West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-06-15


Day becomes more marked each sue.
ceeding year. Individual deeds Of
heroism, stories of the struggles, and
the triumphs of great patriots will
always be remembered. 1t was in
deed pleasant to see the great inter
est manifested by the general observ-
ance of Memorial Day in this city
last Saturday, June the 9th. Au-
spicious weather permitted a large
crowd to turn out and our town was
filed all day with an orderly Jeffer-
son crowd. The gathering is said
to be one of the largest our town has
witnessed for many years.
At IL o'clock the procession was
formed-Col. r. p. Chew, Marshall,
and Messrs. David Howell and Eu
gene Baker, Aids-in the following
order:
Chief Marshal.
Orator, Poet and Invited Guests in Car
riages.
Union Band of Winchester.
Winchester Light Infantry.
Shepherdstown Band.
Independent Fire Company.
Friendship Band of Winchester.
Citizens Fire Company.
Charlestown Cornet Band.
Shepherdstown Camp, No. /, Confeder-
ate Veterans.
Lee Memorial Association.
Citizens on foot and in voh1cies.
AT THE CEMETERY.
After visiting tho NJ. E. and P. r..
Church wards, the procession entered
Edge Hill Cemetery, the Military bear
ing reversed arms and the Bands play
ing dirges.
AT THE STAND.
In the absence Of Rev. DIR. Hopkins,
President of the "Lee Memorial Associa-
tion," Mr.. Cleon Moore presided.
Music by Charlestown Cornet Band.
Vocal Music by Choir-"Our Comrades
Meath the Sod"
Prayer-by Rev. J. w. Tongue.
Introduction of Speaker by Hon. w. l..
Wilson.
Grafton bv Gen. w. Fl. +. Lee.
Gen. Lee was introduced by Hon.
w. l.. Wilson in few very happy
words. Gen. Lees speech was char
acterized by spirit of true manli-
ness rather than by any attempt at
eloquence. He first spoke of the oc-
casion of the assemblage, and the
tribute paid to the heroes-knOwn
and unknown. alike. He said per-
haps a wife, sister or an aged moth
er, in some distant land, who while
mourning the loss of husband,
brother or son, would be partly con
soled by knowing that his grave was
being decorated with flowers. The
lives these heroes were not thrown
away-"Brave blood is never shed
in vain" 1t is well to hand down
these memories to our childen and
let them transmit them in turn to
theirs; cherish this custom, let it
descend through the ages, and honor
be paid to these graves that their
noble deeds may be emulated and
their lofty example ollowed by gen
erations to come.
At the close of Gen. Lees speech
Senator Pasco of Florida was called
upon and introduced by Mr.. Wilson.
Senator Pasco said that this was en-
tirely unexpected, that they observ-
ed Memorial Day in his State much
earlier in the season, and that he
did not know it was Memorial Day
here until he arrived in town. He
spoke feelingly of the dead heroes
and paid a graceful tribute to the
fair hands which were strewing
flowers over their graves.
Col. Kyd Douglass of Maryland,
native of this county, was on the
speakers stand, and was called upon
by Cleon Moore, esq. Col. Doug
lass said he had been allotted the
duty of speaking at night, but it
they we're willing to listen he was
ever ready to give words of praise
for the beloved who died in gray.
He bore warm hearted message
from our sister State, Maryland
she stood by us in adversely and
was doubly bound to us in prosper;
ity. His speech was short but stir
ring. and at the close loud and
enthusiastic applause greeted him.
He said that he, as Il Confederate
soldier, had no apology to make
that as q Virginian he had followed
his native State without asking
whether she was right or wrong.
That neither danger, threats, de
sire of success, money nor political
preferment would ever wiring from
him the cringing sigh of apology to
time serving political vandals.
Hon. d. B. Lucas followed by re-
citing an original poem on the mem :
cries of the Southern patriots, and
the legacies they left us. The poem
speaks for itself:
IN MEMORAM