The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-01

TO the bitter end. When the lines of the
enemy were close 10 ours, the pickets
used 90 chaff one another and Johnny
Reb cried out. "Hello, Yank, how long
are wo enlisted for, Z" and the answer came
ringing back, "Iill your miserable re-
bollion is crushed. /"
Brave II art and CHEEKY Words.
This Is the lesson for today, to keep up
brave heart 70 speak CHEEKY and hope
full words. TO help one another and TO
boar our own burdens manfully. Every
time you meet "a man groaning over the
state Of tho country and prophcsying
ruin for business, tell him youy seen
darker days, toll him the soldiers spirit
calls us 10 fortitude ana hopo ana manly
endeayor. God did not save this Union
to DO failure among the nations Of the
earth. Our soldiers did not die in vain
and nothing can stain their victory unless
we and our children become weaklings
and refuse the trials and burdens which
every man must meet In his earthly life.
History grows more sacred as time goes
on. The deeds OF the past will not be for
gotten This year has been signalized 10y
the dedication of monuments, long de-
laycd, but that very delay has set forth in
bolder prospective the character OF those
noble heroes who made our struggle sue.
CCssfUl, and 10 is delightful TO see TO what
wipt Il out in the honors paid to our great
leaders. Among the tributes of honor and
grateful praise bestowed upon Gen.
Grant none are more heartfelt and truth
ful than those that came from high Off
ccrs OF the Confederate army. Longstrect
who knew Grant from a boy, bears wit
ness Co his noble qualities and quotes
with affectionato gratitude his words at
hit McGregor, when he saws:
II feel that we are on the eve OF new
era. when there Is To be great harmony be-
tween the Federal and the Confederate.
i cannot stay tn be a living witness 10 the
correctness Of this prophecy, but feef t
within me that 1t Is To be So The univor
sally kind feeling expressed for mo at q
time when 1t was supposed that each day
would prove my last seemed TO me the
beginning OF the answer 10 Let Us have
peace. y
No Idle WORKOUT + stival.
Mosby, the alert ubiquitous cavalry
fighter, bears warm testimony to the gen
erosity Of Grant and relates that he once
said TO him General, If you had been in
Virginia as i was you would have served
in the Confederate army" WELL F" said
Grant. perhaps should; that's human
nature. Future days will bind our peo-
pie closer together and the recurrence Of
Decoration day Is not 20 be an idle,
worn-out festival, as some have thought.
Our children and our children's children
will know more of history aud be better
for the observance. True, the ranks
OF the survivors are thinning, but
young hearts of those who delight To trace
their lineage TO the heroes OF the war will
keep their memory green 1t is good
sign in the present day, that historic
memories are more valued than ever be-
fore and made more vivid by song and
story. There are some, perhaps, who tell
us tnat the day will become merely time
Of games and sports and noisy excursions.
All our holy days are in danger of becom-
ing holidays There are not wanting
those who would be glad 10 wine out all
the sacredness of the Sabbath and neglect
all its worship and prayers and hymns.
but our people are Christian people who
will not wholly forget God and His laws
and they are a grateful reope, who will
study the brave deeds of the past and bring
their tribute of praise to honor those who
nobly fought and willingly made sacrifice
of all things for liberty ana truth.
sG1here is sacred touch of tenderness
tnat lays its spel even upon the gay and
joyous heart Amid the excitements Of
youth and pressure OF business and the
turmoil of present concerns this hallowed
day will lay IA cooling hand on the fevered
brow and call to loftier thoughts and
nobler resolutions fer future services.
Out of it will spring higher faith and
loftier purpose and conduce 60 strengthen
those virtues which marked the soldiers OF
freedom and which arc no less needed In
times of peace. This II emorial day though
forgotten by some can never lose its value
To those who love TO contemplate the
past and draw its ennobling lessons
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
by all their country's wishes blest;
When Spring with dewy fingers cold
Returns to deck their hall owed mould.
She there shall dress a sweetei sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
BY spirit hands their knell is rung;
By forms unseen their dirge Is sung
There honor comes, pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell a weeping hermit there.