The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-11-21
The Conquered Banner.
Survivorsof Lees Intrepid Rank
ers Raise Aloft the Stars and
Bars Around Which They Once
Rallied, and Parade.

s~AeN = 80 0NVs
A writer in the Charlotte Observer
who signs himself 3D." and who is
understood to be Rev. Plato T. Dur
ham, contributed this recently after
a visit to the fair grounds in that
city and beholding handful of griz-
zled Veterans of the Gray and u sight
OF the old fiag-the Stars and Bars
around which they once rallied. In
uniqueness sofeXpression,f ,fervor OF feel
ing and patriotic sentiment the article
is worthy of the occasion, the subject
md the talented writer:
What is this? What flag is that
lifting to the breeze? The "Stars
and Bars"-the flag of Lee? Gentle
men OF the fair association, whar does
this mean? Who dares to lift that
flag i'll the company of ''fat wOmen,"
snake eaters, pumpkins. Igorrotes
aud iockies? That flag WAS furled at
Appomattox, when Lee saluted it
with his heroic sword and bade it
farewell forever. Who unfurls it as a
.ide show at a fair? But wait. Are
our eyes growing old and untrust-
worthy? Who are those men in gray
coats and gray hair, forming under
the sacred flag? Confederate vet
erns, or Pm blind man! You great
grandfathers, what are you doing
out of your invalids' chairs? Who
| let you come into such a crowd as
this alone?
They are falling in, as they did at
| fredericksburg and the Wilderness.
They have thrown away their sticks
and crutches and assemble under the
old flag once more. Good. It's all
right, gentlemen managers of the fair,
we will see this thing if we can shake
the tears from our eyes.
"Right dress!"
Oh, you poor old men. Can't you
see that your line is as crooked as
the way of a snake in the dust? And
some OF you are compelled to carry
your muskets with both hands. But
don't worry. Listen to that music
of the band. It's Dixie" you old
sons of the Hundred BATTLES.
"Charge!'
We were afraid that idiot of a cap.
tain would give that command
Handkerchiefs here gentlemen OF the
management, hanIkerchiefs, if you
please. By the shade of Niobe, we
propose to cry till we howl our grief
to the stars. Look at these men
trying to run! Joe Freeland, if you
don't stop trying to run We'll knock
YOU in the head Can't you see that
YOU are breaking our hearts?
That's all right, fathers and grand
fathers. You can't form straight
line now and you can't sling your
nuskets with your stiff old arms
and as for charging, you hobblF
along. But it's all right to us. W.
know of a time when you "presentee
arms" to jackson with snap and
) strength '.'r' dazed the nation; W.
know of me when your charg'
shook the nth. We had rather se
YOU hobble and hear your old cracked
voice raising the ''rebel yell' than tt
see New lead the Old Guard int
death, crying "Vive pEmpereur!'
Break ranks, march,"
1t is well, captain; for their rank
| have been broken these many year
| and are breaking every day. LIE
them rest. We know what the bugl
will call to them when next the
hear it, what drum will summo
: them into line, what Captain will re
view. 1t will be Lights out, tn
drum will be muffied, and He tina
sitteth on the Great White Thron
will review. And we hope to be pres
ent when they come marching nome
There is something we wish to sa
as these men break ranks.
North Carolina, these men are you
Sons. Look we'll to it that not
single one of them is destitute or lei
to die in hunger orcold. 1fyou dom
Won are no mother of ours; you al
"A shameless strumpet.
. America mother of the tragic hOus'
> hold-mOther of sorrows, we the sol
s of these old men, love the flag the
I fought for. 1t is their will that v
!. should assemble beneath it; and 1T
q our joy. We follow wherever it fling
the light of it's stars. We are Amer
cans and YOU our mighty mothe
You understand why we come toyC
, without bitterness in our hearts al
with no apology upon our lips; wn
we salute our nations nag "lCh VI
hand while with the other we suppo
- the weakening bodies of our father
We're we unfaithful to them, we wou
be unworthy to be your sons. "
the sons of Lees intrepid rankel
stand in locked ranks with the sons
tho soldiers of Grant. We wait +
word to move upon any battlene
of peace or war, for your life. d
we will keep the names OF our 1atne
sacred; we will sing OF them IN deal
less song; we will paint them up
fadeless canvas and turn from th
graves to rend any foe that dares
touch you, oh, America, mother
tears. 80,
As for you, gentlemen ofthe Sou
North. East or West, who strive
keep alive the old resentment q
suspicion, who seek to make lhu
lible the line once drawn across
face of the nation, that you may
to place and power thereby-to ;
. we say solemnly: May God IN !
: mercy save your craven souls ano
His Justice send your infamous den
- pogv to the company OF its compe
. in the utmost depth OF hell.
He-Dearest will you be miner
-Oh. how suddeni Do give me o
( tie time to think. Hel cannot Y
q minute. | have a $a-an-hour
Hat the door.-London opinion.
The Postmaster OF Gasconaoe, NO.
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BLADDER Pills: Il am doing SO we'll ana
proving SO fast in health, that cannot
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