The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-09-16

the best gotten up and best managed
affairs Of the kind We have ever seen.
Great credit is due the ladies and gen.
! tlemen in town and country-to every
| one who contributed or helped in any
way-for making it the splendid sue
cess and enjoyable occasion that it
| was.
After dinner the old soldiers and
others again assembled around the
speakers stand to listen to two of
North Cardinals broadest.minded, pa
triotic-spirited, eloquenttongued, best
loved sons. Both Of whom were not
only soldiers Of Lee and Jackson in tho
Army of Northern Virginia, but who
were and are soldiers of the Cross in the
| great army of the God of the universe.
Need we say that We refer to Rev. J.
D. Huffman, D. D.. and Rev. James
Battle Avirett:
DR.. Hufham's speech was largely Of
a reminiscent character. 1t was full
of innocent humor and tender pathos.
He told anecdotes and quoted poetryC:)
to illustrate his points and kept the
audience constantly convulsed with
laughter. Aud when they were not
laughing they were crying or listening
to the tales of hero.sm and fortitude.
of the deeds of bravery and acts of
brotherly love in wonder and amaze
ment.
The speaker started out by saying
to the old soldiers that he saw in the
morning that they had not lost the
step. Now l want YOU to give the
Rebel Yell'" said he. ''Give it for
the benefit of the people of Henderson
and Vance county who have given US
one Of the finest entertainments have
| ever seen. Then for the old General
(Cheek). Then for Shaw" And they
did, with a vim and zest that has not
been heard perhaps since the war. The
air reverberated with huzzas that re-
sounded across the adjacent fields, over
the hill tops to be caught up by neigh
ing hills and waited back until they
slowly died away in the valleys beyond
as family fades the breath Of the violet
on the bosom of the passing breeze.
DR.. Hufham declared that this was
one Of the proudest days of his life. He
paid loving tribute to the valor and
patriotism of the people of North Car
DINA, than whose soldiers none were
Drawer or better. Slow 70 anger and
conservative as they are she has had
the beginning and ending of two wars.
Henry l.. Wyatt, who laid down his
life at Big Bethel, was the first man
killed in battle. 1t was on North
Carolina sOil-at Bentonville-tha
the last hattie of the war was fought.
These things he said he was just call
ing up out of his memory, and did SO
for the purpose of showing the young
men and boys what manner of men
their fathers were. The bravest men
| except these men here (the old vete-
rans) and their brothers who have gone
| were the Confederate soldiers. Take
the greatest deeds of the greatest men
of the world and he would obligate to
match them by the deeds of a Confed-
crate soldier.
The Southern soldiers were the best
soldiers were the best Of the Southern
soldiers, said the speaker. We can af-
ford TO be egotiscal he declared speak
! ing of the part the Confederate soldier
has played in war and in peace. But
we cannot follow DR.. Huffman all
through his admirable speech and will
give it to our readers in a subsequent
issue.
Rev. J. 3. Avirett was introduced
and made most fervid and eloquent
address. He sounded the keynote in
the first few sentences of his remarks
and kept up interest and enthusiasm
until the close. 1t was such speech
as the condition of the times demands
| and the regret is that it was not heard
by every liberty-loving patriotic white
| man in the North Carolina. He spoke
chiefly of the things of the present and
| of the future as contrasted with those
of the past, and said the issues we are
called upon to face now, the problems
that have yet to be settled, require the
best thought, the coolest heads and
bravest hearts of united people. The
question of Anglo-Saxon superiority;
the purity and protection of the white
women of the South; the putting stop
to the preparation of nameless crimes
by black brutes; these he said were
matters of the gravest consideration to
US all. But we will not attempt a
synopsis of Mr.. Avirett's splendid
speech as that would do him injustice.
It was necessary to hear it to fully APP
preciate its beauty Of diction, timeli-
ness of thought, elegance of delivery.
1t is our purpose to print Mr.. Avirett' S
speech hence furtherI'comment is not
made.
There were sveral incidents of a
pleasant and interesting nature which
we would like to speak of but space
forbids. Never have we seen people
more patient, respectful and attentive
in listening to speeches than were the
old soldiers. They hung upon the
words that fell from the lips of the
men they loved and revered, and many
cheek was moistened with tears.
1.-The bravest are the tenderest.' a
truth that was freshly demonstrated as
we looked into the faces Of the battle
SCARED heroes who had faced death on
many hard fought field, or braved the
perils of the march, the camp and a
thousand foes almost..as trying if not as
| Ueduly DIS ILc UultcCS u Vic CuCu
And thus ended one of the most
memorable and pleasant events in the
history of Henderson and Vance county
1t was a day of days for tae old SOL
diers-a great day for US all-and the
veterans and their friends enjoyed il
to the fullest extent.
Barnes Clothing Store Giving More
Trouble.
l.. W. BARNES, ESQ,
Manager Barnes Clothing Store,
Henderson, \. G.
We see you are back here with a
mother big lot Of Clothing which you
are offering at half price and more than
that you are selling them at any price
a man may want. And mother thins
last Saturday while there was bout