The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-21
Col. L.. ID. Stnrkc EuIOgizes chc Grent
Commnnder of the Confederate
forccs-0ther Gentlemen Toast the
Different Arms Of the Service and
Maj. Irvine TaIns bon the Ladies

sii.tiieE taOleS at the front of the hall
We're also used.
AS the ~gray-coatcd veterans sat ut
the board last night they formed a
strikang contrast to the scenes of thirty
oad years ago, when they were content
Win salt horse and when pork ana
contrast is all the more emphasized by
u perusal OF the following menu, which
was discussed last night:
Horn Hlarbor Oysters. stewed.
Lynnhaven Oysters. fired.
Spiced Round OF Beef. Buffalo Tongue.
Smithieid Ham. Champagne Sauce.
Corned Beef.
Princess Anne Turkey. Cranberry Sauce
Saddle Of Southdown Mutton,
Currant Jelly.
Chicken Salad. Celery. Potato Salad.
Assorted Pickles.
Spicked Lynnhaven oysters.
Baltimore Vanilla Ice Cream.
Chocolate Cake. Lady Fingers.
Orange Cake.
Baltimore Kisses. Cocoanut Kisses.
Jelly Drops. Cocoanut Stceples.
Plain Pound Cake.
Assorted Small Cakes.
Pineapple Cheese. Bananas
Coffee. Tea. Milk.
Cigars.
When all had satisfied the inner man,
the covers were removed and Comman-
der Walter a. Edwards, who acted rs
to~astInaster, called upon Col. j.. d.
Stnrke. who responded to the toast
The Day We Celebrate Col. Starke
said:
Commander and Comrndes:
No Common theme inspires our hearts
tonight. The event we commemor-
ate Is one that occupies an important
place In the calendar OF time. We have
met together to celebrate In n becoming
manner the anniversary of the birth OF
| M r1.N1 INnNVt M 1A,. Al.-. ~ -
and to rerpcttratc the memory of those
great qualities and deeds that cndcarcd
him to us and made him n conspicuous
figure nmcHE the illustrious men, who
nave Illuminated the pages OF history by
their brilliant and heroic achievements.
we come to mcmoriuliZc II. character
or surprising s%plcndor from birth TO
manhood and 10 the grave. For Ma
ture, with 4 lavish hand endowed him
at his birth with extraordinary gifts of
FORM ana face. of mind and body: and,
as Time wore on. these advantages were
cultivated and developed to their high
est state of perfection by every c0ntri-
butinS aid that wealth. social position
ana the StimulGnt or an honnrablc ambi-
ton could confer. Taken altogether. as
cltlHcn, solder. patriot, statesman and
christian gentleman, il will be difficult.
IL not impossible. to find Il more com
pete character in the annals of history.
lie stands by the side Of our immortal
Washington on the pedestal of human
greatness.
TO you Confederate Veterans. his
fame is a priceless heritage. His most
brilliant achievements in war were
wrought out through YOU. His Conred-
crate history and yours are inaisSolu-
bly, linked together. and it would he but
n twicc-tald tale to recount the many
scenes In the drama of the late war. in
which YOU We're actors with Him. Eou
were there. and under his skiilful and
heroic leadership. accomplished those
feats of arms that challenged the al
marathon of the world, and will forever
challenge il. The marvellous abiljly
with which he so handled his scanty
army. half fed and half clothed. for four
long years, against the best equipped
army that the world ever saw. and vast
ly superior in numbers. as to keep il at
bay. oft-times to inhict upon it the
most overwhelming disasters, and never
to be overcome by 1t, until worn out by
the sheer weight OF superior numbers
all attest the skill and prowesa OF Con-
cral Lee ami his veteran cohorts. We
know this. The world acknowledges It,
and our fr!ends--thc cacul:'' o.! llut
day-themselvcs point with rnt,rul
pride to their own brilliant achieve
ments in at last overcoming 50 able y
commander as Lee. and so rcsolutc and
persistent an army MS he commanded.
Aye, more; the pension roll of the Gov
of the United States stands.
and VIII forever stand rs the highest
tribute and most enduring monument
10 Confederate VtlOr uuder the consl,rn-
mate leadership nf Ice. This is not
said In q spirit OF Eloating triumph over
the SuferinpS OF our fIte facs-fnr
otherwise: for the chasm of hate has
long since been bridged over-but ii is
said in vindicaton Of the truth Of his
tory n to demonstrate that C%onfeder-
ate soldiers fought like brave mon. long
and we'll" and earned for themselves tho
proved distinction OF enduring hard
ships and privations. and fighting bat
ties like patriots and heroes. as they
We're. Yes, Robert Il. Lee was the
worthy of such a commander.
But the life of Lee was perhaps even
more conspicuous. in some respects for
sublimity of character thar as the mere
soldier. Bred to arms, standing high
upon the roll of his profession. and
with advancement beckoning on his rea-
sonable ambition-when the time came
to choose between the Federal service.
which held out to him every induce,
ment, and his native State OF Virginia.
he without hesitation laid all his fiat.
teling prospects as well as present high
position al the feet of his beloved mo-
ther! That was an act Of supreme dcvo- ,
ton. 1t was n deed OF heroic patriot
ism. He flung away ambition In or
DER that ne might serve and share the
rate or his idaliZed mother. His love
for VirGinin was his birthright.
Ana then, again. when fnal disaster
had cErre-when fragrant war was over.
ano "nen 50 many brave Confederates
were solired and embittered. and sinh