The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16
10 MRS. PICKENS.
A LOVELY AND TOUCHING SCENE

"A LOV ELK AMI AoOOhlNN SCGNN.
Beautiful Eulogy by One Who Knew
Both Mrs. Pickens..and Illustrious
Husband-Two Great Friends of
tho Confederacy.
The following is brief outline of
the excellent address delivered by
Rev. DIR. l.. II. Gwaltney, at the me-
mortal services at the grave of the late
Mrs. Il. W. Pickens, the services being
conducted by the Ladies' Memorial
Association of Edgetield. Dr.. Gwalt-
ney ia the beloved pastor Of tho Baptist
church in that town, and man OF
brains and eloquence. The speaker
said in part:
appreciate the honor Of being thus
associated with the Memorial Society
of Edgeie]d In the touching and beau.
tiful ceremony of this quiet hour.
Dead must Da the soul that Is not
warmed to generous enth usiasm cold
and hard Rs adamant must he the heart
unmoved by tender emotions on an Oc.
casion like this.
Forty years ago, at this season Of
the "sere and yellow leaf" 1 entered
this village cemetery to take my part
in burying an honOred citizen. Since
The order Of nature has continued in
It's unchanged course. The sun has
come forth daily, rejoicing as q strong
man to run race" and more than 500
moons have waved and waued in their
appointed orbits. The planets and
stars have kept their courses and
stations in unimaginable space, the
binding sky has held in constant en-
brace the sweetly coy, yet faithful
horizon, "seed time and harvest have
remained" the increase Of fields, and
herds, and tlocks has been yearly
gathered for She tOiler's use, spring
and autumn flowers, bright gifts Of
heavens lavish bounty, have come In
their season to gladden. our senses with
perfume and beauty. All these have
not so with the children of men,
They must "come and co." their
earthly places knowing them no more
forever. Alas that he wii0 WIS made
lord Of all things that 1.-Two on earth,
that he m lat be stricken from the seat
OF dominion and stately honor.
How many hundreds, during the
last forty years, have come to their
graves in this cemetery know not,
but l do know that many noble sons
and daughters Of noble ancestry sleep
around US today, and you, their child
rem, do we'll to cherish with becoming
pride the memory of their faithful
lives. 1t Is becoming in you to rejoice
that such lives constitute a heritage
which no decrees or schemes Of men car
take away.
Nor should we repine when we think
of the happy past In which our lives
blended in part with the lives of those
we hOnored and loved. l know it has
been written, sorrows crown of sor
row Is remembering happier things
I do not quite believe 1t. Some memo
ries of happier things are link ed with
unutterably sweet and precious emo
tions. True, "the tender grace" O
the years that are deal will come tt
US no moro, but we drank their brim
ming cup Of Joy as they passed, and no"
we remember them with an ever IN
creasing wealth Of tenderness ant
chastened bliss, as much a soul.feas
as were the brighter things OF those
happy days.
I need not call the names of tn,
noble dead whose dust you might fnt
beneath this almost sacred soil. 9TH,
world holds record" Of their names ant
deeds, their dauntless courage, thei
lofty patriotism, their fidelity to ever,
RCuoIOuo lhPuioo dhu GouFACVlou
duty.
will venture to say that not anoth
or single acre OF this broad continen
cherishes In it's embrace the dust of 9
many heroic men and gracious VIC
men. They had their faults, all me
have, but high sentiments Of truth
and right, and generosity, and loys
devotion characterized their speech
and adorned their private and publ
walk.
This day and this occasion wi
justify me In making mention of tw
who sleep 30 we'll their last sleep be
meath our teardimmed eyes, Franci
Wilkerson Pickens, and his worth
consort, Lucy Holcombe Picken
They were cast In no ordinary moult
Not often have superior dignity an
manliness, beauty and grace been con
bined in earthly companionship. A
minister from the United States, tn
honored son of South Carolina carrie
his Texas bride to the brilliant coul
of St. Petersburg. Amid it's splendt
and Its brilliant galaxy Of eminel
mon and beautiful women, no scaI
courtesy and honor was shown to thet
representatives of republican simpli
ity and strength. They might ha,
remained there, beloved and honore
by the noblest Of continental circle
spending O life Of ease and ide
earthly happiness, but whom peri