The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-05-25
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS
Tending the Graves Of the Dead.
SOME ARE OLD, SOME ARE NEW
BY G. GRosvENoR DAVE.

1
Written for The Commonwealth.
Though one day is just as important
as another with those to whom all O.
life is important, and though the mem
ory OF the past deeds of those we love
should be eyer with us as daily beni-
son; yet 1t is so natural thing fol
human beings to set aside times and
seasons for performing certain acts
that we cannot be blamed for having
one day of the year for special decora.
tion OF the graves of our soldier dead.
Once more, therefore, with Joy that
comes from realizing an increasing
| unity in country once almost rent
asunder, and with new solemnity be-
cause many of the new graves OF the
past year are graves of those who were
young and strong, we approach this
season.
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The years that have passed have seen
our women tenderly decorating in hon
Or of former generation this year
sees US bending low over the green
mounds that cover the manhood of to-
day. thus one touch of common sor-
row unites the past and the present.
rx*
For what have these dead died? The
earlier generation-perhaps blindly at
times, but nevertheless effectually-on
behalf of a nation that was, that is and
that ever will be-please God-one and
indivlsible. With all sorts of motives,
quite beyond our ken and certainly be-
yond our criticism these forms of dust
worked out even greater purpose than
they knew of national perpetuity.
Many of them were uncontrolled In
passion, many OF them were wayward
and needless, and many of them, per-
haps, need never to have perished as
they did and when they did. But they
now rest from their labors. And the
work they did partial and complete as
to each individual, but grand in its to-
tality of influence, is ours by inherit
ance, so that we indeed do reap where
we have not sowed. Their ancestors
before them died to make a nation,
these dead died to save it.
-
The new generation heard from
West to East and from North to South
the sad cry OF the Queen of the Antil-
les. Women and men alike were
thrilled with horror at the ravages
done by dying monarchy and a waning
power. So from the mountains of the
South, from the prairies, from the
mine, and from the busy marts, our
boys-some of them lying dead be-
meath our feet-went forth to scourge a
scourge, and to smite a beast. So
fragile was his fury, so puerile was his
defense, that thousands of them never
tested strength; but the knowledge
that they were ready to do so gave
strength to those who were in the front
and melted into weakness the strength
OF nation that was strong only in
tyranny. Some of our new dead died
bravely facing the foe more, alas, died
because the sudden expansion of our
forces found us unprepared to take
proper care of them /; but even they in
their dying have taught us national
lesson and hardened up national pur-
pose to run no such risks in future.
~
This day OF decoration we will honor
those who fought, those who fell by the
way side, and those who at mercy's
call faced the dangers of the camp.
Likewise will we honor the women
who bore them and the women who
nursed them. Just as In the Ciyil
War when the unit soldier was only
partially aware OF the great purpose
that he was working out so these, our
recent dead, mark a year that has
summoned a nation begotten in riot,
born in revolution, nurtured in separa-
ton and grown to manhood in aloof-
say, this nation of
power into actual membership among
the groups of nations that make this
great sensitive world. It is but anoth-
or illustration OF the truth that duty
done is almost certain to reveal still
wider duty to be done; much as 1t is
with the mountain climber whose every
step upward serves to show him a
wider view.
We have smitten the shackles from
Cuba and thereby have opened before
ourselves way that shows us the need
of teaching the Cubans how to govern
themselves. We have freed Porto
Rico from the power of the Don only
AFRIGHTFUL BLUNDER
Will often cause a horrible Burn,
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