Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-06-05
MOUNDS OF THE DEAD
REV. DR.. TALMAGE breaches A ME-
MORTAL DAY SERMON.

Lessons From the -Four Years War Of thu
Rebellion-The Spirit of Treaty and this
Spirit of war-self Defense and Its Du
ties.
WASHINGTON, May 81.-What could be
moro appropriate or stirring than this dis
course by tho Rev. Dr. Talmage at the
time of year when the friends Of those
who wore tho blue and tho gray have doc
grated tho mounds Of tho fallenY The
text was Solonon's Songiv , 4, Tho tower
Of David builded for an armory, whereon
:hero hang thousand bucklers. all shields
Of mighty men,"
Tho church is hero compared to an ar
.nory, tho walls hung with trophies of dead
heroes. Walk all about his tower Of David,
and see tho denied shields, and the twisted
swords, and the rusted helmets Of ter
rblo battle. So at this season, month
earlier ut tho south, month later at the
north, the American churches are turned
into nrmories adorned with memories Of
departed braves. Blossom and bloom, o
walls, with stories Of self sacrifice and pa
triolism and provost
BY unanimous decree of tho people of
the United States of America the graves
Of all tho northern and southern dead are
every year decorated, All acerbity and
bitterness have gone out OF the national
solemnity, and as tho men and women Of
tho south one month ago loralizod the
cemeteries and graveyards, SO yesterday
we, the men and women of the north, put
npon the tombs Of our dead the kiss Of pa
triOtic affection. Bravery always appreci
ates bravery, though it fight on tho other
side, and If "a soldier Of the Federal army
had been n month ago at Savannah he
would not have been ashamed to march in
the floral professions to the cemetery.
And if yesterday Il Confederate soldier was
at Arlington he was glad to put sprig of
heartseaso ON the silent heart Of our dead
Brave Generosity.
In battle during our last war the Con-
federates wore driving hack the federals,
who woro in swift retreat, whona Federal
officer dropped wounded. One Of his mon
stopped as tho risk of his life and put his
arms around the officer to carry him from
tho field. Fifty Confederate muskots were
aimed at tho young man who was picking
up tho officer. But the Confederate cap
tain shouted: "EIoldl Don't fire. That
fellow is too brave to be shot" And rs
the Federal officer, held up by his private
soldier, went limping slowly off the field
tho Confcderates gave three cheers for the
brave private, and just before the two dis
behind barn both the wounded !
officer and tho bravo private lifted their
caps in gratitude to tho Confederate cap |
lain.
-. Innr
tho world? We stack arms tho bayOnet of /
our northern gun facingthi way, the bay /
lnet of tho southern gun facing tho other /
way, and as tho gray Of tho morning melts I
into tho blue of noon SO the typical gray |
ard Lluo of old war times have blended at |
last, and they quote in the language of |
King james translation without any re- /
vision, GLORY to God in the highest, and
IN earth peace good will to men" Now,
what 60 wo mean by this great observance?
First, We mean instruction To one whole
generation. Substract 1865, when the war
,nded, from our 1896, and you will realize
what n vast number of people were born
inoo tho war or wero SO young as to have
10 vivid appreciation. No one under Al
ears Of ago has any adequate memory of
hat prolonged horror. Do you remember
,
hat mother swoored away while she was
eading tho newspaper, and that they
brought my father home wrapped in the
lag, and that a good many people came in
he house to pray, and mother faded away
.ftcr that until again there were many
,eoplo in tho house, and they told me she
vas dead "
There arc others who cannot remember
he roll of drum or the tramp of regi-
nent or sigh or tear of that tornado Of
voc that swept the nation again and again
until there was one dead in each house.
low it is tho religious duty of those who
10 remember it to tell those who do not.
Iy young friends. there were such part
ngs at rail car windows and steamboat
7harfs and at front doors of comfortable
omos as pray God you may never wit
less. Oh, what time it was, when ia
hers and mothers gave up their sons, never
xpecting to see them again and never did
co them again until they came back mutt
lted and crushed and dead.