The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-12
OBSERVANCE OF
MEMORIAL DAY
Major Shaw Was the Orator
at KittrelI.
FIRST CROSS OF HONOR
Decoration Conferred Upon Veterans
of the Lost Cause"
IMPRESSIVE EXERCISES AT WILSON
Grafton by Colonel Worthington. Thrilling
Songs by The Graded School Children.
Capt. w. R. F. Bell Delivers
Fine Address at Beaufort.
Fine Address at Beaufort.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News ana Observer
Kittrell, N c., May 11.-Memorial Day
was observed here today with a marked
came on the 9 o'clock p. m. train from
Henderson. In fact Henderson deserves
equal credit with Kttrell for the import
ance into which this beautiful observance
has grown. sending not only her sons and
daughters in liberal numbers, but fur
nishing also the eloquence that has given
dignity and inspiration to these annual
flower strewngs.
Major W. B. Shaw, of Henderson, was
the crater of the day. Mr.. Thad r. Man
ming OF the Henderson Gold Leaf, intro
duced the speaker briefly but most APP
proprately. Major Shaw is an eloquent
speaker on any subject. But when the
great drama of the sixties is his theme,
he rises above even himself and has few
peers and no superior in North Carolina.
The theme of the war for Southern In
dependence, he declared, could never be
exhausted 1t was too great, too rich in
valor. in hero,sm, in devotion. 1t is as
pregnant with inspiration now as it was
thirty years age. And when other men
and other generations arise in our stead
it cannot be exhausted, for it is exhaust
less.
The speaker went back into the past,
citing it's varied types of patriotism.
only in Sparta did he find one which, in
it's abnegation of SELF in it's sublime SIM
Mi Int
of the Southern people.
The immortal grenadier OF France,
whose name Napoleon decreed should head
the roll call of every French commander,
the answer to which should forever be
dead on the field of honor" typif1es the
attitude Of posterity to the Confederate
soldier
Returning to Sparta, he said that she
had such men because she had such wo-
men. And with the South it was likewise.
Turning in eloquent apostrophe to the
Daughters of the Confederacy.. he adiured
them to keep the fires of patriotism alight
even as with ceaseless vigils the vestal
virgins kept afame the sacred fires of
Rome. whose extingu;shing began her un-
doing
At the c.ose of the speech Capt. j. H.
Fuller, Mr.. j. Fuller Coghill and Mr.. Geo.
r. Davis, local veterans. were decorated
with the Confederate cross of honor by
the President of the C. C. Blacknall Chap
ter, Daughters of the Confederacy. Mr.
Ccghill spoke in acknowledgements.
The procession to the cemetery was
headed by body of gray haired veterans
Then followed the C. C. Blacknall Chapter.
L. ID. c., of Kittrell. with its guests from
the Vance and the William Arundel Gloss
Chapters of Henderson. Following these
was the Annie Lee Chapter, Children of
the Confederacy, and then concourse
of ladies and gentlemen from this vicinity.
All of the fifty graves were covered
with flowers, the beautiful wreath and
cross sent by Miss S. c. Vann and Mrs.
]. Fl. Henley, Of Franklinton being accord
ed the place of honor. Photographs were
taken OF the beautiful cedar grit ceme-
terry with its tall snow white cross in
the center and with the children in the
act of strewing flowers.