Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-02-26
GENERAL 10 SHELBY.
Webster Davis Tribute to the Virtues
md worth of the Late Soldier.


words fill my heart with profound sor'
row, for he was my true friend. A
young man soon finds out who his true
friends are, and loves them. Hs was
"a friend to young men, because he re-
allied that the enthusiasm, vigOr and
earnestness of youth opens up the way
for successful achievements in this life.
He was not simply fair-weather
friend, but friend on cloudy AZ well as
sunny days. He would go down with
a friend into the shadows of the valley
of sorrow, and, entwining lis arms
lovingly about him, would whisper
into his ear words of encouragement
and cheer. Alas, men are too often
like swallows; they come twittering
about us in the summer of our pros
perity, but leave us in the winter oil
our Affections. General Shelby was
not one of these. A faithful friend
and generous foe, in the wondrous
depths of his great heart were lost the
baneful passions-hate, resentment,
anger and revenge; but there fidelity
and friendship, generosity and broth
erly love, like sweet flowerets, bloomed
and blossomed.
His breast always had window in
it for inspection. His virtues leaned
to faults, and his faults themselves to
virtues Brave, kind-hearted and
lofty, endowed with the most exalted
sense of honor, and gallantry ap-
preaching the spirit of the old cav
alters of romance, possessing talents OF
the highest order, and keen and
brilliant intellect; Joined to all, those
refined sensibilities which constitute
the poetry of life, and rescue men from
the groveling vices and debasing pas
sions of our kind.
His face
Deep scars of thunder had entrenched; and
care
Sat on his faded cheek: but under brows
Of dauntless courage"
True, part of his life was passed in
stormy times, yet he loved peace.
Though idolized by ex-Coufederates,
yet he was loved by eX-Union soldiers.
For during the last quarter of CEN
fury he believed that the vanquished,
as we'll as the victors. had to bend pas
sion's knee to duty and to accept not
less than to bestow forgiveness and
m agnanimity. He believed their par
amount duty to be fraternity and
mutual human love. He believed the
old soldiers of the North and South
should join friendly hands, honoring
each others valor, proud of their own
nationality, banishing remembrance of
error, uniting their spirit and pride to
the traditions of the nation, and pledg-
ing themselves to it's future power and
glory. He believed that prejudice
could not endure under the contact of
man and man, any more than the
snow can last when kissed by the
beams of warmth of the life-giving
sun.
A few years ago, at his urgent So
licitation, accompanied him and his
party to Houston to attend the ex-
Confederate reunion there. And L
shall never forget how carefully he
looked after our comfort to the minut-
est detail. Even the old colored man
who had been his servant during the
war was cared for by the general as
though he had been a distinguished
comrade. And l shall not soon forget
the pathetic and cordial greeting of
General Shelby by his old soldiers
No man at the reunion received more
attention or greater honor. He would
meet some old and grizzled private
whom he had not seen since the war,
and when the general would grasp his
hand and call him by name, the tears
would roll down his cheeks as he
..,o,,1l oa,aec l;c cid nnn1ar
Truly, there are no friendships like
those of men who suffered together.
and who shared their meals, and
nursed each other back to life again.
The tie that binds them together is the
memory of companionship in mighty
struggle, when, side by side, they trod
the weary steps of the line OF march,
or shoulder to shoulder they faced a
threatening foe.
AS iron is welded in the heat of the
forge, so was their friendship welded
in the heat of battles. In their old
days, doubtless the past rises before
them like panorama, and they seem
to live over again the days of the long
ago. The lights and shadows of those
DAYS fit again before their view, but
all the lights seem sweeter to the
vision, and all the shadows seem softer
from the healing touch of time.
General 10 Shelby is dead; but not
forgotten.
20 loved of thousands; to thy grave
Sorrowing of heart thy comrades bear
thee;
Wearers of the blue, and wearers of the
gray
Weep as the broken earth closes Ger
thee;
And sorrowful tears like summers rain,
will quicken the dying grass again;
And there, as to some pilgrim shrine,
Shall come old comrades meek and lowly,
OF gentle deeds and words of thine,
Breathing me mories sweet and holy"
As son of q brave soldier who
wore the blue, pay this slight tribute
to the memory Of the most chivalrous
knight who wore the gray
WEBSTER DAVIS.