The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-22

Their banner, which had symbol1zed Tor
four years their future and fortunes, was
hung With the cypress OF defeat, but amid
Its torn and tautered folds there fingered,
thank God, the rags OF deatbless glory,
and ere 1t was furled forever It reiiected
upon hstUrys page the radiance OF nm
mortality. There may be some here, as
there are elsewhere, who will ask why
spend money on symbols? Why build
| monuments? Why cherish sentiments
| Why do aught the value OF which can not
be gagged and measured by the circum-
ference OF a dollar?
My friends. that question Is not new.
| II Is as old as the ages. 1t was asked
nineteen centuries ago by the snarlins
u'harisee who bore the bag when the re-
pentant. woman bent above the wearied
| leet OF the Master and broke upon them
the box of precious spikenard and
wiped them with the hairs of her mead.
1t Was answered then by Him who
spake as never man spake:" fShe hath
anointed me unto my burial and wher-
ever my gospel is preached this. tang
ehall be spoke as memorial unto her"
That answer of divine and immortal
beauty rings yet adown the aisles of tho
advancing centuries, and | say unto you
that wherever men love liberty--wher-
ever they cherish the memory OF heroic
deeds and respond to the influence OF sub
and the monuments reared throughout
this land consecnated by the prayers and
baptized with the tears Of Southern wo-
men shall be spoken OF as 4 memorial
unto those devoted daughters OF the
( Southland who were last at the cross x,>d
first at the tomb OF this young and
rm-cradled nation that FELL
/ It's said that there was in ages agone
a young soldier of France who wrought
beneath her banner deeds of such won
drous valor that when he fell in the fore
! front of the battle IL was ordered that his
name should not be stricken from the
roll. but there be kept and called as If
he were present still in his heroic per-
son. SO when In the call OF the roll the
name OF DAuyergne was reached some
comrade stepped forth and giving sol
dier's salute, answered: Dead: on tho
field of honor"
| If the roll OF those who went forth from
this city at their contry's call nearly
forty years ago were called today many
a time and oft would some comrade step
forth and answer make Dead; on the
field of honor and that knightly son Of
France was not worthler than was the
very least OF these who, beneath your
banner died that constitutional liberty
might live. l am especially rejoiced to
see this honor done to so many private
soldiers. He who held high command and
centive of ambition and the hope Of yet
higher rank to nerve and encourage him
to even loftler deeds, but he humble pr
vate tramped and fought and bled and
suffered with no Incentive save love OF
country aud small hope for reward save
the consciousness OF duty alone. But the
dear devoted women of the South have not
forgotten him. He will wear this token
OF your gratitude as proudly as was worn
insignia OF earthly honor and the fervent
private in their ranks would not exchange
1t for the coronet OF a king. But the
day will come when his reward will be
grander, richer still, In that day when
men will be judged
"By the language OF the heart,
Not by the splendor of the deeds,
But how each one did his part
When God will take them by the hand
And each small service own
no ulO n DrivAtng