The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-24
A MEMORABLE DAY.
RALEIGH AND NORTH CAROLINA
HONOR ThEMSELVES.

Ccremony---A Vast Multitude Pres
ent to do Honor to the Occasion.
Tuesday was a memorable day tor
North Carolina. The capital city
was in holiday attire. The ceremonies
incident to the laying Of the first Con-
federate monument to be erected with
in our borders were such as the day
called for in every way. From the
Ne,cs- Observer Chronicle we take the
following:
Yesterday was a day in our city and
State which had been long heralded,
which was grandly carried out and
which will long be remembered in our
annals. The corner stone of the monu-
ment to be erected to our Confederate
dead was laid with that fitting cere-
mony and circumstance which became
that glorious and patriotic occasion.
With the earliest blush of one of the
most beautiful mornings that ever
dawned in verdant May the boom of
the field gun in Capital Square, which
fired salutes at intervals Of half hour
throughout the day, proclaimed the
advent of the 22nd Of May which will
go down in the annals of our State.
The day was perfect and the large
number of visitors who had arrived in
the city before was rapidly swelled as
one special train after another poured
crowds into the city. The streets were
lined at an early hour and the windows
of every building along the route Of the
procession were crowded.
The crush was so great along Fay
etteville street that it was II O'Clock
before Chief Marshal Stronach could
get things in readiness to form the pro-
cession at the foot Of the street. Shortly
after that hour the procession began
to move, and as it swept up Fayette-
vile street, and its imposing length
and splendor were seen cheers broke
from the multitude along the route.
The procession moved up Fayette-
vile street and around Capitol Square
by Morgan, Wilmington, Edenton and
and Salisbury streets, hating at the
Hillsboro street gate ofCapitol Square,
where the stands were beautifully dec
Grated and where the corner stone was
to be laid.
Here preparations were made for the
imposing exercises at hand.
The main stand was, soon filled by
the participants in the occasion and
the stand in front was occupied by the
special choir of one hundred ladies.
This stand was veritable balcony of
beauty, Raleigh's fairest ladies adorn-
ing it and lending their voices in grand
refrain.
Gov. Carr in calling the assemblage
to order said that as the chief Execu-
tive of North Carolina and as the rep
resentative of the citizens Of Raleigh
and the Ladies Monument Association
he welcomed the multitude here assem-
| bled to lay the corner stone of the first
monument ever erected in North Caro-
lima to the Confederate dead.
The scene in front of the stand now
was one never to be forgotten. Capt.
tol Square presented sea of upturned
faces and on each side and in the rear
of the stand was a perfect crush Of
humanity. But few such assemblages
have ever been seen in Raleigh, and
the sight was one truly to cause in
| spiration. 1t was estimated that there
were fully fifteen thousand people
| present.
The programme was carried out as
follows:
"Old North State'' by one hundred
voices.
Organization of Monumental Asso-
citation, by Walter Grimes, Esq.
Invocation, by Rev. James A.
Weston.
| Let us Cross over the River and
Rest under the Shade of the Trees, -
by the choir.
The Grafton, Hon. Thomas w.
Mason.
Announcement of contents Of Cor
ner stone, by w. G. Stronach, Esq,
Chief Marshal.
Ceremonies incident to laying the
Corner Stone, by Soldiers Home and
other Confederate Veterans.
Tribute to Unknown Dead, by Col.
S. Med. Tate.
Hymn by the Choir How Firm
a Foundation Ye Saints of the Lord. ,:
Corner Stone declared set, and re-
marks by Judge r. T. Bennett.
Dixie" by the band.
Prayer and benediction, by Mr..
Weston.
Mr.. Grimes presented his subject
most admirably. The subject matter
was appropriate, his delivery was per-
feet, and his gestures and pose fault
less.
The invocation of the ReY. Mr..
Weston was appropriate and impress.
sive, and will appear tomorrow,
together with other interesting matter
which limited space excludes this morn.
ing.
Hon. Thomas W. Mason's address
was received with most pronounced
enthusiasm, and every flight Of his
magnetic eloquence was greeted with
shouts of applause.
The success of the day was on every
body's lips last evening. And thu
universal verdict was that to the ladies
Of the Monumental Association indy
ing credit and honor are due. TX
their loving and patriotic labors is du'
the GROWING success of the day ant
the Southern chivalry yet alive in the
Old North State owes them an eterna
debt of homage. 1t was the theme O
the orators yesterday and it is thu
tribute which the people of Nortl
Carolina lay at their feet. And frs
and foremost in the inspiration of this
great work has been the lady Presi
dent to whose untiring energy ant
unremitting labors chief credit is du
and is generously accorded.