The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-17
nErIORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
Under the Auspices of the G. c. Black
nall Chapter, Daughters of the Con-
federacy, nay 10th is Fittingly OBJ
served At kfttre1l

/ federacy, Hay 10th is Fiftmgiy OBJ
served at KittreiI.
All over the Southland May 10th
Confederate Memorial Days da,
| of sacred observance.
Under the auspices of G. e. Black
nall Chapter, Daughters of the Con
| federacy, the day was appropriately
| observed at Kittrell. as has been the
custom heretofore. Capt. W. B. Shaw
was the orator of the day, the exer
cises being held in the spacious din
ing hall of the hotel. The attendance
was quite large, several ladies and
gentlemen going over from Hender'
son. Gen. Cheek, who was to have
introduced the speaker, could not be
present and in his absence that pleas
ing duty was delegated to Thad r.
Manning.
Capt. Shaw, always eloquent and
felicitous as a speaker. is never more
so than when he has for his theme
the Confederate soldier-his deeds oil
daring, his heroic fortitude, bis lofty
patriotism. And the women of the
South! What more animating and
inspiring subject for contemplation!
With themes such as these to stir to
eloquence and impassioned oratory
Capt. Shaw measured well up to the
opportunity and the occasion. Many
persons in the audience were moved
to tears, strong men some of them
were who had stood in front of the
lannon's mouth on countless battle
fields. His speech was highly COM
plimented by those who heard it.
At the conclusion of Capt. Shaw's
speech on behalf of the president of
c. G.. Blacknall Chapter, Daughters
Of the Confederacy, Mr.. 0. w. Black
nall announced that there were some
medals to be given to three brave
Confederate Veterans present, Capt.
j. II. Fuller, Mr.. j. Fuller Coghill
and Mr.. Geo. r. Davis. These medals
are known as the Confederate Cross
of Honor the comforting of this distinc
ton having been instituted by the
United Daughters at Richmond last
fall. The G. G. Blacknall Chapter is
the first to confer this honor in North
Carolina. In recognition of the honor
done him Mr.. Coghill made short
speech and showed that he was not
only good soldier but good talker
also. Capt. Fuller asked Capt. Shaw
to speak for him. He did so in a
most touching and beautiful manner,
and many were the eyes that glist-
ened with a tear when he had fin
ished.
Medals had been ordered for Messrs
E. A. Fuller, Mark Woodlief and Geo.
II. Merritt, their papers having been
properly made out and sent on but
for some reason they were not re-
ceived in time.
From the hotel the procession
moved to the beautiful cedar-girted
cemetery where the tifty-odd graves
were strewen with flowers. 1t was a
beautiful and impressive sight to see
these good women placing flowers
upon the graves of men they did
not know, and most of whom belonged
to another State, IS years after the
war. But they were soldiers of the
South and died in their countrv's
cause and that was enough.
At the instance of some of the old
soldiers Capt. Shaw made few re-
marks at the cemetery after. the dec
Grafton of the graves. He spoke feel
ingly of the scene he had just wit
messed and the spirit which prompted
it, declaring that as woman was the
first at the tomb of the Saviour so she
has been first and foremost in every
good work and noble cause since.
The Henderson visitors were guests
of Mr.. and Mrs. o. w. Blacknall from
5 until 10, the occasion being the en-
tertainment of Vance Chapter, Daugh-
tiers of the Confederacy. 1t is always
a pleasure to partake Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Blacknall's gracious hospitality and
never was it more charmingly dis
pensed than last Thursday evening.
They had as their guests also some
of Kittrell's fairest and most accom-
plished daughters, queenly matrons
and winsomc maidens, and altogether
it was a brilliant scene and delightful
social gathering.
Refreshments were served in the
dining room. The menu was tempt
ing and elaborate consisting of chicken
salad, grated ham, tongue, pickles,
olives, bread, beaten biscuit, crack
ers, creams, strawberries, assorted
cakes, coffee, etc.
The arrival of the train was the
signal for good-byes and with many
pleasant recolleections of an evening
most delightfully."- spent those of US
whose good fortune it was to be num-
bered among Mr.. and Mrs. Blacknall's
guests set our faces toward Hender-
son and home.