Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-08
For the Sunday Appeal
WOMEN OF THE EPIDEMIC.
KSDIA c. h JONES.

For the Sunday Appeal
WOMEN OF THE EPIDEMIC.
KSnIA c. h JONES.
In all the darker periods of human lie
there have generally been some rays of sun
light to pierce the clouds OF gloom that cur
tanned the horizon, flooding 1T with heavenly
radiance; In every dire calamity that has
afflicted humanity since the beginning OF
time, there have been recognized and teit
throughout ell some gentle, redeeming inttu-
ences that partially dispelled its attendant
horror; caused from grief atrlcken hearts to
ascend to the Throne of Mercy, prayers OF
intense and profound thanksgiving that the
burden Of Icoe ,caS not heaUier, to fervently
echo in this dark GethsemGne, the grand,
god-like words, Thy will be done, and
somewhat reconciled them to bear the Grown
of sorrow," satisfied that when the sin-stained
garments of earth are discarded for the spot
less apparel Of heaven, it will be exchanged
for en- unfadIng wreath of glory. 10 each
fierce war that has yet devastated the land,
desolated sacred hearth-stones, and left Its
hideous traces, like " the trail OF the serpent
over ALL" there have invariably been pure,
brave women who, rising far above the
contemplate desire for mere worldly fame
and profit, have knelt at the holy, lmmacu-
late shrine of patriotic devotion and offered
their hearts best blood on the radiant altar
of true heroism; who, from the valley below
have caught heavenly gImpses OF the giorliy-
ing azure that crowns the distant mountain
tops Of their country's veal, and their pure,
lofts souls scared thereunto to bask forever
more in the magic radiance encircing every
surrounding object. And in the late des-
perate warrior indeed it tcdS a hard-fought
struggle with as implacable foe as ever did
battle-that cast pail of utter desolation
and gloom over everything, and draped it IN
the sable hues OF mourning; when 1t seemed
that the most powerful and deadly batteries
were directed against dear, noble old Mem
phis, there have been-oh, thank G0di-ag
brave. pure and wholly unselisn women as
ever breathed the breath of life, and sacrificed
themselves on the altar of perfect nobleness
and true greatness; who, quietly relinqulsh-
ing all that was dear for the (Worthy) sake Of
serving God and their poor, suffering fellow
creatures, donned the stainless robe OF genu-
iue charity, encased their tender, womanly
hearts IN the armor of sublime and indomita-
bic courage, and with the emphatic determine
atioc to accomplish all in the regions of their
ability, proved themselves indeed just ga lit
tie lower than the angels, and by their
ethereal presence at the couch of suffering,
greatly ameliorated the many and indie
scribable horrors, perfumed the very atmos-
phere, dank with disease and terror, with a
breath of that heavenly essence that ever
clings to the garments of such rare and noble
women, to whose moral herolsm ancient and
modern histories furnish no superior and but
few parallels. Even when fathers,
sons and husbands-oh! the shame and sor-
row the painful, yet essential, acknowled Kment
causes me-who, being endowed with SUI
perior faculties adapted to far greater physi-
cal endurance, methinks should gladly,
thankfully, have remained by their side, to
aid in their labors of love and mercy; by
strong, manly devotion, impede the innum-
cradle difficulties that darkened the pathway
of these veritable silnts-iorgetting all
honor, basely ignoring all thought of duty,
hastily fled from the scene OF danger and
terror, those unselfsh women remained
steadfastly at their pest of duty, calmly con-
tinuing IN their sel5- designated path of good
ness and infuite mercy, with the steady,
serene sunshine of an ever watchful Father
appreciation ilumicpg the way, and facIli-
tating their redouoled exerticps in the brave
efforts to exterDinate the fearful horrors of
the wretched plague. GA! III those dark
hours they were truly bright angels OF love
and mercy, soothing the pillow of many
lonely, miserable one, far removed from all
connecting links of devotion. all kindred
hearts; in every true sense of the word act
ing in the blessed capacity of the true Sa-
marian, making the weary sufferer feel as If
one of Gods first angels had been sent to
minister to their wants IN human form.
Heaven forever bless theml Well may the
master-poet say:
80 yomani in our hours of ease
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please
When pain am anguish wrtGg the brow,
ministering angel thou"
There is latent hernism that belongs
inherently qta % woI,ni "asch ; because II mas
weening, ostentatious manner, or, as
1t were, been proclaimed from
the housetops," has been wrongly SAID
not to exist; and frequently 1t is not suS
pected by the gentle, timld owners them
selves, until some awful misfortune overtakes
1, 10 ,lgfor ,f
adversely darken their lives. Then, like that
of our noble General Winder, it breaks forth
to the apprehension, ''like the sun bursting
through clouds" shedding over her character
a rich golden luster, like the dying splerdor
of an autumn sunset. In all-sufficlent proof
thereof, there are many historical and biblical
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, Esther, Jeptha's dau0h-
ter, the Marys, mother and wife OF Coriolauus,
Hypatia. Boadicea, Joan dare, Pocahontas,
Grace Darling, Hannah More, Florence
Nightingale, and many others. Some of
these brave, fearless women-these angels In
dlsguise-weie residents of Memphis; others
came from distance, leaving home, friends,
all, TO minister to utter strangers. Enough
for them that sorrow and death were holding
high carnival in their midst, and that pitt
less enemy was fast creating sad havoc there
that was inducement all-powerful. And
alas! how many were destined never more to
return to those homes, those kind friends,
their loving hearts bleeding In anguish; how
many, like poor Matte Stephenson, were
doomed to fall a noble victim to their unset
fish devotion, In a foreign land and among
strangers. Truly, ''the good die first, while
those whose hearts are dry as summer dust
burn to the socket" During the
last three months, while the duSky wings
of Azrael were constantly unfurled over the
stricken city, and the melancholy, sepuchral
song of the death-angel was waited to US on
each passing breeze, the devotion, and brave,
tender unselfsnness of It's women transceDdS
all parallels; they link woman's name with
all of purity, honor and nobleness, supply de-
fciencles, and all she lacked In internal
beauty before; shed over her character per-
feet halo OF heavenly holiness, neVer-fading
lustre, celestial beauty in which are COM
bined the spicy perfume of howera, the glory
of the skies, the thrilling melody of blrds,
and all the exquisite loneliness OF Gods
great, mysterious universe. Oh, ye brave |
ones! by your boundless goodness and cour-
age, the sacrifice of your noble lives, ye have
consecrated woman's name, endowed 1t with
mere efheaven than earth, and left US as leg
acy a love, aye, worshIplng reverence, pure
as heaven, unfathomable as the Alcyonlan
pool, and lasting as time itself. Honor to your
memory. Rest IN peace, oh, thou beloved |
dead; your brave feet that never shrank
from the thorns and thlstles of sorrow and
danger, deadly peril, are traversing the
golden pavements of the city celestial; your
spirit has been received with the holy pres
ence, and forever free from sorrow and strife.
all tumult of pain, is calmly reposing on the
right side of the Great White Throne
and angelic and archapgellc hosts of
loved ones who have gone before. Oh,
methinks | can hear the faint, sweet
music evoked by these fingers as they sweep
over the strings of the golden harp, like the
distant tinGling of a silver bell in Arcadian
Il l.. IL.
den of the song seems to be: "Glory, glory,
halleluiah, God is love"
"Bring forth tine royal diadem,
And crown Him king OF all"
Oh! pure, bright spirits, look down from
your home In heaven upon your sisters, con-
stantly overshadow them with your wings of
purity, point them the "strsit and narrow
way" that leads to Jordau's shore, safely
pilot them Ger he stormy waters, that they,
too, may receive the We come applause,
''Well done thou good and faithful servant"
when they shall have been waited into that
heavenly regior. which i'ttars no traces of
winter, but where the Glories IF spring, sum-
mer and autuma are united in one sweet
season, for whlca earth has no name.
read the record of your heroic nobieness,
though nought could mete to you ample JUS
hce, and in my Utmost SOUL reverencIng
bravery, tenderness and unselhshness, more
than all other qualities, my heart went out
TO you IN great warm, ooundiess love.
Living or dead, the blessed memory of your
herosm, your pure, perfect, tender woman
Illness, is ''seaIed In the casket of my soul
forever" blending their heavenly radiance
with other bright gems hidden here.
Though duty's face is stern, her path is best;
They sweetly sleep who die upon her breast"
On! whispering winds of autumn, az ye
fat past us, take on your w-burdened
wings the spotless record of these noble, self
sacrificing heroines, and bear to far distant
chimes the warm, whole-hearted, well-merited
praise of them from an entire nation. Peo-
pie of Memphis! as, slowly but surely, things
settle into their old routine, whilom occupa- |
tons are resumed, and year after year speeds
by on the gossamer wings of pleasure and |
happiness, is laid to rest in the vast sepulchre
III l. H. Al Il l. L