The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-04-20

his splendid address without paving
a tribute to the women of the South,
which he did substantially as follows:
III womans superiority to man
needs any proof, it is afforded by the
fact that she was created last He
was the work of an untaught artisan
she OF a finished Master. In creating
her, nature profited by experience.
and carefully avoiding the mistakes
of her prior handiwork. she delivered
boon and a blessing that realized
the sublimest ideal of higher perfec-
ton. And this creative power was
wisely content with it's triumph and
has never been rashly imprudent
enOngh to hazard it's fame and glory
by attempting any improvement or
innovation.
But the superior of all superiOrs
ia the woman OF the South Her char
acter is SO grand that no eulOgy can
be eXtravagant. Indeed, the limita-
tions OF human thought and human
language make it impossible to do
iussice to her worth. Without her
our country would be q dreary will
derness without Il sun. To the ser
vice OF her God and her country she
is ever willing and every ready to
dedicate the prayers of her soul; the
energy of her mind and the strength
of her hands. Everything that she
loves, everything that she expects or
hopes for, she delights to immediate
upon their affairs, and this, with the
enthusiasm OF the marytr and the
constancy of the patriot. Here is a
courage which, being born of Il devo-
ton to duty, which counts not num-
bers. knows not fear, contemplates
no culpable means and thinks OF no
rewards. Heriudgment knows moth
ing but honor, Justice, truth and
charity. Her constancy is the same
in sunshine and shade, and her soul
is strengthened and refined by the
gleam of adversely. Her natural
timidity is in the hour Of danger and
trial, supplanted by courage. whose
deeds have astonished and delighted
the world. She knows no compro-
mise with oppression. no apology for
cowardice and to her martvrdom is
better than dishonor. Her words in
spired the Southern soldier to mighty
deeds of chivalrOus valor; restrained
him from excess in the hour of vic
tory and sustained and cheered him
in the darkness of defeat She had
the same sublime faith in the Justice
of our cause as the Musselnan feels
when he looks to the Mecca. or the
devOut Christian when he looks from
Calvary to Christ She was the angel
of his hospital, gliding along on nOis-
less feet, ministering to the needs of
the sick and wounded, wiping the
death damp from the brow of the dy-
ing and closing the eyelids of the
dead
"Her fidelity to otheCOnfedpracy grew
with its declining fortunes and, like
the sunfower. she turned the same
face to its setting us she turned to the
rising sun, and when the star-lit ban
ner of the ill-fated cause went down
never to rise again, wiping the tears
from her eyes, but indulging in no
bitter regrets; no idle repinings, hug
ging no vain Illusions, opposing dig
nifty to defeat and fortitude to mis-
fortune. and sustained by her faith
in the triumph of right, she rcsolute-
ly set her face to the future.
"In all the long weary days OF our
distress and travail she prayed ON,
worked on. hoped on. And ii the
grand and glorious destinity which
we confidently expect from our bril-
liant hopes are ever fulfilled, she. who
has been the inspiration ofits achieve
ment must receive the honor Truly |
it may be said she was the last at the
cross and the first at the sepulche OF
our. beloved South"
MONUMENT UNVEILED
Then almost in he twinkling of an
eve, Mrs. Mary Grimes Smith, ,daugh-
ter of General Grimes. pulled the cord
that held the veil and the much-talk-
ed-of North Carolina monument was
at historic Appomattox.
In Il few moments more the other
tablets referred to below had also
been unveiled and then all the people
and the great event was
over
The North Carolina monument |
stands in Il dense grove OF spruce
pines at the exact spot where Gen.
Grimes and Gen. CoX'S men are said
to have fired the last shot. The other
memorial stones are nearer to the