The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-11-02
THE HOMESPUN DRESS

When Gen. Kirby Smith invaded Northern Kentucky, a group
s OF Morgan's cavalrymen one day awaited orders in front of a
s Kentucky grocery store, and employed the moments of delay ir
s singing that stirring old song, "The Homespun Dress" Mr.. John
{ Urn Lloyd one OF the party of those who heard the
s song that day, gathered 1t into his beautiful storehouse of fair
s thoughts, and the reading world is now indebted to him for
( giving the song and Its authorship back In the very heart of the
s child of his own brain, the splendid novel, "Stringtown on the
} Pike"
: Through Mr.. Lloyds untirng work the origin of the poem
s has been located. The author, Miss Carrie Bell Sinclair, was
5 born on May %, 1889, at M~iledgevile, Ga. Her father was a
5 Methodist preacher of great note, and she was the great niece of
; Robert Fulton. In 1860 Miss Sinclair issued her first volume of
5 poems, dedicated to her friend and adviser, Alexander H.
, stephens, vice. president of the Confederate States. So great
was her interest In the affairs of war that she fashioned with her
; own hands thirteen flags of silk, which she presented to different
confederate regiments. At the time of her writing the poem
; which is so gracefully set In MI. Lloyds story, Miss Sinclair was
) in Augusta, Ga, and the rivalry of the girls of that day as to who
5 should possess the neaest homcspun dress furnished inspiration
) for the poem. The later life of the talented author seems to have.
; been clouded by disappointment. She died n Philadelphia in 1883
{ THE HoMEsrUN DRESS.
{ o yes, l am a Southern girl, and glory in the name,
s And boast it with far greater pride than gn,tering wealth or fame.
s l envy not the Northern girl her robes of beauty rare,
{ Though diamonds grace her snowy neck and pearls bedeck her
{ hair.
) Chorus.
; Hurrahl hurrah! for the sunny South so deal
Three cheers for the homespun dress our Southern ladies wear.
! My homespun dress is plain, | know; my hats palmetto, too:
! But then 1t shows wha. Southern girls for Southern rights will do.
! We scorn to wear a bit of silk, a bit of Northern lace,
! But make our homespun dresses up, and wear them with such
! grace.
s Now Northern goods are out Of date; and since old Abe,s blockade
s We Southern girls can be content with goods that're Southern
made.
( The Southland is a glorious land, and hers a glorious cause;
! Then here're three cheers for Southern rites and for the Southern
boys!
We send the bravest of our land to battle with The foe,
And we would lend a helping hand-we love the South, YOU know
We send our sweehearts to The war; but, dear girls. never mind.
Your soldier love will not forget the girl he left behind.
{ A soldier IS the lad for me-u brave heart | adore;
{ And when the sunny South IS free, and fghng is no more.
: III choose me then a lover brave from GU. that gallant band.
{ The soldier lad love the best shall have my heart and hand.
And now young men, a word to you: II you would win the fair.
20 TO the field where honor calls, and win your lady there.
Remember that our brightest smiles are for the true and brave.
And that our tears fall for the one who fills a soldiers grave