The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-24
LEE MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED BY U.D.C.
With BETTING Ceremonies His Birthday is Celebrated
by the Local Chapter.
SSES OF THE LEGION OF HONOR CONFERRED
Speech Of Mr. R. N. Cook-Programme of Exercises-Lst
of the Recipients of Crosses.

more in keeping with military con-
1entionality had some gray haired
nero, with memory vivid from the
scenes Of battle, been called upon to
address you. Perhaps, since the
cruel call of more than two score |
years has summoned many of them to
lay down their arms and cease the
cattle Of life's conflicts, tits not
far amiss that some son, who,
like Hannibal, has been sworn at the
altar, should lend helping hand to
the ever faithful daughters in their
of love
Your organization is unique in the
annals of history as well as the cause
to which you have consecrated your
lives BY your love and devotion you
have decorated the sacred mounds of
our confederate dead with the first
flowers of the-spring time, and with
your tears, mingled with the dews Of
the morning, you have kept verdant
the sprig of evergreen planted at the
head of their graves; while with
chapets Of love aud esteem you have
crowned the brow, and with insignia
Of honor you have decked the breasts
Of those comrades yet in the ranks.
Other organizations may have carried
the ark of the covenant with its
sacred ienets in the van If the rising
generations, but you are the vestal
virgins that have kept the fires OF
truth burning on the altar of every
home.
""aY you return late into heaven
| know have your pardon for a
personal allusion without the asking.
In those bitter years of reconstruc-
tion, back in dear old North Carolina,
often have l sat in my childhood days
by the glowing fire at eventide and
listened with childish emotion, while
father with bowed head told and re-
told Of the bloody scenes Of carnage
through which he had passed and
mother would recall the suffering and
the sacrifices of loved ones at home;
aud / faucied that, some day, some
time, the white dove Of peace, it
might be with wounded wing, would
sail back over our Southland, bearing
the olive branch, and that prosperity
once more would make a smiling and
happy land. When the evening
prayer was SAID and the fire burned
low, 10 my dreams faoc ed that the
immortal Lee aud "StOnewall jack
son would be mallgned and traduced
on the pages of history; that our
fathers would be pilloried as rebels
and traitors, who had, without cause
or excuse, drenched the land with the
blood of unotfending patriots; that he
ragged remnant Of more than a half a
hundred battleS-their homes desc
Grated and their fields barren-could
never convince poslerity that they
had enlisted under freedom S banner
and that they had taken up theiI
arms in defense Of home
/ But time rolled on. The Sunny
South began to bloom as in days
agone. The ragged soldier with
bowed head and tottering step be
came a plumed knight once more
His sword had been sheathed al
Appomattox but never surrendered
aud when the smoke OF bat tie haC
cleared away he calls together bis
sons and daughters, like King arthur
OF song and story, and swears !hen
upon the altar of the Solid South t,
defend his honor aud that OF hi'
illustrious chief with tongue and pen
as bravely as he had done with sworC
and hayonet. Then, 10 the Language
Of that old plantation melody,
IF you belong to Gideon's Band,
Here's my heart and here's ny hand,
Heaven helps those who help them
selves, and history honors those Wi,
help to make their houoiS known
Then let us prize and defend ou
heritage, richer than fields Of roldel
grain and more to be desired thar
coronets OF kirgs.
n We are told that the gods Of clasS 81
lore were carved from living ston
and placed in the Pantheon Of tn
seven hilled city, before whom throng