Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-04
SIXTEEN PAGES
SUNDAY. JUNE 4. 1879.
A cHItD'S MEMORIES OF WAR.

Many things are beneath criticism;
few are above It; and unto Two Flags
True" Is one of the latter. Not that II
cannot stand criticism. or asks eXemp-
ton from that public opinion which it
has appealed to; but it is unique APP
peal, founded on "a child'S experience
during the civil war" between the
States, and is now presented by that
child when grown to womans estate. in
behalf OF the common memories and
tender mutual feelings which she SO
graphically revives in what she calls "a
booklet"
The author of this recollection of
childs experience during the civil war
is a we'll known and accomplished lady
of Norfolk. Mrs. Emmy Hendrcn
Gwathmey, who tells her own story as
a child in Norfolk and elsewhere, under
the eternal stars and stripes ana then
under the Confederate flag, the brief.
but brilliant meteor of an hour that
can never be forgotten by the South
end its people, if the cause was lost in
q material sense: in the higher and
spiritual sense being hallowed forever
as holy sentiment that finds its tr
umphs i'm every true heart.
Unto Two Flags True" is title that
conveys the intent and effect of n very
simple story of the adventures of
little girl amidst wars alarms" which
very touchngly illustrates how even
war and may be sectional hate cannot
obliterate or dull the humane nobility
of our nature in contact with the inno-
cence of childhood, although it was n
period when even the infant and its
nurse-the tiny girl and her nanny
had their irreprcssible politics. Only
one. surly old Federal General, cXhib-
tied a cruel and neXorable heart, in re-
fusinS mercy TO Il fat young hen which
he had doomed to death and his dcvour-
ing appetite but which our Norfolk he
roine boldly rescued before his eyes by
taking the cherished fowl in her arms
and bearing her away in spite of him.
All others, though wearing the blue
and haunting the stars and stripes NJ
vlctors over rebels" were kind. though
the soldiers were inclined to tease and
even the cruel General. who refused TO
spare the hen to the entreaties of the
child. spoke more from his stomach than
his heart and that he did not pursue
her with all his infantry. artillery, cav
airy and navy to recapture the rescued
fowl. seems TO show that his bark was
worse than his bite.
There are many "reminiscences of dis
jointed warlife in our Confederate rec
ords, but this small book is the only
one we recall that gives n complete pic
ture OF such life. drawn by the child
herself, when, long afterward, grown to
womanhood and looking back. she is
moved by generous impulse to dedl-
cate her Still vivid memories of those
days OF war and alarm to high pur-
pose. Mrs. Gwathmey docs not disclose
her motive. but her character ana that
of her book assure us that 1t is n most
worthy one which thus induces her to
present MS with this little record. which
on the whole, true to both the Confeder-
ate and Federal flags. is honorable to
both in the manhood that respected her
sex in the child and which was tender
and true in the clash Of arms from first
to last.
The experience OF the child is all the
more engaging and impressive because
It outs on no nfectadon OF age OF grav-