The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-30
A EULoGY TO THE OLD SOLDIER.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

Another year has gone since we have
strewn flowers over the graves of the
noble dead.
one short year-yet, how many new
mounds have been marked with SOL
dier'S epitaph. On how many new
graves will flowers be strewn today
with loving hands?
Year after year the reunions are more
lightly attended, the old heads are
ly enemy who ever made it tremble-
are few now of the old boys who can
not comb the grey hair over that bald
spot that used TO be covered with a
ling and lettering in decay.
The old guard is dying out, without
reinforcements, surrendering TO the on
~ enemq who ever made ii tremble-
relentless Old Time himself. Time pas
ses on with iInpetuous velocity, and as
the ponderous wheels of his chariot
go Gathering over the pedestal of years
they leave empires and nations crurlb
ling and lettering in decay.
Man builds up and time tears down.
In imaginative fancy, soar through
the imperial heavens and take your seat
on the throne Of admiration overlooking
art and genius Where once the halls
Of sculptured marble reverbrated TO the
thunders of eloquence, the beasts Of
prey dig their holes unmolested. Where
the walls of mighty cities ence repulsed
the legions Of plumber, the desert wind
fans the cheek; and where once the
multitudes were fed, the mighty forest
rears its foliage. Pause and think OF
the ruins of the nations. Where is
Turkey the once proud animation of
the world, where is Jerusalem, once
hallowed by the footsteps of the Saw
Tor. with her totering temples and her
ruined baItlements. Alas, even the
city OF God has fallen before the arm of
time.
Where is Egypt the land OF art and
science? She too has fallen before the
unconquerable arm Of time.
Greece too. has been the scene Of
desolation and ruin.
Athens the proud city Of the ancient
world. from which Rome received her
lessons Of art, has mingled with ruins.
On yes. time changes all things. even
as a scene that replaces a scene on the
players stage. All things dixie the city
Of the seven hills) must pass away.
Time VIII CRATE all things 10 dusty
nothing. and year by year. there
will be more graves to decorate.
The ranks ara thinning out and there
are no recruits to iii them up, how
but as the old eyes grow DINNER. thank
God, the old hearts grow warmer and
The old dreams brighter. and the last
days OF the old guard, how reyerenced
they should be-
Be proud. young man, you who are
soldiers son. walk across the street 10
shake hands with a soldier The rising
! generation knows not a. what fear
ful pH.ce our liberty was purchased.
as many a Sill. bleeding heart can tes-
/ tify- Age and sorrow begins 70 short
| en- the memories Of many who partcipa
| ted in these struggles, but lei your mind
/ run back. far back Ger the long years
| that have fed. turn over the pages Of
! our country's history and there refresh
/ the memory and call Ii r.z:nd the bloody
| scenes OF by-gones. To you. young
man, il might not seem pleasant, yet TO
one VII ohas survived the struggles,
/ I think IL Will Let those who nave
been on the fields % Shiloh. PerryyGIle.
Stone River Or the SznSuinary fields %
! Chicamsgua, where for two long days
| the roar OF uusEetry was iacessalt
/ and ever and anon the deep toned can
I non bzIched forth IRE and death I
| say three decades after that conflict ne
I survivors OF those coateadinS armies.
f who IN memory look back over those
/ dark. blood-stained battle fields Of the
/ past shudds-s and their blood runs
I quick
| God and right urged our noble sol
I 6.ers - Go their duty and or noble
| iag = not disgraced-
Well may the old soldier = proud
I OF the stars and stripes. whsca are
rightly entitled 70 ire designation old
Clory.~ for the faz q. TIE United States