The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-18
Honor to Dead.
nEr1ORlAL DAY IN KfTTELL,
An Interesting and Inspiring Occasio
-aG0Od Crowd and Good Speakers.

An interesting ana inspiring OCCdSiOn
-aGood Crowd and Good Speakers.
Memorial day was tit1ingly observed
in Kittrell as it has been in former
years. The attendance last week
was perhaps larger than usual and it
is hoped interest will continue to
grow.
The exercises were held in the
spacious and airy dining hall of the
hotel Mrs. DeForest having kindly
rendered her house for the purpose.
Mr.. o. w. Blacknall, to whose
patriotic spirit and loyal interest in
everything pertaining to the cause of
the Confederacy and the memory of
our noble dead is due the keeping up
il not the inception of decoration day
exercises there was master of GER
emonies. At his request Capt. w.
B. Shaw introduced the orator of the
day Rev. J. D. Hufham, D. D. I'M
promptu as his remarks were and
necessarily brief Capt. Shaw gave
fresh evidence of his power as an apt
and eloquent speaker. He was
heartily applauded and the audience
would gladly have heard him longer.
DIR. Hufham was at his best. He
always is when talking on theme SO
near to his heart as that OF the
achievements of the Confederate
soldier. The deeds of daring, the
suffering and hardship, the dauntless
courage, the heroic fortitude, the
splendid record of the soldiers Of the
South, and of North Carolina soldiers
especially, are subjects which DIR.
Hufham ever delights to talk about.
And no one can talk about such
things more understandingly, more
learnedly, more entertaingly. DR..
Hufham took an optimistic view and
win at arms it had nevertheless won
about every principle for which it
contended. He spoke in hopeful
and encouraging vein and his refer
ences to reunited country, the
destiny of common people and the
Stars and Stripes were applauded in
a manner that even the most violent
objector to this custom of Confeder-
ate Memorial day demonstrations of
the Foraker-Fairchild stripe could not
have found fault with.
At the conclusion of DR.. Hufham's
address which occupied one hour in
delivery prayer was offered by Rev.
James Battle Avirett. 1t was an
eloquent and patriotic invocation
breathing spirit Of loyalty to the
dead and love for the living, almost
melting the audience to tears. The
benediction was pronounced by Rev.
T. B. Alfred.
The exercises finished a rising vote
of thanks was given Mr.. DeForest for
the use of her hotel for the occasion.
She helped to receive the guests and
gave to all cordial welcome and
pleasant word of greeting. In the
person of each one present Mrs. De-
| Forest has a warm friend and adj
| mirer.
From the hotel the assembled COM
pany proceeded to the Confederate
cemetery where the half hundred
graves of the noble dead were strewn
| with flowers. 1t was solemn and
impressive scene, an inspiring and
| patriotic occasion, one the like of
| which makes us all better for haying
participated in it.
From Kittrell letter in the NeaUs
and Observer we append the follow
ing:
The speakers have rurely been equaltd,
and believe never surpassed on like
occasion in North Carolina The writer
| has attended them regularly since 1870.
| Wade Hampton spoke at the erection OF
the first Confederate monument in Raj
eigh, or perhaps the State, and those
yesterday surpassed in power and effec-
tiveness any that he has yet heard
Captain W. B. Shaw introduced the
orator in a short ilnpromptu speech,
original in thought and classic in form.
A brilliant exOrdium led up to the climax
in which, deprecating his own efforts. he
yielded the floor to one the "Graechi, "
DR.. Hufham.
This eloquent gentleman to whose call
tears and laughter are alike obedient,
stirred the hearts of our people as they
have not been stirred since that grand
enthusiasm of the early sixties He
broke fresh ground and opened up new
paths for thought and feeling. The note
was one of Joy and triumph, not of sad
| ness anu regret. Inc confederate spirit
was physically defeated, but it morally
triumphed. The great battle for the
Constitution and State rights, and for
white supremacy, apparently lost, was
really won at Appomattox. History.
the logic of events, the great trend OF
world though.has already proven that
the South was right. Every page of the
American history that the hand of time
| is unravelnr in Cuba in the PhilinDiues
and at home is proving the fact and the