The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-10-03

president of StOnewall Jackson chap
ter, Kansas City, Mo.
Mrs. Rapley, as president Of Mis-
souri, division, read her annual report
that was most satisfactory, Where
there only ten chapters in the state
year ago Mrs. Rapley reported twenty
three now. A movement has been
started to organize a childrens auxil-
iary in connection with the Daugh-
tiers organization. Mrs. Rapley
urged the formation Of childrens
chapters and asked that the various
chapters use diligence in respect to
bestowal Of Crosses Of the Legion Of
Honor on the veterans who are leav-
ing so rapidly for their last 'camping
ground"
After the presidents report the
minutes of last meeting were read
and officers reports received,
During the morning most inter
estlng paper was read by Mrs. Blake
L WoodsOn of Kansas City, State
Historian, "Shall the United Daught-
ers of the Confederacy be Historians. "
Following we copy the paper in full:
SHALL THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE
CoNFEDERACY BE HISTORIANS?
When the last act in the great civil
war drama was over, when that
noblest of heroes, Robert E Lee,
surrendered at Appomattox, thS light
of right and Southern INDEPENDENCE
went out. When the men of his
army, tattered, starving, and worn,
laid down their arms they felt the
desolation that comes only to those
who know that for some ineXplicable
reason wickedness has overcome right
eousuess and that they must yield.
When all was over what did each
tattered, battle worn heroin gray do?
Did he fawn and cringe on the
"powers that be?" Mo- he turned
his face southward and homeward;
he travelled on only TO find that his
feet were traversing an almost un-
known path, so changed was its
aspect. In vain he looked for familiar
landmarks and found none remaining.
Where once stood the noble home
amid flowers and shade he found
blackened chimneys standing like
grim sentinels guarding the ruins
about them-Silence everywhere,
Here and there a familiar flower
bloomed; jasmine torn down,
trampled on and cast aside still
clambered lovingly and blossomed
about broken pillars that once sup
ported the great portico which over
} Swallowed the ever open hospitablt
door. His heart seemed broken; there
was nothing left-hope, ambition, yes
his very manhood seemed crushed
J and he bowed his head in the agony
which comes to the defeated Moth
ing leftl Then there came from out
the desolation and darkness a frai
3 figure with somber garments trailing
: about her, her face illumined will
] love, tenderness and hope: will
] outstretched hands she glldes to hi
S side and the musical voice of th,
g Southern woman greeted him.
l. She, too, had suffered more than b.
T ever dreamed, but through suffering
she has grown strong. BY his sid
she stands, she bids him welcome: u
) matter If his gray jacket is worn ant
e Of linen he has none, no matter if b
> is travel stained and his feet are bar
and torn, he is to her noble hero
+ her knight. Tenderly she binds u
:. his wounds; clothes him In raimen
d of cloth made by her fair hands, tn
warp and wool Of which is filed wit
T tender thoughts and prayers for tn
soldiers wearing the gray. Sh
soothed him and brought back by be
y winning ways and wise counsel hope
= and caused the fire of ambition t
n glow and glisten until he felt stron
d and ANXIOUS to do battle again, nc
r In the bloody holocaust Of war; but th
y battle Of life for daily bread, th
II battle to bring order out of chaoi
a Did he succeed? Look dear frienC
d with pride upon the new Soutl
,e builded on the ruins Of the old; loo
I. at her progress and prosperity; hei
;e the hum Of her mills and factorie
!, see her iron industries; see I'll
1t progress she has made in the arts an
d, sciences; count her artists and liter
ri touro ond thar ta1I No moe o,,o,. ,