The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-12

CROWD.
Richmond, Va, May 11.-with por,p
and pageantry, ceremony and circum-
stance Memorial Day was celebrated at
lakewood yesterday.
The ground trembled beneath the meas
ured tre3d OF the veterans and militia.
who marched through tt G streets of the
city to the pretty cemetery to pay n trib-
ute to the dead within. The rifles of the
First Virginia Regiment thundered forth
tribute to their fame, and from the Inns
of those who spoke there fell sign ificunt
words of solemn import that found an
echo in the hearts of the thousands who
heard them.
Senator John w. Daniel was the orator
o. the day, and he delivered the following
address,
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle.
men, Mrs. President and Ladies' Of the
OakwO pod. Memorial Association, Com.
rades, TO day an army of living has
come forth to pay its homage to an army
of the dead. Sixteen thousand soldiers
of the Confederate States representing
thirteen States, which composed that
grand organization of Southern people,
lie here beneath these hallowed mounds,
their warfare DONE The citizens of Rich
mond, represented by It's honorable
mayor; the commonwealth of Virginia,
represented by some of the chief officers
of the State; the people and the masses
who have poured forth from their homes
have come with martial music and with
banners to bow their heads at this sacred
spot. With hymn and with prayer we
have come to pray Heaven that this peo.
pie may appreciate the sacrifice made for
them, and that we may grow strong ia
the grace that once animated the hearts
of those who now rest beneath this sod.
I'm the ancient East it is told TINT in
the cities of by. gone centuries, buried be-
meath the sands, the wandering Arab
searches for treasures hidden in the
tombs of their m onarchs.
ct is now II third of century since
war wasted this beautiful land around
us, and "a nation was cut of, and these
men who are buried here said: Willingly
we would have died to save this country:
now, unable to save it. willingly we die
The treasures OF their lives were brave
and noble and unselfsh deeds. They
left the behind to make the sons of men
wiser, nobler and better
80 We learn from the philosophers that
in the material world nothing can be de-
stroyed, but even the smallest whisper of
our lips continues until it makes tire.
y.
Is similarly constituted to the physical,
and while all things change truth ever
holds steadfast and constant and guards
the memory of noble words and deeds
ard things. The work of those who fell
by the way has not been loves labor lost,
but as man pursues his DESTINY, the cleo
trio wires which stretch from these graves
into all the haunts of mankind will be
the beacon lights of high and noble inspi-
ration.
eve could not render these, who did
so much. honor as is their due, or speak
as they would if they were present, if we
did not express gratitude, first of all, to
the noble women of the South, and to
those OF lakewood Memorial Association.
The women of the South, and none
more 80, deserve and receive our most de-
vout and grateful recognition. Their
shining names will be foremost on every
Confederate roll of honor. 1T WAS they
who sustained the soldiers, tended their
wounds, and with ministernG care made
the grass green over the graves of the
Confederate soldier, and have kept it
green. 1t was the women of the South
who inaugurated memorial days, which
have grown to be national, and not sim
ply Southern institutions. 1t is beau
tiful custom, worthy of the women of the
South. 1t is inspiriting, giving to lis an
Easter day of patriotism, and serves to
indicate that of all the virtues that can
grace cause there is resurrection and
II life.
I'm this city, once the focus of Il mighty
contest Of arms, girded round with
mounds like these. as time gives oppor-
tunitv, there will rise monuments in
public highway and on hilltop tc bear to
generations to come signs and stories of
the noble past. But the circle of Coufed-
crate memorials will not be complete I'M
til some hand shall erect n monument to
Confederate women. Yet l know not
who could execute that task, as | know
not who would not be willing to contrib.
ute. The artist engaged to carry out
such work would realize that art had
reached it's limitation. Whatsoever Things
are pure; whatsoever things are lovely;
whatsoever things ARE without reproach
in all the history of cid Virginia and of
the South, these will be the enduring
monuments of Southern women. AS long
as faith, hope and charity dwell among
us, the women will be their vestais
Great applause.) There has never been
IL movement which came up more sponta-
neously from the hearts of the people
than that movement which called itself
Confederate. In the ranks stood boys
from the university, college and the
school, the old farmer, the gray professor,
the dry goods clerk. the lawyer, the me.
chanic. the carpenter, the architect. These
81 mi 1ns