Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-07-06
THE RoUSs MONUMENT.
4 DelightfuI Confederate Day SpenI
ia Neir York City.

fn Aefc York Guy.
From Salisbury IN. C.) paper.
We are at liberty to publish an ex,
tract from letter from Mrs. F. E.
Shober, who attended the unwilling Of
the Rouss Monument in New York
last week. Mrs. Shober is a sister Of
the lamented distinguished commander
of "The Louisiana Tigers" and OF
Prof. Leo Wheat 1t is exceedingly
interesting and is as follows:
must tell you of the charming day
and evening 1 spent on Saturday al
the unveiling of the Confederate mon
ument given by Mr.. Rouss. 1t was a
perfect day-so bright and sparkling
after a rainy day that preceded it.
We took the elevated and rode to
the 155th street where we alighted to
wait for the special camp train char
tered by the generous donor, whose
guests for the day we were. AT that
point we landed right in the heart of
Dixie, our own beloved land. For all
the world like pilgrims "going home" "
Every face was full of emotion, every
heart thrilled TO its depths. There
were grey headed veterans wearing the
grey, some with empty sleeves and
some on crutches. Many ladies bear
ing on their faces and in their manner
the marks so evident of the patrician.
And when they spoke the soft melodi-
Gus voice proclaimed in unmistakable
tones that they hailed from the South
land.
The ride to Mount Hope is very in.
teresting, as it takes US over the
ground which is fast building up into
"Greater New York" Now it is as
nature made it, and very beautiful in
its summer green. We passed the
roaming ground of the largest and
finest herd of buffaloes 10 the country,
where they deported themselves as if
there was no such thing as cruel man.
L met the marshal of the day, MIR.
NJ oore, cousin of Judge Moore, Of
North Carolina.
As the procession marched up the
hill the band played "Way Down Up
on the Swanee River" I thought my
heart would break. When we reach
ed the ground, at the head of the pro-
cession of Confederate Veterans came
Mr.. Rouss guided and supported (for
alas he is stone blind) by Gen. Dicker-
son and Aon. VIM. L. Wilson. /
never saw a more touching sight
There he walked and stumbled as blind
men walk, with his head held high and
his sightless eyes turned towards his
grand munifcent gift, with no power to
see it, but he held himself like soldier,
and kept step to the music as bravely |
as he walked into many hard fought |
battle. Tears filled many eyes as they
watched him. After the "Rebels"
came the Veterans in Blue, and as
they marched past "our boys in grey
whose guests they we're, the command
was given to present arms. Alas, the
only arms they were allowed to carry
were canes, but they brought them TO
their sides as quickly and as bravely
as they ever did their guns. Every
speech was good, but Col. Underwood's
and Hon. VIM. l.. Wilson's were es-
pecially fine. Mr.. Wilson enlisted in
the same company at the same time
with Mr.. Rouss, and they were mus
tered out together, fighting side by side
as privates through the whole war, and
have been devoted friends ever since
MIR. Rouss is SO modest, there is not
a sign on that beautiful monument OF
who the donor is-his whole heart is
wrapped up in the South and the ''losi
cause"
There was a picture taken of the
with Confederates all about
its base, which was most profusely dec
GRATED with exquisite flowers. "The
Daughters of the Confederacy" were
also grouped and photOgraphed-I was
included.
The reception in the evening was a
grand love feast. There 1 met Mrs.
Davis and enjoyed cozy chat with
her. 1 also met Mr.. Clark, who was
in Salisbury on Gen. Bradley john
ston's staff at the time of Stoneman's
raid. He remembered quite number
of Salisbury people whom he asked
most pleasantly after.
There is Nothing So Good.