Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-12-31
Mr. lueius Perry Hills

-
be is an interesting story-teller, good
humorist and poet of more than orti-
nary merit; and above all he is strictly
truthful. AS o support to this state
ment we give portion of his short in.
troductory remarks. He said most of
the poems he would recite were founded
on facts gathered during an extended
TRIP through North Georgia few years
ago. To establish his veracity in Wal
halla, whore he was not known, he said
he would quote the late Henry w. Grady.
who introduced him to an Atlanta audi.
ence on his return from his North Geor-
gin travels. s'Ladies end gentlemen.' y,
began Mr.. Grady, ''there are but three
original and authentic liars in this coun-
try, One is myself and the other two is
my esteemed friend, Mr.. Hills.n
For an hour and half Mr.. Hills kept
his audience in nsplendid humor with his
original poems, spicy parodies, and imi-
tations Of comic and other characters.
One OF his humorous and most lsughable
p&rodies, we'll rendered and admirably
acted, was Johnnie, little Johnnie, with
his band against the pain," parody on
"MaRle, little Mable, with her face
against the pane" Aside from his
hunor, however, Mr.. Hills recites a
nnmber of poems, which, for the spirit
OF patriotism, pathoB and true literary
merit, have few equals. His poem enti.
tied "The Yank and the Reb",w we repro
duce. In 1t is contained q patriotic senti-
ment that should appeal to the better
impulses OF every reader, no matter from
what section of this reunited country he
may hail. The poem was inspired by an
incident which took place number of
years ago at a Memorial Day exercise in
Atlanta, Ga. The beauty of the senti-
ment expressed is enhanced by the fact
that Mr.. Hills, the author, was a soldier
lighting under the Star Spangled Banner.
and in his respect and honor for the
stars and Bars" aud those who followed
It so bravely through the war is en-
bodied the love of the true soldier for a
gallant and fearless foe.
g The Ya1k and the Reb."
tBy Lucius Perry Hills.l
White fingers were strewing memorial flowers
- where the fallen Confederates lay,
The boys who had fought meath the Stars and the
And laid white rose on a grave at nv Side, a
token most tender and true, :
10 the os courage % Of n those who had fought as my
1oes, while had been wearing the blue.
Near by stood a veteran, grizzled and bent, hold.
ing close In his tremulous hand
tattered old flag that in many fight had led
3 his Confederate band;
And saw the tears gathering fast in his ewes as
he gazed on that battle-aa,; there,
And folded 1t over the bullet-scarred staff, with
sad and reverent air.
Then one who had worn nor the blue nor the gray,
With cynical smile on his cold lips the while,
in tone of mockery said
Just see that old Johnny who stands over there,
caressing his shred of q flag,
And wiping the tears from his watery eyes, at
the sight Of the old Rebel rag.
"The flag of a cause that he knew was unjust,
andwhich every follower knew
Never represented q thing upon earth that was
honest, or noble, or true;
Aaag"-"H Hold momenti' said, of you please,
while ask you question or two; f''H'
And pray where were you then, in the sixties sir
when the Gray was at war with the Biue7
mot following where that old flag led the way.
80 or you would acknowledge, ween,
That it Represented courage as grand as human
Nor gafantly facing those legions in gray, or you
y y, would most certainly know
Fhat none ADut q coward will e'er cast slur on
gallanS and true-hearted foe,
'hThave stood on the line in full many fight,
49, and have heard the wild Rebel yell,
While those r&gged old legions came charging
sl,o9YE: along through the haiIstorm of bullet and
Andmy heart whispered then, yes, again and
~ again, as ever an honestNheart must,
That never would soldiers do battle like that for
cause they considered unjust.
~ believed they were wrong, and Pm thinking
SO still, for am Yank, don't you see2
Butthrough triumph and rout I had never a doubt
they were thinking the same thing. of me;
soldiers who battled ' so weii fI' oo''' Do'S' Oh
Or those who would face, with such courage and
grace, the fire of the battle-field's hell"
"And yield not jot of my soldierly pride, or
my love for the flag of the free,
When I'm bowling my head DER the graves of the
dead who fell fighting with Jackson and Lee;
And here claim the right of one who in the fight
did his best for his country and flag,
To still honor the Vet, with his eyes growing
wet at the sight of that battle-torn flag;
"For tits proof of soul that Is loyal and brave,
and that never will shrink from the fight
But Will sternly Defend to the bitterest end the
cause he considers the right;
And know that henceforth he'll be ever more
tftIe TO the Union, the Stripes and the Stars
Because his proud spirit will never consent to
dishonor the Stars and the Bars.
"And IL in the future, my cynical friend, a for
eign invader should come,
And vars rude alarms cell our heroes to arms
a with the sound of the bugle and drum,
Then you, cir, once more, just the same as be-
fore, far away from all danger may stay,
While the battles are fought, and tho victories
wrought, by the sons of the Blue and the
Gray.
"F0r then, staunch and true, win the Gray and
tho Blue, an army that never surrenders
Still fight side by side, In their courage and
PRIDE our countrys heroic defendcrs;
While mid the wild hell of the bullet and she'll
DER the living the dead and the dying
On the quivering air, victorious and fair, Old
Glory will ever be flying"