The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-29


crippled and murdered. and has SO
quickly recovered and reasserted it's
rover and authority. and so fully pre-
served its dignity and honor.
Another result Of that war is that it
has given to the world the wonder
wonder without precedence-howa ma
ton so defeated could so soon be
brought back into harmony and fellow
ship, and today, as recent events dis
close. no part of this country Is more
loyal in it's allegiance to the stars and
stripes than that represented in the
Confederate states.
When we surrendered at Appamat-
tox we laid down our arms in truth,
tie we did our best to beat the enemy
back, yet when We surrendered we
gave Aour allegiance to the United
States government No part of this
country has been truer or more loyal.
That allegiance has been tested in re-
cent events. and when the call was
made for soldiers in the Spanish war
the response most full and free and
ready came from southern homes. The
soldiers who wore the gray in the
civil war were seen donning the blue
and leading the columns in the Cuban
strife. Such a return to layalty, vol
untary and complete, is not to be
found in the history of nations Thus
their return to the support of the gen.
er al government has established the
strength of character that has ever
been illustrated by southern manhood.
These are some of the lessons taught
US in the school of war. These are
some Of the changes that were
wrought in the strife of battle. These
are some of the blessings brought us
by the servants of strife. These are
some of the messages that were deliv-
cred to us by the messengers of Mars.
But for all this we paid the price.
Blood is the, cost of progress, and
learning in the school of experience
demands high tuition. We paid the
price in the blood of our soldier boys
and thousands who sleep in graves un-
marked, the homes that were disman-
tied, the sections of country that were
burned. the hearts that were broken,
the lives that were lost, is the price
we paid, and these now are
ION fame's eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.
How sleep the brave who sank to
rest, ~
BY all their country's wishes blest;
When spring with de,wy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mold,
She then shall dress a sweeter sod
Than fancys feet have ever trod.
"By fairy hands their knell Is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sung,
There honor comes-a pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their
And freedom shall awhile repair
TIC dwell weeping hermit there"
The cause for which they fought
and fell was lost. The hopes they so
dearly cherished were crushed. The
battle flag which they loved so we'll
was furled with no stain of dishonor
upon it and around it was wreathed
the glory of hundreds of victorious
tattle fields. while it's shot and shell
torn remnants were undying emblems
of the heroic deeds of brave men who
fought beneath it's folds, and whose
achievements shall always be upon the
scroll of history and upon the lips of
poesy. But all these achievements
W WOULD have failed and the Confederate
struggle would have been a farce but
for the part that woman took in the
patriotic movement. for that same
strife which converted citizens into
generals and students into soldiers de-
veloped the womanhood in the south
ern home that has challenged theI adj
miration Of the world. lShe has mani
and wonderful courage in danger and
war. and, loyalty and love in distress.
Her gentleness and grace and purity
in scenes most degrading and repulsive
she has passed through furnaces with
out the smell of fire on her garments,
and emerged from the darkness of de-
feat, flashing the splendors of heaven
ly beauty. One of the bardS of Scotia
long ago sang this familiar couplet:
Full many a flower is born to blush
unseen,
And waste it's sweetness on the desert
air"
But the southern rose in the modest
garden of the southern home-south-
ern Womanhood-war grown and sa-
-pruned. has filed the earth with
its fragrance and outstrips in beauty
and tone the production of palaces in
the east and. mansions in the north
That same poet said:
Full many gem of purest ray Sc
rene, ass
The dark. unfathomed caves of ocean
But the volcanic fires of southern
war forced these southern gems to the
sunlight, and the world has felt their
increasing splendors. The war devel-
oped the strength and purity and
beauty Of southern womanhood. What
sacrifices she made, as she offered her
loved ones upon the altar Of Mars,
what endurance as she toiled at the
loom. in the shop. in the field. to sup
Ely food and raiment to the boys in
gray; the boy upon whose form she
had buckled the sash, upon whose
brow she had pressed the kiss Of love
as he left for the field of battle. the
bivouac and the grave; what heroism,
as she tore her skirts in pieces to fur
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