Columbus index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1869-1893, 1874-05-08

- 49, NeA Nt1tN- "
nature.
We regret that Maj. Billups resO-
lutely declines to allow the publica-
ton Of his speech. 1t would read
quite as we'll as it sounded, and,
what is better, would do good in
print, as a manly, but unsectiOnal
defense of the South in the late con.
flict.
The next in order upon the pro-
gramme Of exercises was the
DEDICATION OF THE SOLDIERS MON
UMENT.
Instead of being yelled, as FIRST
designed, this handsome work of
art had been decorated from base to
summit with crosses and festOOns Of
flowers, among which an immense
and tasteful cross, made by Miss
FANNIE WORTHNToN, attracted
general attention, resting about md
way against the shaft. After music
by the MOzarts, the Marshal intro
duced the orator Of the Dedication,
DIR. w. l.. LPSCoMB,
who, in his clear, trumpet voice, and
soul stirred by the inspiration of the
moment, spoke as follows:
Another solemn duty remains to
be performed.
ElOquence, with her magic voice,
has filled the spring air with fri
butes to our hohOred dead, and the
swelling hearts of this vast multi
tude have echoed the praise, in the
silent chambers of the soul. Music,
sweet as the angels harp and melt.
ing with its hymns of love, has
gathered in concentric wave and set
tied over the placid scene, soft and
soothing as blessing from the sky.
Age has come, with tOttering foot
steps, to scatter the brightest jewels
that deck a well-spent life, and from
the gushing eyes of childhood has
found the sympathetic tear.
These were tributes for which a
brave soldier would be proud to die
though the cause for which he
bled, was lOs..
But we stand in the presence of a
vOtive shaft, raised from the granite
bosom of the soldiers home by the
gentle touch of sisters hand, and
chiselled over with the rich impress
of mothers love.
Woman has crystalized her heart
and on it written the soldiers name.
Side by side, with his dead dust she
lays her honor down; and high on
the flity crust, she links her life
with his, in glory or in shame
This Monument was erected to
the memory Of the
CONFEDERATE DEAD
by the Ladies' Monumental Associa-
tiOn of LOwndes county.
This Association was organized in
1860, and its first presiding officer
was MRS. PAssIE MCCABE.
Peace to her ashes and tear to
her memory! Sine sleeps amid the
brave she sought to honor, and from
her dust springs the violet that
sheds its fragrance over their graves.
If the spirits Of the departed may
come back from their tar-Oil home,
and mingle again in the scenes Of
earth, her presence hallows now this
solemn hour, and her angel heart
rejOices in sympathy with a sacred
work complete, in the beginning of
which her life was closed.
Year by year, the labors OF the
Association were continued under
the direction of those worthy ma
irons and patriotic women, of whom
Columbus makes her proudest
boast: MRS. A. b. MEEK, MRS.
IsHAM HARRISON, MRS M. w.
HATCH, MRS. j. NJ. WITHERsPooN
and MRS. j. w. BEN0IT.
With unwearried diligence and de-
voted zeal, IN conjunction with an
associate number of the fairest
maidens that ever bloOmed on free
dom's soil, they labored and toiled
until 1872, at which time, they felt
they had achieved sufficient success
to contract for a monument suitable
and appropriate to their purpose.
A young Artist, Mr.. w. ii. NEW
Ian, born and raised in Columbus,
from granite blocked from a quarry
near Iuka, Mississippi, prepared for
them this chaste and elegant col
umn, aud at its base on this, the LIST
day of May, 1874, the Ladies Nonu
mental Association have assembled,
and ask The aiding sympathy of this
vast audience in its appropriate
dedication.
Well may human mind and hu
man utterance hesitate TO take the
one step more. The doors and the
deed demand more than our feeble
skill could hope to picture. The
cause and the dead are beyond our
deftest art or lOftieSt strain.
Already have Stainback and Fort
and Arnold, and jordan, and Sims,
and Sharp, and Barry Matthews, and
Leigh, and Billups, from intellects
aglOw with the fires OF genius and
hearts solid with patriotic truth, laid
around this beautiful conception OF
woman's gratitude, wreaths of i'm.
mortal elO0uence and undying song.