Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-03-16
Judge Burnett's Address.

The address by Judge Burnett over
he boly of Lyman kelsay was so fitting
and able that we have asked permission
to publish it. Part oil it appears today.
The remainder will be published next
week
Friends and Neighbors: There is an
original element in our natures, con-
nection betw cen the senses. the mind
and heart, implanted by the Creator for
the pure and noble purposes which can
not be reasoned away. When we stand
in the presence os the dead, especially
our friends, our hearts swell within us
cola philosophy vauishes, we feel the
inspiration of the place, and we are
ready 'tto put off our shoes from our feet,
for the place whereon we stand is holy. "
A language which letters eanuot shape,
which sounds cannot convey, speaks not
to the head, but to the heart; not to the
understanding, but to the affections.
In the loss OF our friends, the instincts
the good quail ties OF those for whom we
mourn. 1t is wise admonition OF
Divine Providence A generous pride
tempers the bitterness of grief and noble
deeds and heroic virtue shed consoling
light upon the tomb. In this spirit we
have assembled for the purpose OF paving
the last sad tribute OF respect to "the
unreturning brave"
When our boys left their homes at the
call of their country nearly two years
ago, none gave better promise of passing
through the fiery ordeal before them
"that try mems SOULS" than he who
lies before us today cold in death. He
was young, healthy, vigorous and strong;
his physical development was far be-
yond the average, and he seemed to be
one above all the others who would be
able to stand the privatons and hard
ships OF the campaign and resist the fell
diseases Of tropical climate, and be
permitted to return and again tread his
native heath; but it was otherwise or
dered and We can only bow in submits
sion to what seems to US to be hard
fate, to die away from home and friends,
in the morning OF life when the future
is full Of bright visions, when everything
looks beautiful to the young and the
world possesses charms that only youth
can enjoy to their fullest extent, and
when he has confidence in everybody
and believes that all are honest and
true, period in lie which cid people
look back to with a longing known only
to those who have passed the meridian
of life. He died, too, just at the time
when the regiment was preparing to
start for home, to receive from the whole
state the ringing plaudit of well done. "
Lyman Kelsay enlisted at Pendleton
in Co. D, and is the first and only one of
the Benton county boys who was brought
home a corpse from the Philippines, and
we are here to manifest willingly our
appreciation OF his services, and the
great sacrifice he made for his country;
and to express our heartfelt sorrow over
his early death. He was born and reared
in Corvallis. The hills and wales that
form such pleasing background to his
native town, the lovely valley stretching
away to the grand Cascade mountains,
and the "beautiful Willamette" that
flows along its border, early met his
infant gaze, and no doubt made strong
impression on his young and plastic
mind. Here loved and cherished by
kind and loving mother, afectionate
sister and indugent father, he grew to
manhood. Many of us knew him from
childhood until he went forth at his
country's call to yield up his young life
in doing battle for her honor and glory,
to advance the Stars and Stripes, now
known and honored throughout the
earth, and to enforce respect and
obedience to our country's flag even at
the canon's mouth.
In giving his life to his country's
cause he has doubly endeared himself to
his state, his county, and above all to
his native town. We all knew him, we
all loved him, for he was brave, big
hearted, noble, generous boy. Even his
faults were The outgrowth Of his con-
fding unsuspicious nature, and it is meet
and proper that this great outpouring of
people should manifest their love and
pride in the dead hero and sympathy for
the bereayed family. He was ever the
champion OF his native town and when
ever or wherever the occasion arose
Corvallis and the agricultural college
had fast friend and bold, aggressive
defender in Lyman Kelsay. I doubt not
that during the weary hours of suffering
the poor boy endured in the hospital at
Manila his thoughts often turned to his
boyhood days and he often thought
''How dear to my heart are the scenes of
my childhood, when fond recollections
present them to- view" But he was
fated never more to gaze on the beauti-
full surroundings of his childhood home
nor feel the affectionate embrace of
mother or hear the kind words OF low
ing sister.