The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-04
ADDRESS TO VETERANS
OF the Gray, by Mrs. w. 7. Nixon
Prior to Dallas Reunion.
THIRTY.sEvEN YEARS AGO.

vi iUt ENFlA'e tAiAA AtAN 'N'''a'"
seven years ago.
It Is long stretch Of time from
1902 back to lS6j-more than a quar-
ter of a century Men who In that
fateful spring Of 1865. were in their
season of youth and young manhood
full of vigor and fresh life, notwith'
standing their four hard years on
the tented field. are now grown gray
and stopped with the passing years.
They have lost the springy step. the
poise and pose OF the parade ground,
the alertness Of youth but there has
sbated no iota Of the fire in their
eyes nor of the courage in their
hearts which bore them through many
n scene of carnage such as tried mems
souls until the world looked on in
wonder and the feats Of the Old
Guard paled before the record Of their
unequaled valor and intrepidty
Here some OF them sit around US
tonight and as read, memory, true
10 herself Is calling up scene after
scene. place after place and face af-
ter face of the comrades who march.
ed and fought with them in that inn
mortal band whose deeds shall al
ways live in song and story.
Some may be thinking now Of the
fowery May thirty-seven years ago
when the peerless Lee, with bowed
head. left the head OF as brave an
army. though pitifully declmated, as
ever formed in line OF battle, leaving
kppomattoX to become the broken
hearted schoolmaster Of Lexington;
when Johnston bade his faithful fol.
lowers a sad. even fearful. farewell,
and. sorrowfully telling each to go
back to shattered, ruined homes and
take up as bravely as he had fought
the duties OF peace and good citi-
nenship when Forrest. with fash.
ting eye and unconquered spirit told
his gallant riders that carbne and
revolver must be laid aside for the
implements and appliances of peace.
Zach one here who has had the
honor Of wearing the gray until the
old faded uniform was laid aside and
the stars and bars were folded away,
is no doubt remembering where he
surrendered thirty.seven years ago.
and the names of comrades are pass
ing in his memory like she words OF
a half forgotten song.
Thirty-seven years ago, The
Southland was abloom In her forests
and the mocking bird was still ma.
king his home In the neglected lawns
of many a Southern home, from
which light.hearted young sons went
out. never to return again. Under
her oaks and pines, her palmettos
aud magnolias, in the early morning
tramp these returning soldiers, these
trees, "dewy with natures tear drops
AK they pass grieving II aught e'er
grioves. o'er the unreturning brave
Back TO the old homestead. where
father and mother sat by the fire
side through the four long and anx
Ous years; back 10 to humber homes
some OF them nestled away in the
hills and valleys of Tennessee. Ala
hama and Georgia; back TO the sa
ynanahs OF Florida and Louisiana. tC
the verdant prairles OF Texas, tC
homes In Virginia aud the pine Ire,
state" and some. alas back &c
where ashes and CHASTITY chimney'
alone marked the place whore erst
while gathered happy hearts. Blu
each bore with him in that scattered
and scattering band a bit of paper
Il was his parole of honor. Eact
Confederate soldier felt himself a
bound by its terms and provisions al
he did TO fight the battles of his coun
try, and. thank Heaven. in all thes,
thirtyseven years of toll and hard
ship and prejudice and Insult. truth
fui history records no instance wher
= Confederate soldier has not live
Hp to the terms of his parole
When burdens such as no people
except the oppressed Israeltes Il
Egypt, were put upon them, with 10y
al hearts and honor true. with sui
liner courage than that which char
acterized them on the field of battle
they shouldered these burdens an,
bore them through years without licl
ing the hand that smote them O
abating one jot OF their manhood o
honor. As proud in spirit as "th
day when mother kissed her boy 4
gray as he marched bllthely away t
night for Dixie" under the stars an
bars, under the glorious leadership q
the Souths Incompatible captains.
Thirty,seyen years ago Aud a