The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-07
IIFEIESS CLAY
IN A COFFIN HID
Caused the Hearts Of Simple Country
Folk 10 Bleed.
THEIR SOLDIER BOY so BRAVE
Will Never Again Answer the CLAD
Greetings of a Loving famiiy-Ihc
sad Story of the Enlistment Of
a Young MOuntainecr.


the most distressing scenes ever Witnessed
~ small community In the county was
that at tho depot of tho Chesapeake ana
Ohio railroad yesterday, when the hooy
Of Charles Bricky was received ana pi''el
in the waiting hCarse- The iather "h"
brother were present ana the ioi"'l
hopeless cries were pitiful and heart sif-
ring. They are plain people. seeing no
reason for hiding the anguish OF tht hu-
man heart. and that grief had come To-
them so heavily was "a matter Whicn
brought them face 10 face with God ana
Wis mysteries: "a plain country people VINO
have lived for generations ON lh''
meadow farm lands; who are placed ln
this world and ask no questions why an"
leave 1t asking no questions wneie
STRONG MEN WEPT
Al the little graveyard on the hiil above
the home. strong young men who Wepl
nncontroliably. placed the strange. heavy
thlns-the long box. with fits railroad
ticket telling SIS story The little sisters
crowded. ah-,t 80 crying the mother so
feeble groIcd her way 10 Il, and called
brokenly for her boy.
When they lifted the cover Of the box
the glass-toppcd casket was found 10
contain a something, covered with cloths
hidden even then from sight Inc mo'HeI
CROPPED mt the glass front and would not
he hHlfSIIU. iH AhNN|i AIA NAtN
said there might be some mistake, ms
nov might not be I'm there. 1.-The govern
ncnt might have sent block or WOOD 70
me" was his remark Then they dis
cusscd the advisability Of opening the
caskot and nothing else would satisfy
the parents. when the biackened l''e
was seen above the new blue UNIFORM
that uniform which has caused so MANY
bleeding hearts-then only did the iather
lao Oh N
OF resignation.
BLOSSOMS FOR THE DEAD.
The winds in the pine trees moaned
above: the maidcns. who knew the lad.
came with wrc1ths and crosses ana great
punches Of nowers-tragraut crab apple
blossoms. purple vl0lcts and dogwood
stars-for the grave. The sounds OF the
fowls from the barI-yard below came up
ohoerfuiv as II 10 welcome the deaf ears
home The little sisters sobbed. and the
gentle voice Of the minister read lie
who bclieveth I'm Ne shall not die
IL was a plain country gravoyard-such
rs IS in the memory OF many city men
who have como from quiet homes-a knoll
lifted among rolling fields and spreadins
woods now I'm the joy and rhythm OF
spring-the very first day Of May
Tho doves build i'm yonder groves. the
whippo0rwlls sing their anthems tn the
dawn on the branch near upon moonlight
nights Colts play about the fields near
tho very essence of JOY in their uncon-
sciOus short days.
Did the lad recall this 20 his mind while
he Law painting in that barren hospital I'm
the soldiers barracks I'm Columbus Dd
he long for tho cool mountain breezes
for the fields for home? Did he believe
that his father would want 10 move
heaven and earth 90 bring him home?
THE STORY a SAD ONE.
The story OF this young man who was
shroudod I'm the blue IS particularly
sad and IL has a lesson which will not be
dlsreearded I'm this community soon.
lie lived I'm a nclghborh0od which had
given 10 the standing army az least four
OF as ine specimens OF American man
hood as the soil grows. These. however
served their terms Of enlistment and
came home. There were no battles while
they served. camp life was not bad III
Arizona or Indian Territory. Stll these
bows returned 20 their farms with feel
ings Of relief and did not re-enlist when
the war broke ont. They are not lacking
I'm true patriotism. and hold themselves
I'm readiness for their countrys call, but
thew are possessed OF the wisdom and
experienco which the uninitiated have
not.
THE WANDER LUST
II is said that these cX-reguiars tried
20 dissuade the boys-three OF them
from leaving home. and that Mr. Brick
offered 20 pay bis son handsomely n he
would only stay at home on the farm
Il was lust month 90 The day after his
departure that the news came of his
death. The three lads had enlisted In Co
iumhus. the dead one giving I'm his age
as twenty-one when IL was only seven
teen.
He was. besides minor. OF delicate
lungs and fochle constitution. lie had
never been Frustrated with those Illnesses
common 20 childhood and had never been
vaccinated. These facts rendered him so
unfit 10 cope with camp life. and soldiers
discipline and soldiers rauons that the
result IS not surprising.
Tho only thing which gives one pause
& the laxlty I'm the regulations OF great
and Christian government which allows
these surgeons and health officers IN
charge 20 accept any such heroic sacrl-
nee as this youths when II is not abso-
lutely necessary
THE POOR GOVERNMENT.
The certificate of death said 10 was from
measles and broncho-pneumonia. This
being a contagious disease. the father
was notified that the government would
not allow Of transportation case Co
ship the body home-only allowing $50
FOR burial purposes Mr. Brick. there
fore. before he could have the sad COM
fort OF caring for the dust of his son.
was forced 90 telegraph S55 more for "a
shipping casket. and the poor government
paid the rest
or course. 30 IS well known that the red
N tape OF government affairs is simply un-
yielding and unhreakable except I'm cases
% the deaths Of great political dema-
goeues or Presidents mothers. when the
wheels OF State are made 90 turn in any
direction which luxury. sulhshncss and
inordinate prodrality may desire Still
n Ia this corroding knowledge. when IL
comes in contact with an emotional grief
stricken nature which makes Of free
born American Anarchists.
T. s. G.