The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-15

out IN full force, the ladies greatly in
the majority.
On the occasion referred to the
back part OF the room was occupied by
the soldiers, while the front seats
were appropriated By the ladies'. On
the rostrum were seated the mayor
AMI a few distinguished gentlemen,
either too old to be in the army or by
their professions exempt. Our sol
diers were a motley looking set. We
not seen our wagon train for a
month, and were as dirty as pigs.
The exercises we're opened will,
prayer, followed by an eloquent speech
by the mayor, in which he paid glow
ing tributes to the soldiers. When he
concluded it became necessary for
some soldier to reply. First one vas
called upon, then another, but all
seemed backward in facing that audi
cnce in their pitiable plight. Finally
one OF the boys was pushed out into
the aisle and almost forced forward.
lie was a private soldier, 10 or 20
years old With a great deal of hest
tatlon, he managed to reach the plat
form. All eyes were turned with as
constituent upon this smoke bcgrimed
soldier boy, and seemed amazed to
think that he should be selected to
reply to the elegant address Of their
mayor. | observed the comments of
some of the ladies who occupied a scat
just In front of me, and | took occa-
sion TO remind them that if they would
withhold their criticisms for a few
moments, they might find themselves
mistaken.
Our soldier was indeed en- object Of
pity rather, than Of mirth. His heir
was in a tangle ed mass and his shirt
had not felt the cleansing influence Of
water for weeks. With all these visi-
BILE defects the young man braoed him
self for the conflict, and with one
sweeping glance over the sea of faces.
he addressed himself to the "ohair."
with an ease and grace of manner
which showed he was no novice in the
part he was called upon to perform.
AS he warmed up to his subject,
everyone seemed to lose sight Of his
outward appearance. His lofty and
sublime thoughts, clothed in CLASH
cally chosen language, and expressed
with that ,mpassioned eloquenoe
which always commands attention.
completely captivated his hearers.
The excitement of the crowd, when he
would round off q beautiful period, be-
came intense and would only subside
after q wild burst Of applause.
When he told, in gentle cadence.
his home within the enemy's lines
over a thousand miles away, and how
he parted with his mother and sister
to take up arms for the struggling
and Of thu hardships he had
endured, there was scarcely a dry eye
among the spectators.
He held tho audience spell-bound
for an hour. When he descended
from the rostrum the ladies gathered
about him, anxious to grasp the hand
of the soldier orator, and congratulate
him on his magnificent effort.
/ doubt if ever before, or since, has
that old hall resounded. to such burn
ing eloquence. A group o flladies APP
preached me and requested to know
who it was that had so richly enter
tanned them. l informed them we
had plenty Of officers who could have
to their mayor, but we chose
to put forward o private soldier and
he is but q fair specimen, I said, Of
rank and file, which compose the
Of the South. His name is J..
G. Black, from the mountains of
l might prolong this sketch by re-
lating the brilliant achievements of
hundreds Of our great soldiers after
the cessation Of hostilities, but I have
no desire to trespass upon your time
to that extent. They entered civil
life With the same indomitable spirit
and heroic resolve that prompted them
take up arms in defense of their
Their J achievements were
in peace than in war. Their
influence was felt to q marked degree
in the halls Of legislation, both state
and national. In our courts Of JUS.
toe, from behind the sacred desk, and
along every line Of endeavot that had
for its object the upbuilding Of the
country, they were among che leading
spirits, and along I'll these lines they
have won imperishable renown.
Twill state, in conclusion, that the