Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11
THE UNWILLING CEREMONIES.

Because Of the conflict Of the un-
yelling ceremonies last Friday with
The Enquirer's press hour, it was nee
essary to close the report Of the days
proceedings with the gathering Of the
crowds around the stand at the monu-
ment. The proceedings Of the remain
der of the day, however passed Off
pleasantly and without a hitch from
start to finish.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. ]. H. Thornwell,
who offered up a touching petition for
special blessings upon the old SOL
diers; that the remainder Of their
lives be their best and that the mon
ument stand forever as a perpetual
testimony to their sufferings, faithful
ness and loyalty. .-.
Major w. B. Moore acting as mas
ter Of ceremonies, called the meeting
to order and opened the exercises with
a short Introductory statement In
which he told of the inception Of the
monument movement on the part OF
himself and others, the assistance Of
the people Of the town and county and
the final consumnlation Of the under
taking under the auspices Of the Win
ME Davis Chapter, U. D. c. At the
conclusion Of his statement he intro
duced as the first speaker, Governor
Ansel.
Governor Ansel had no especially
prepared speech; but was at no loss
for inspiration In reviewing the cam
paigns and deeds Of the soldiers Of the
Confederacy. He was not in the war
himself; but as a barefoot boy remem-
bered the time when the men Of the
south went to the front to uphold the
cause Of their country. He spoke of
a brother who had been killed in bat
tie. His estimate Of the heroism and
courage Of the Confederate soldier was
that it had been unequaled in the his
tory Of the world, except by the hero
ism and courage Of the Confederate
women. Governor Ansel was several
times applauded during his talk and
at it's conclusion the audience gave
evidence Of its hearty approval.
Col. Asbury Coward was next intro
duced and his appearance was well
coined with enthusiastic cheers, the
veterans leading and everybody pres
ent joining in. Like Governor Ansel,
Col. Coward was without written
speech. He followed the same general
lines Of addresses delivered by him on
previous similar occasions. He de-
voted the first part Of his talk to an
explanation Of the causes that led to
the war and showed that the people
ton; that they had the constitution
on their side and that they were neces-
sarily compelled to hold up their con-
tention by force of arms. Then he
went on to tell how nobly they had ac-
quilted themselves throughout the ter
rible struggle and cited some instances
Of special heroism that had at differ
ent times come under his observation.
But the great fight in Col. Cowards
opinion, the real test Of the metal Of
which the men and women Of the
south are made, came in the bringing
Of order out of chaos after the war.
He urged his hearers to their great du-
ties of the present time and his ad-
dress as a whole was remarkably in
teresting, instructive and entertaining.
He was applauded frequently.
When Col. Coward concluded, the
taps" and eight little girls, two at
each corner Of the monument, all
dressed in white and wearing red
sashes, pulled the cords that disengag-
ed the white drapery from the top of
the granite shaft. AS the yelling came
down, leaving bare the pretty memo
rial that love and patriotism has rear
ed to valor and principle, there went
up a mighty cheer from the assembled
throng.
After the unveiling a flock Of little
girls wrapped around the plinth and
dye a pretty daisy chain," that had
been prepared for the occasion, and
wreaths sent by the S. d. Barron,
Ann White, ]. H. Thornwell, and Win
ME Davis Chapters u. D. c., and Mi
cab Jenkins Camp u. c. ", were de-
posted on the base Of the monument.
The pretty ceremonies at the monu-
ment concluded, the crowd repaired to
a front yard across the street short
distance away, where eatables had
been arranged and dinner was served
to the veterans and military visitors.
The day throughout was one Of great
pleasure to everybody, and the occasion
was generally voted a complete sue
cess in all its details.