Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20
Delivers a Touching
Eulogy for
Soldier
W. 0. Morton's Speech Is
Masterpiece Of
Oratory
Calls Gen. Robert E. Lee Shining Star
Of the South and Pays High
Tribute to the VOL
unteers

birth of Gen. Robert e. Lee was Oh.
served in Los Angeles yesterday witt
appropriate exercises. The great con
federate general was paid glowing trib
utes by faithful sons and daughters o1
the south.
John II. Regain chapter, U. d. c..
held it's memorial service last night
in the Fraternal Brotherhood building
To-day, the One Hundredth Birthday
Anniversary of Gen. Robert f.. Lee
was the subject of an eloquent addres.
by w. Ona Morton.
Mrs. A. f.. Hawcroft, chairman oi
the memorial committee of the chap.
ter, introduced Gen. w. Cole Harrison
commander of the Pacific division OF
the United Confederate Veterans, who
gave the farewell address of Gen. Lee
to the Confederate army.
Mrs. NJ. Miller and Mrs. Fowler gave
vocal solos. Mrs. Deloe gave a piano
selection and Mrs. Henderson a read
ing.
Mr. Morton's address is as follows:
Madame President and Daughters of
the Confederacy:
To me this is an occasion fraught
with many pleasures intermingled with
griefS and sorrows. / realize fully the
great responsibility resting upon the
shoulders of a son of a Confederate
veteran in addressing this matchless
organization, the Daughters of the
Confederacy, and when my mind con-
templates the splendid achievements
of your organization, your devotion to
right, your unyieding desire to write
the history of this republic with the
pen of untainted truth in order that
future generations may realize and
appreciate the sanctity of the southern
home and all that 1t has represented
nf Na acbi iy,er I
thrilled with new hope, a new in
spiration and an abiding faith and con-
fidence in your triumphant victory be-
fore the morning sun of the Twentieth
century shall have reached it's merid-
ian of beauty and the glory of civiliza-
ton.
When we are told in poetry and ir
song of the old southern house with
its magnificent apartments, it's stately
barns, its fragrant orchards and per-
fumed flowers the dignified mansion
amid the cluster of lilac. Grape myrtle
to and fro, the songs of birds, the
babbling of brooks. the prattle of chill
dren, the soft eventide when nature
was seeking rest and the whippoor-
will mournfully Joined it's vesper
hymn. while the solemn owl drolled
out it's requiem in departing day. we
realize that these blessings can never
come to us, the children of those who
made it possible to live in a paradise
of perennial spring. Those days, alas,
have passed and gone and can only
Vividly live in the memory of those
who drank deep the refreshing draught
of that once perfect civilization. While
our fathers were enjoying the fruit
of their labors, surrounded by the
magnificence of the sunny south and
reaping some of the rewards that have
come down to them from the self sac
riflce of their ancestors, the dark,
murky clouds of war appear, the rum
blings of passion were heard, the light
ming of discomfort pealed with ter
rible force among the swaying pines
and stately oaks.
During Days of Strife
There was hurrying to and fro, the
heart was filled with martial music.
drum beat. fife and bugle called men
to arms, the earth began to tremble
with the tread of mighty armies, the
voice of revelry ceased, mirth and
laughter were silenced, music died
away and a deathlke hush fell like
pail over the homes beneath our sun
kissed skies. The eyes of the world
were turned toward Dixie, the day had
arrived when husband must kiss the
wife goodby, when the father entwned
dainty arms around his neck for per-
haps the last time. sons kissed moth
ers a sorrowful farewell, tears like
beads of pearl fell upon manly bosoms.
hearts were stirred, the blood leaped
and bounded through patriotic veins.
The swords flashed like meteors hurled
from some swinging planet, as the
kingly lord took his leave to join his
regiment mothers, wives and sisters
fell upon their knees and invoked the
divine blessings upon their protectors
and their uncrowned kings. Imagine
nxxyfI n
rent in twain, the hopes, the fears.
the griefs, the sorrows that. cemented
together the people who were soon to
be crushed by the mighty tread of the
monarch of death as he stalked abroad
in the land. The foreboding emotions
and the horrors OF that hour We're
Gained by words of love and encour-
agement that fell from the lips of
angels dressed as mothers, wives, sis
ters and daughters. Behold the patri-
otsm, the devotion, the self-sacrifice!
Did the world and all of it's history
ever witness it's equal? At home des-
olate, bitterest disappointments and
unspeakable grief were soon to find a
lodgment within the massive walls of
that commonwealth while the boys in
the front We're reaping fearful har-
vest of privations, sufferings toilsome
marching-perils everywhere.
Spartans Not Superior
The Spartans in all of their glory as
warlike people never knew such deVo-
ton to patriotism, freedom and right
as was found by the heroes and hero
ines of that trying hour That such a
people with such a sentiment, with
such devotion, with such patriotism, we
are not surprised at the magnificent
triumphs and splendid achievements of
the boys in gray upon many battle
fields, The Macedonlans and Greeks
the Romans. the Carthagenians in Their
mighty battles and many victories Were
not supported by that subtle and silent
power of it's women as were the heroes
OF the south during that fearful strug-
gle No people has ever exemplified
such unyielding devotion and uncom-