Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-10

marks ever had greater temptation to
trespass upon the province OF the orator
Of the day than j. "WOman's Worth ana
Work. will be his theme. Surely TINS Is
an occasion to stir the soul, ana loose
even a stammering tongue.
In memory we 80 back to the days wnen
the dark clouds of war first gathered,
and the. red flame Of battle nasned over yer
our land. We see our fair women or the
South waving heroes on TO strife, ana
her patient work in supplying want; her
tender ministrations over tie sick, the
wounded and the dying. And who can
withhold measured ess praise tor the he
roic and loving struggle she has made
, to keep alive the memory or the men,
who. in dying, have shed imperisnaOie
lustre upon their cause and country! 10y
the work OF their hands they have reared
shafts Of granite and marble and bronze
I'm a hundred cities and hamlets OF the
South, 10 tell to the coming ages OF the
chiyalry and courage OF our Valorous
dead. We erect monuments 10 the great
captains who led our armies on fields OF
glory. and grateful people dehgnt 70
honor the memory Of civic crowned
statesmen, in whose brains were porn the
beauteOus scheme or CONSTITUTIONAL Tree
dom. Only humble mounds or green tutL
mark the spots where sleep the gentle,
good. and true. These little hillocks, on
which tears fall and blossoms cluster
are Overshadowed by the monuments TO
the great. But to-day there will be I'M
yelled I'm this beautiful cemetery on the
sacred soil OF Old Virginia, a statue to
the memory Of one whom the angels
adorned with grace or FORM ana mlhd
and whose memory IS lovingly enshrined
I'm the hearts of every true son and
daughter Of the South.
TO HER ETERNAL HOME.
As a bird from the snare Of the fowler,
straight home TO Heaven flew the bright
spirit of the Daughter Of the Confederacy,
10 droOp no more in sorrow, but 10 SIP
forever from the water Of life. which
flows from the throne of God. IL great
deeds and grand words and thoughts.
beautiful and sublime. strike responsive
chords and are echoed and re-echoed in
sympathetic souls. and live and inspire
others 10 noble deeds, what may we not
expect from such a scene as this? surely
the fragrance from such a life Will rise
I'm clouds Of incense 10 the skies. Happy
are you sir, in being the chosen orator
to-day. 1 congratulate you, ladies, In the
selection Of the speaker, so richly en-
dowed with the gifts of expressing the
sentiments such an occasion inspires Wllh-
I'm us all HonOred do / feel In being per-
mitted, in behalf of the United Daughters
Of the Confederacy. 10 introduce you as
the one to speak for them as they unvell
this monument to the memory OF the
Daughter Of the COnfederacy.
The Orator of the Day.
Mr.. Munford, the orator of the day, was
received with applause and his Grafton
was literally applauded throughout its
delivery. He said:
We are gathered here in this beautiful
CITY OF the dead. where sleep so many OF
the great and pure of other days, 10 honor
the memory of a woman well worthy 10
fiji place in their gOodly company. we
come TO dedicate a memorial stone when
shall nttingly declare our affection Tor
her and for the cause with when her
name is inseparaby associated.
Around us are myriad monuments.
These quiet scenes have witnessed the
erection Of great memorials TO perpetuate
the fame of men foremost in the Ma
TONS life-sOldIers, statesmen, orators
great leaders whose hold upon the popu-
lar heart IS here bodied forth in monu-
mental piles OF bronze and marble.
To-day we honor the memory OF n
woman-One whose feet never stood IN
places Of power. and whose claim upon
our homage is the simple beauty of her
lie and character. and the unique title
which She bOre-"The Daughter Of the
Confederacy." Her wOrthincss TO receive
this homage is expressed no less IN the
beauty of this memorial than I'm the wide
spread sentiment which demanded its
erection.
sensate marble, and, behold, an angel
instinct with tenderness, bends 10 voice
our grief and utter our benediction.
In sight of the towers and spires or
the war-swept capital Of the COnfederacy,
this child OF the battle sleeps, while all
around her are the graves Of the men
who fell i'm its desperate defence. Here,
in far-famed Hollywood 8ll that was NOR.
tai Of Varlna Anne Davis has peen lald
10 rest. and here her people offer 10 her
sweet memory this tribute Of their love
and reverence.
BORN DURING HEROIC DAYS.
Born during the heroic days OF 1851, IN
the White House Of the Confederacy, me
youngest child Of its President, her early
life was darkened by the calamities which
fell thick and fast upon her house and
people The fall of the COnfederacy-her
fathers arrest and Imprisonment. his IN
dictment for treason, his arraignment az
the bar of Justice, his plea OF Not
Guilty" and demand for trial: the long
wait and final abandonment by the gov
eminent OF the prOsecutiOn-all left their
impress upon her mind and heart aud
drew her with eyer-increasinS tenderness
TO her fathers side and the cause OF the
people who had so loyalty followed MS
leadership More and more she became
his sympathetic cOmrade and the shafer
of his memories and aspirations.
Thus by birth and association, and by
every influence which could touch the
heart and mould the life, she came at
length 10 embody the pathos and hero
ism Of what our people tendeFly can
1.-THE Lost Cause.
IL was under the inspiration Of this
thought that General John Il. Gordon
presented her 10 a great assemblage OF
veterans as 1.-THE Daughter of the Con-
federacy'-a title which, with shouts and
tears. they accepted and confirmed.
Henceforth no gathering of Confederates
was complete unless graced by the pres
ence OF this queenly woman. The soldier
saw In her dauntless spirit; yet cour-
teOus men, the unuttered chivalry ana
pure resolve which nerveG him for his SUI
preme offer OF sacrifice and devotion.
MUSTERED TO LOVED ONES.
While filling with rare dignity ana
grace this unique position she exhibited
10 those OF closer tie the qualities OF
mind and heart which give To womanhood