The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-17
THE FOURTH IN THE SOUTH.
How the IS Raven Woke Up the Sleepy
Citizens of Eiitnh.

Copyright, 1891, by the Globe Press Association.
1t was ten O'Clock, a. IN, July g. 1890, in
the village of Elijah, Georgia.
Editor Clippings, of the Elijah Raven,
had weeded out his garden that morning
and had just seated himself in the sane
tum to write a leader on The Day We
Celebrate" when there cam4 Il loud knock
at the door. A moment later the door OPEN
en-, for the latch string always hung on the
outside, and Colonel Owen Benson walked
in.
Benson was not a real colonel He
would have been in the army during the
war and might have been a general but
his doctor told him he had splinter on the
liver so he remained at home. But he dis
covered so many flaws iT Lees and Jack
sons plans of battle that the people of Eli
jan recognized his military genius and
called him Colonel.
Morning Clippings! Writin', bout pol
itics or the nisger!!'
Neither Colonel"
"No?'
Fourth of July"
so. tomorrow is the Fourth. blest II it
amt, but it's been SO long since we cele-
bratcd I'd most forgotten the day"
I'VE ought t. celebrate the day, Col
onel"
" Reckon the Y,r,iea, ave left us lit
tie interest in it
" 1t is a National day
Want invented b. ADt Lunkun?'
No, George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson and An!:av J ,c.15on celebrated
our Independence Day"
An the war didn't wipe it out long
with the nigger?'
NO."
Wars been over quite a spell now"
Yes; twenty-five years"
"Cippings, let's celebrate tomorrow.
just what | was thinking. but it is my
press day. The Raven must be printed
Tomorrow"
Print it to-day"
But have no one to work the press"
I'll work it. We'll get out The
Raven and call on everybody to celebrate
the Glorious Fourth. Tell 'em the day
don't belong to the Yankees any more"
Editor Clippings wrote patriotic edi-
toriaI, calling on the people Of Elijah to
turn out and celebrate Independence Dav,
went to the case and set it up, double
loaded, and then made up the forms of The
Raven. Colonel Benson took off his coat
and all day he pulled at the Old hand press
until t.e entire edition Of the paper was
off
Then the two patriotic citizens printed
and distributed some handbills calling on
the people OF Elijah to turn out next day
and celebrate. They found some American
flags at the book store anG soon had one
flying over the Office Of The Raven and an.
other over the court house.
Next day was an occasion never to ba
forgotten in the little village Of Elijah.
The people had rallied at the call of Colo
mel Benson and Editor Clippings to man.
Ali the true American patriotism that had
been lying dormant in their breast for
thirty years burst forth in raging tor.
rents, but the quality was as pure as the
water of mountain spring. The scream
OF the American eagle awoke in their
hearts responsive echoes that had been
silent too long. And the eagle screamed
In lijah that day as it had never screamed
before. Business was suspended all dav.
Flags were flying everywhere and the
Elijah Silver Plated Cornet band PLAYED
Star Spangled Banner and Yankee Doodle
until they were 80 hoarse they could play
no more.
There was a big street parade and Col
onel Benson and Editor Clippings marched
at the head of the procession Then the
Colonel made speech and all who heard
him said it was the greatest effort of his
~
and glorious country, the land OF the free
and the home of the brave, with only one
flag and one eagle, and the bird was
roostins right there in Elijah He said
that on every Fourth Of July, from that
time forward, the good people of the little
town would do their duty noblv. and
paint the town red blu, and white. most
ly red.
The patriotic sentiments OF Colonel
Benson were cheered to the echo and at q
late hour the meeting broke up with every
one declaring that they felt better for
having celebrated the birthday of Ameri-
can lndepen ience like true and PATRIOTIC
citizens.
The scenes and incidents OF that day In
Elijah have been enacted in many other
southern towns during the past fifteen
years. For few years after the war
American patriotism was at low ebb in
that section. The bitterness of defeat in
tt" cause they loved made the southern
men and woman forget for a time the
G!ories OF the American ia ion, the boon OF
Independence, and the sight of the Stars
and Stripes only awohe b tier memories.
But time heals the wounds OF the BODY
polite and ali is changed. To-day in every
nook and corner Of the South the Fourth
OF ju.E - celebrated as great national
hollHE with the sane enthusiasm that it
is III the North. Every town and village
Is profu~clE decorated with the national
coiore. the band, play only National airs
and tie small boy shoots as macy fire.
crackers as the small boy Of New England
The most patriotic American will fine
nothing III the South on the anniversary OF
the bi;th Of Liberty 20 remind MIN that
this great Rl-lpl Wa e.e: divided
The loyalty of the New South to the
Union cannot be questioned. new gen.
Grafton has come upon the stage where
such stirring scenes were enacted thirt,
years ago. They hare proiteI by the les
sons of the past and thay are proud o.
their reunited country. Should the nag
ever need men to defend It against d
foreign foe the warm bl0o!el and natrioti,
southerners would be tie first to respond
The South now vies VITA the North il
patriotic celebration of the Fourth of July
WALTER L HAwLEY
Ex-Prcsidents Adams an Jefferson die,