The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-05-30
Memorial Day.

EDITOR lNTELLIGENCER: Memorial
Cay and theold soldiers. in the language
of "Bill Arp" have suggested some
thoughts OF q Illuminating character"
The. decoration of the graves of our
soldiers, with all people, everywhere
and in every age, is an expression of
lofty sentiment, carrying our love md
communion with them. This being the
thought of this beautiful act, its OBJ
servance shonld always be specific.
And this brings me to the consideration
of the day set apart distinctly for the
purpose of decorating the graves of
dead soldiers. IL am correct in stat
ing the purpose Of this act and what
this commemorative day should eX-
press through the beautiful emblems of
NATURES richest flowers, which are so
profused at this season of the year, l
submit that we should be more specific
and distinct i'll this act Of remembrance
aud communion. What is it toremem-
ber and cherish by thus decorating the
graves of dead heroes7 1t should be
the purpose of fathers, mothers and
teachers to engender in the hearts of
the little men and women, entrusted to
their care, sentiments of loyalty, patri-
otism and devotion to duty, and where,
may ask. in all the history of the
world, may be found examples of these
virtues moro sublime than those fur
nished in he'lives of those gray -clad
men who willingly fought and heroic
ally died for what they thought right.
After the exercises ON Memorial Day,
wandered contemplatively through
the quiet churchyards of our city,
noting the results of the mornings
labor of love. Flowers everywhere,
sending forth their God given perfume
to gladden. tee hearts of men, marked
the quiet resting places of.the dead. l
strGiied up to several profusely decor
ated graves and was surprised to find
that their occupants had never figured
rs soldiers, but had either been two
young to go to the front, or had manag-
ed to become respectable stay-at-
homes. There was nothing wrong in
the act of decorsting their graves. but
why should Memorial Day be selected
rs the time to do it9
I iinally came to q grave in an OBJ
scure corner of the burial ground. The
little head-st0ne was dropping wearily,
the weeds reared themselves arrogant
~ nll around and Il general mir of neg
lect and desolation could be felt as
we'll as seen. l saw that the rank
growth on the grave had been parted
and two or three roses had been placed
near the head-stOne. / sknelt to read
the name of this soldier and arose
startled, for here was buried one of
the class of men for whom Memorial
Day was set apart. That grave holds
all that remains of hero, who, actuat-
ed byisentiments of loyalty and patri-i
otism, bade his wife and children good
by, shouldered his gun and went forth
to do his duty. see him at Bull Run,7
at Charlottesville, at Malvern Hill, at
Savage Station, at Gettysburg, maybe.
struggling on against overwhelming
G.::s ::::s ::::s ;iiauntiess as the day he enlist
ed. see him, weak and hungry,
searching the ground where the horses
have been fed for the grains OF corni
that they may have overlooked. 1 see
him dirty, ragged, footsore and weary
advancing into battle, his figure is no
longer rounded and robust but gaunt
and emaciated. but Che same steady
fire in his eye, the same. squarely set
jaw denotes an unconquerable spirit. /
ooe a, h;s., ', &ho fr<,,, z-ar1rs t,onx11a,n =,
the terrible rain OF lead, the shrek Of
the shells, the moans of the wounded,
quietly loading and fireing. II sse him
staggar, his gun falls TO the ground,
the life blood gushes from death
wound, he sinks tc the ground, his face
to the enemy, and goes to sleep. His
grave is almost forgotten while shat Of
the gallant stay-atshome is covered
with flowers. 3. ESQ &. f. Il
Passing from. the consideration, of
the dead Canfed derate, Wa ncte TINT the
few living members of that gallant
army fare no better than their dead
comrades in this day Of personal greed
and averice. Can it be true that senti.,
mente OF heroism, SELF f-sacrifi md
love of country find NO place in the
hearts of our sre0ple2 Can IL be true
that in thG ruc6 for money and position
we are 90 callotls as not to be able to
apgreciats nor properly esteem the
leave % M home and business M Interests 1a and "a
excite the world with deedsof unrivall-
ed herOism IF 30, God help Q ar coun-
try. We have d feN 0fS Stliessf old seola.
dierS with ua yet. Their steD is not so
bonyants their forms not 10 serect,