" in the centre, IL gilt letters,
the who'll. being surmounted with Il
cross formed of pure white flowers a / /
the sorrowful moss. The third ban
ller had ii blue front, with a red me-
dalliun III the centre, and with the
words The Privates: the Bone and
Sinew of The Army. Children of ST.
James school" This banner was
borne by two boys.
We cannot close without word OF
comlnoudation for the Young men and
boys who, formed ihe Csdet corps and
who acted rs an escort for the process
sion. They were uniformed i'll a black |
jacket with white pants, marched we'll T
and looked well, and only needed the
dearly loved gray 90 make the unreaiity
seem real.
1t is rough. ii is worn. il is TAFT, T5'l in pia"
But love it the murc ior the story it bears
a story u! courage in struggle with >sffoR>. !
And heart tuat bore bravely its burd III cf
cares
It is r,gycu and r:lsty, but nh :. sIiui, x
In the siikicst sheen w ne wore it sway,
AaG his smile Wa ;,s bright AS The gla aI
...Hr morning
When he sp:ang to his place in the ranks of |
- tile Gray,
MARRIED.
At Rs,.tl IL !. Leave" j." Middle Sound on the /
SAT Il A. ny TIA" ttGy- Geo. Patterson. GER !