Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-08-29
A TRIBUTE TO GRASS.
-~etse Euiosy That Was PrOnouneed
By Senator InEaIla.


The following tribute q i-riss.. writ
Ten by the ia:e Senator lnc.,.is OF kan
Eas. should bc preserved:
Majestic. fruitful. wondrous rlantf
The corn triumphant. that g.. n TIE aid
OF man hnth made vlctDTlJGt process
sion across the tuftcd liim .ird laid
foundation Tor the s0cial excellence
thet Is and - Co bo This glorious
plant Transmitted by the alchemy OF
Tod. sustains the warrior In battle the
poet In song and strengthens every
whore the thousand arms that work
the purposes Of life
Next in Importance 10 the divine
PROF. lsion - water. light ami air. those
iAree great physical facts which rem
der existence possible may be reck-
oned the universal bencfcencc OF grass.
Exaggcrnted by tropical heats and va
pors 10 the gigantic cane cOnRcsted
with Its saccharine secretion or dwarf
ell by polar rigOrs 10 the fhrous hair
OF northern Solltudes. embracing be-
tween these extremes the maize. with
It's resolute pennons, the rice plant OF
southern swamps. the wheat, rye. bar
ley. oats and other cereals. no less
than the humber vertlure OF tho hill
side. pasture and prairie In the tenn
per1te zone. grass Is the most widely
distributed OF al vegetable beiur-s ami
IS az once the type OF our LIE and the
emblem Of mortality Lying I'm the
sunshine among tho buttercuDs and
the dandelions OF May. scarcely higher
in Intelligence than the minute .en-
ants az the mimic Wilderness. orr oar-
Hest TecoliCctions arr OF erase AMI
when tic ltful fevc, IS ended AMI Tia
foolish wa; .'..'c os thc market aud Ito
Forum BIS closed -rass heal, over tho
el1i which oar descent il., the bosom
CT the cs-,ii tas made. .ud tho Garnet
'i mo ia:ort becomes Tho blanket OF
the dcal
Grass IS The forgiveness OF nature
fcr constant hcncliction Fields trn-i-
PIED with battle. saturated with blood.
torn with the ruts Of cannon. grow
green again with grass. and caraago
Is forgotten. Streets abandoned hv
traffic bccom" grass grown Ike rural
lases and Dalite-atcd Forests decay
harvest. perish. flowers vanish but
grass is immortal BeleaCucrel bv tho
-lilou hosts OF winter. IL vf.hdra,vs
ito tAc lnprc-nable fortress OF las
>uhterroncau vitality ana cmerccs uD.
on the first solicitation Of spring Soyvn
by Tho winds ~ WONDERING birds.
prop2-aici 1y TIC suhao horticulture
or tho elements. which arc 81, ministers
ann Scrrante. = softcns an. rude ont
line 20 Zee '~o~id It's tenacious Rhars
hold tho c.iJh in IFS place ana prevent
It's soluble components from washing
into the wasting sea L .uvades the
sof,uccs Of deserts. climbs Tho inuc-
ccsSihlc slopes md f3rhiGdin- plnua-
clos OF mountains. modihcs climates
cn3 determines Tho history. character
ond destiny OF the nations. Unobtru.
sivo and patient. il has immortal vicor
and aggression Banlshcd from tho
thorouchfasc and tho feid. Il hidcs It's
time 20 return. and when vigilance is
relaxed or the dynasty has persisted i
silently resumes tho throne from which
II has boon expelled. hut which u nov
or abroEHtcs. II bears no hiazonrv II
bloom 10 charm tho senses wiki fra
GRANGE or splendor but its homely hue
is moro enchanting than tho lily or tho
rose. Il yields no fruit IN Garth OF air.
and yet should lts harvest fail for a
single yocr famine would dcpopulatc
the world "