Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-03-15
NEW VOL. 24--NO. %.

their poor worn blanket for a wind
ing sheet, but that is not their end or
last inheritance. These monuments
over soldiers graves, North or South.
tell us Of an Immortality that belongs
TO true and brave devotion TO cause
deemed right, even when it seems 10
fail. In world like this the truest
dignity of human life is not expressed
by people of fine linen or sumptuous
fare, its truest happiness not found in
marble palaces, steam yachts or we'll
filled Golfers. Those days in ancient
Greece when it required wheel-bar-
row load Of currency TO buy dinner,
and freight train full TO purchase 10
acres of land, were better days 10
make true men than later times when
pleasure loving Athenians spent their
time in telling or hearing some new
thing, the days of ancient Rome when
Romulus or Numa struggled with
their hardy followers for national eN-
istence, than the days of the latter
Caesars when the gangrene of epicu
rean philosophy and luxury attacked
the very heart of the nation, and de
stroyed all the true manhood OF the
people; and in our own dear land the
characteristics which prompted
man To do his duty, with musket or
sabre, and march, suffer, fight and
die, are more To be commended than
the tenderness of another, too pious
To fight, but ever ready 10 turn an
honest penny by taking fabulous
prices from hungry soldiers for food,
etc, or to heap up vast fortunes from
fat government contracts.
As we look here to-day at these
graves and monuments over our fallen
soldiers, let us remember that IL the
grave represents the end of all merely
temporal hopes and aims, so the mon
uments proclaim that the rewards OF
brave and patient fidelity toduty abide
forever And let us thank God that so
many Americans could be found who
valued conviction and duty more
than ease or fortune or even life. Let
us teach our boys-not TO cherish sec
tional hate and distrust, but that it's
better TO fall in the breach of the fort
with his colors in his dying hand and
the shout OF battle on his lips, than
to dry rot with the gangrene of ease
loving cowardice. Let Us widen our
tribute of respect 10 the American sol
dier and honor all the brave dead,
and so bridge the gulf that divides
the hearts Of fellow countrymen.
Between this cemetery and the
nearest one where blues are buried,
at Sharpsburg, there rolls a river, but
that river may be crossed, and it has
its good purposes of use and surpass-
ing beauty. So, il you say between
the Grey and Blue there rolls a river
of blood-say brave men and true
can cross that river also, and the
bravest and truest perchance can
cross it most easily. Let the river OF
blood, too have its purposes OF use
and beauty. 1t flows from one source,
devotion 10 conviction,
American courage, American man
hood, be that its beauty more sur
passing yet; and its use. as it flows
on through future pages OF our coun-
try's history, to fertilize the charac
teristics of courage, manhood and
patriotism in the generation rising
around us, and in the coming genera
tions still unborn.
Let Inc close with the words which
closed the life Of our dying chief: Let
US cross over the river and rest under
the trees Yes, comrades, let Us
yield these lives Of ours to the guild
ance OF the good God who gave them,
and so cultivate the characteristics
which deserve TO be immortal, that
here and now we may cross over the
river of blood which divides between
true and brave hearts, and rest under
the grateful shade OF mutual trust
and confidence, which only brings
abiding peace, and then, when the
battle Of life is over, may we have in
us the traits OF truth, courage, nobil-
ity and Godliness which make immor-
tality a boon. Now, comrades and
boys in grey. If / have but poorly
filed my part and you feel disap-
pointed at not having had n more
orator to grace this oc-
casion, remember / have been more
accustomed to march with boys In
grey along the dusty roads, TO lie
with them around the biyouac fire,
to confront shoulder 10 shoulder with
them opposing lines Of blue, 10 min
gle with them in all the experiences
Of army life, on level and in the
ragged uniform Of grey-more accus-
toned TO this than TO stand on higher
platform in billed shirt and coat Of
black, TO do the talking.
Yes, this old boy In grey knows
more about the duties Of picket guard
or camp police than oratory. Pardon
then his inperfections in this capacity,
and remember that il the black has
the grey upon his back,
the grey has displaced the black
upon his head, and become his per
color. And now, comrades, !
have done
Teaching her lesson-Uncle Ras-