The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-02-10

"ADuh" VI tAAn huVlOH' IL provo uIb
fidelity to his section and home, we ask
you to look at Charlottesville when
proudly they fought under the COM
mand Of "Stonswall Jackson, till the
last vestage of hope had fled and their
immortal leader had fallen in death.
Again at bloody Shilo, when over
whelmed in numbers, their bosom were
as human targets, and the blood of
North and South ran as water. The
seven days battle around Richmond,
Winchester and Petersburg repeat the
same valor of the confederate. The
famous siege of Vicksburg bears one of
the highest plaudits conferred upon the
south's bravery. The gallant defend
ers shut in from all resources, with
stood the awful test as the brave in
habitants of the Roman Numidia. At
the battle at Gettysburg the star of the
confederacy's hope sank like the star of
Napoleon at Waterloo, to rise no more
until that great day receives the sound
of the trumphet. Later, at Appomttox
the submissive ranks disbaad; the rag
ged, bare-footed and psnniless soldier
take his farewell glance and clasp of
hands of his trusty leader. He presses
to his breast for the last time in war
the sacred folds of his battle flag stain
ed with crimson and defaced by bullet
He sheds the tears of his devotion upon
the cross of st. Andrew, then with eyes
lifted towards the South he slowly be-
gins his journey to the plantations de-
stroyed the fields wrecked by the
ravages of war Unlike the soldiers of
the Union, they did not return amid
the shouts of natisn, but withdrew
silently into the country made waste
by fire and sword. He presses on to-
ward the South with the faces of his
loved ones lingering in his mind, like
the shadowy visions of the dreamer,
till he reaches the summit of the
great "Divide" and gains the sight of
the "Old Place" he left in "61." He
no longer enertains the thought Of en-
bracing the mother beneath the vine
clad varanda, but all is in vain; the old
homestead Of "use to be-" is gone for
evermore. The fatigue of battle for
four years did not in the least give rise
to dispondency; SO this greeting of his
eyes did not discourage him. He draws
near and gathers the remnants Of home
and family together to begin life anew.
The fields plowed by the discharge of
cannon was soon by energy restored to
their former condition soon the spots
besprinkled with human blood was
waving with golden grain. Like the
powerful and fabulous bird Phenix, the
spirit of the South arose from its ashes
of destruction to an immortal memory.
We have seen the merits wrought by
the people of the South, now let us
glance at the giant leaders ON field and
forum.
From the period of Colonial history
to the present, her leaders among mer
have been the greatest. The actions Of
Washington, Jefferson, Monroe and
Tyler, during the early days of the Re
public are too we'll known for me to at
, tempt to mention. John G. Calhoun''
: name covers one of the brightest pages
Of his country's history, as logicear
y and constitutional exponent. He stands
pre-eminent. Robt Y. Hayers, th'
, youthful Southerner who defantly
stood upon the floors of Congress anC
= declared openly the convictions of hi
, soul to the giants of that body Th'
{ biographies of Henry Clay, George D
, Prentess, Howell Cobb, Robt Tooms
, Judeth P. Benjamin, Landon G
Haynes, 'tBen" Hill and Henry W
q Grady are inspiring and instructive t
q any youth and age. Above the multi
= tude towers the head of Jefferson Davi
o and Bobert E. Lee; one led the Soutl
a through hardships to name untarnish
/ ed, the other marshaled the arms of til
confederacy upon the fields of honor
h On the forum OF defense stood the forr
!. of Alexander H. Stephens, whose fact
= of the situation eonfoundcd the hos
. that questioned him; his eloquenc
aroused the indignation of contempol
aries. Since the time of those hour
which tried the metal Of men, the Sout
q has not been slumbering; but pushin
n forward until at the present it is tn
= chosen section of this immutable RI
n public.
,tl THE END.
" To Our Customers.