The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-06-18
WILEY GRAY MEDAL.
WON BY J. S. MAYTUBBY, A CHEROKEE
INDIAN

WON BY J. S. MAYTUBBY, A CHEROKEE
INDIAN
In the OratoriaI Contest at Trinity
College Last Week-The Announce
ment OF the Judges Wildly Ap-
plauded-Presentation Speech of Mr..
Clement Manly, of Winston.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The honor
is mine to present the reward OF merit
to him, who in this days meritorious
efforts in oratorical contest, has been
proclaimed victor. Happy should he
be this day; standing ga tip-toe," to
see in the coming days, the eventful
and noble career held out to him, of
which his past struggles and his
present triumph, constitute a true har-
binger. A brothers piety and love-
virtue, which forms the essential
fabric of human happiness-has found
expression in this donation and an
nual ceremony-to decorate with the
cross of the legion of honor, the young
orator Of Trinity College.
1t was tender and ennobling to be.
stow this gift. 1t should be with con.
sciousness of lofty pride and aspiration
that the victor receives 1.-THE Wiley
Gray Medal.
1t is a memory of one who lived
and died, and in his fate heroic death
lives ever again immortal.
He was Confederate soldier! This
is enough to say. These words speak
his fame, but you will pardon, from
me, reflection, brief one: for, men
who were heroes in those days and fel,
the red brotherhood OF battle, are
hearers here to day, and l feel thai
should he silent.
1t was the spring of 1861. The
nesting bird had scarce hatched hel
young, when the clarion of war blew
its dreadful fatal blast; and for four
years the world witnessed the most
eventful struggle, the annals of the
human race records, war between
the same people, Of like character, vir
tue and courage, and commanded by
the geniuses OF battle. For four year:
all the world wondered. Every attri
butte of patriotism found its perfec
illustration, every exalted phase o
knighlly character was realized ano
exemplified; there was a struggle O
giants. The conflicts of past ages re
mained renowned only in the color
and glamor Of the time when compared
with the actual recorded deeds o.
this mighty carnage of war between
the States. With the mysterious won
der Of childhood, we dream Of the
gallant band at Thermopyle, or Of the
red field of Pharsalia; our Englist
heart is fired by Hastings or Flodder
Field, and we thrill at genius woefu
wreck at Waterloo; but the ages will
proudly speak when history enroll
the names Of Malvern Hill, Chancel
lorsville, Spotsylvania and Gettys
burg.
What courage, deprivation, suffer
ing, lofty spirit, pure impulse anc
noble achievement, who shall pain
thema stay my hand, and with pa
tience await to see the celestial brush
place on the canvas of history these
undying deeds of valor and heroism
Pale and Intellectual will stand the
legions that rode at Austerlitz, or the
light brigade at Balaclava, beside:
the gray regiments, which, with un
faltering tread, took up the steady
march to cross the open field, and up
the steep to the cannon crowned ram
parts of Cemetery Heights. Oh! fol
the poets tongue, the painters hand
that there might be revealed to afle1
ages this deed so glorious to our race.
Thus far in that fatal war our story
leads us. The end at Appomatto'
came in 1865. The thin ragged lint
of battle-pulled out until it became
a mere picket line of sentinels-coule
hold no longer, and the remnant sub
mi:ted to overwhelming number
and resources" That banner which
had floated over SO many triumphan
fields, was furled forever.
"FurI it, fold it, it is best
In little village Of scarce thre'
hundred souls, nestled in the Chestnu
woods Of Piedmont North Carolina
Wiley Gray passed his boyhood days
his footsteps, erring in the chase o
hunt, were set Alright by the tall cli
of old Pilot Mountain, which, senti
nel-like, looked down on every neigh
boring hilltop. Young, light hearted
loved by family and friends, joyou
in the promises which life so httingl
held out to him, he left the Universit
in his Junior year, seeking no honor
of office, but in the ranks, and 1862
nineteen years old, went out to battl
an offering to home and country
He endured the hardships of cam
and march and on the battle fields {
: Virginia won his spurs.
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsvill
tell the story of his courage and deve
ton to duty, as he stood beside tt
men in gray. He received promotio
from soldiers who had fought by h
side, became an officer, and was senie
captain of the 57th North Carolir
Regiment.
1t was the second of July, 1856 3, ev
memorable as the second day {
Gettysburg; nature lay in the calm
her pending storm, the earth slept VI
der her warm sun, the lever hui