The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-11
the famous poem, by Father Ryan, the,
poet priest. Ss

General Roberts could not conclude his
splendid address without paying tribute
to tho women OF the South, which he did
substantially as follows:
~ { woman's superiority TO man needs
any proof, 1t is afforded by the fact that
she was created last He was the work Of
an untaugllt artisan; she Of finished
Master. In creating her. nature profited
by experience. and, carefully avoiding
the mistakes Of her prior handiwork. she
delivered a boon and n blessing that
realized the sublimest ideal OF higher per
lection. And this creative power was
wisely content with Its triumph and has
never been rnshy imprudent enough to
hazard Ito fame and glory by attempting
any Improvement or innovation.
&"But tho superior Oe all superiors is the.
woman of stl,e South. Her character is
SO grand that no euloEy can be cxtrava-
giant. Indeed, the limitations of human
thought and human language makett i'm
possible to do Justice to her worth. With
out her, our country would be agdreary
wilderness without a sun. TO the service
Of her God and her country she is ever
willing and ever ready to dedicate the
prayers of her soul: the energies of 4hcrf
mind and the strengthMO 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 martyr and
tho consistency of the patriot. Hers Is a
courage which, being born OF n devotion
| to duty which counts not numbers, knows
not fear, contcnlplates no culpablo meanss
4and thinks Of no rewards, Her Judgment
knows nothing. but honor, Justice. truth
and charity Her consistency Is the same
lin sunshine and shade, and her soul IL
strengthened and refined by the CLEAN OF
adversely. Hnr nnturel timidity Is In the
orr RI %t.io tai
courage. whose deeds have astonished and
delighted the world She knows no COM
promise with oppression. no apology for
lcowardlce and to her martyrdom is bet-.
ter than dshonor. Her words inspired
the Southern soldier to mighty deeds sof
| chyalrous vnl0r; aimed HIN from ex-
cess In the hour Of Victory and sustained
land cheered him In the darkness Of der
lfeat. She had the same sublime faith in
| the'justice OF our cause as the Musselman
lfeels when lie turns to the Mecca, or the
ldevout Christian when he looks from
ICalyary to Christ. She was the angel OF
his hospital, gliding along on nolseless
lfeet, ministerlng to he needs Of the sick
land wounded, Wiplng the death damp from.
1.-THE brow OF tho dying and closing the
ieyclids of the dead,"
Her fidelity to tho confederacy grew
i with It's declining fortunes and, like tho
| sunflower, she turned the same face to-
| it's setting us she turned to the rising
|sun, and when tho star-lit banner Of the
,Itill-fntcd cause went down never to rise
lagnin. wiping tho tears from her eyes.
1Ebut ndulging In no bitter regrets; no idle
.|irepinings, lluggingsno vain illusions, on
4 fposing dignity ia defeat and forttudeS to
4 misfortune. and sustained by her faith.
in tho triumph tof right, she resolutely3
la set her face TO the future.
In all the long weary days of our dis
4I,., Md on n
on, hoped on And If the grand and
4 glorious destiny which We confidently ex-
yItpect from our brilliant hopes are eyer
\ fulfilled, she, who has been thea'inspira-
ton of It's achievement must receive snel
\ honor. Truly It may be said she was the