The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-17
watchful as a Roman vestal, submis'
sive to law as Socrates and grand in
battle as Achilles ~

watchful as a Roman vestal, submis'
sive to law as Socrates and grand in
battle as Achilles"
O.. my countrymen, What an exam
pie is here for our children!. Would
we place before them for their emula-
ton the example of noble life let us
not seek it afar amid the heroee of an
cient nations when such man as Rob.
ert Lee lived in our time, was subject
10 such temptations as we are, over
lcame them all and wearing the white
flower of blsmeless character won
his way to Immortality among the
sons of men.
Would we teach our children to be
strong let us point them to this man
who despising every vice husbanded
well every resource, bore all hardshlps
and was still sturdy.
Would we have them brave and
courageous, point them to this leader
of our people who stood in consciences
cause unmoved by storms of shot and
shell.
Would we have them patient and
forbearing point them to this man
who when he was reviled, reviled not
again and is yet exalted.
Would we instil in them pure
ambition let them behold in our Lee
only that ambition which was ever
held subservient to country and to
duty.
Would we have them dutiful, point
them to this man who refusing honors
profit and preferment kept duty as his
guiding star and emblazoned with his
that noblest precept OF Of his pen,
"Duty is the sublimest word in our
language"
Would we Gro wn their lesser virtues
with the bright diadem of a christians
faith point them t5 this Cody man as
Christlike in bearing the burdens of
others, he reposes his trust in God,
becomes in His service as little child,
and meets death as calmly as the babe
falls asleep on his mothers bosom.
All! To tell the birthday and the
deathday Of such a man, to enumer.
ate the honors won, the promotions
gained, to chronicle the momentous
events of noble life-these things
are easy. But who can estimate the
worth of such life2 What words can
tell its mighty infuence2 Rising above
the dust Of common lives, pure, Sc
rene, sublime, it mocks at the words
of men, studied praise, fulsome eulo.
gy, or aowery panegyric. Springing
amid scenes Of sin and sorrow it re
stores our faltering faith in human.
nature, and reaching out to the divine
finds an abiding home in the bosom
of the eternal God.
And now I have almost finished.
Trying in such poor way as could to
discharge the trust put into my hands
by your favor has. been with me
labor of love. Dear to me are al! the
traditions of my people, sacred to me
all the precious memories that cluster
upon the pages of their history.
And now three decades and more
have passed since on that April morn
ing our peerless chieftain sheathed his
stainless sword. That day a nations
hopes were buried, that day the ban
ner Of the stars and bars was furled in
defeat but not in dishonor, and every
one of that faithful army, though foot
sore, weary and poverty stricken laid
down his arms, yet left that field in
spirit unconquered and unconquera.
BILE, the proud possessor of the noblest
treasure that thrills the heart of man,
honor unstained and integrity unim.
peached.
Returning to his war stricken home
the Confederate soldier compassed
again with his energies the arts of
peace. Again the Southern hillside
blossomed and bore its bounty of
bursting bolls. Once again the radiant
valleys smiled with their burden of
golden grain and gave of their in
crease to willing workers. No more
the dread of cruel foe blanched the
cheeks of faithful womanhood. Once
again the roses bloomed about the cot
tage door, the honeysuckle and the
morning glory twined about the lin
tells. At eve the lowing herds come
peacefully home to yield their sweet
supply of nourishment. Aud the set
ting sun with its sheen of glory gilds
| the Southern mothers fair brow as
with her little brood clinging about
her she comes forth to greet her lord
returning from the harvest field. One
smile from her compensates for all the
days hard toll. One pressing of her
lips charms from him all WEAKNESS
away.
"From toll he wins his spirits light,
From busy day the peaceful night,
Rich from the very want of wealth,
In heavens best treasures, love, home, peace
and health
And so from the ashes of wars des-
olation new homes have arisen. From
the depths of despair new hopes have
been born. Time, the great healer,
has dealt kindly with this people and
the future is bright with a beauteous
prospect. The warrior grown gray
gathers about him a new generation,
into their keeping transmits trust
faithfully kept and himself reposes IN
a well earned peace.
Peace in the quiet dales,
Made rankly fertile by the blood of men;
Peace in the woodland and the lonely glen;
Peace in the peopled wales!
Peace in the crowded town,
Peace in thousand fields of waving grain,
Peace in the high vay and the fowery lane,
Peace on the wind-swept lawn.
Peace on the whirring masts,
Peace where the scholar thinks the hunser
| roams,
Peace God of peace! peace, peace in all our
homes,
And peace in all our hearts!
And in this blessed peace it is yours,