Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-02

war, this town and county were
among the first and foremost to re-
spond, and sent countless numbers
of the flower of her youth and the
maturity of. her manhood to the fir
ing front, and constantly recruited
their rapidly diminishing numbers
as they fell on bloodstained fields, fa-
cling the enemy, and driving back
the invader of overwhelming mum.
bers, all for the sake of home and
loved ones, for manhood and consti-
tutional freedom.
Whether known or unknown to
fame,
Their cause and country are, the
same,
They died and wore the grey"
And the battle-scarred old veter-
ans who may be with us tonight,
survivors of many bloody fields,
whose eyes are growing DINNER, and
whose steps more faltering each
passing year, but whose voices and
presence were never more gracious
to these loyal ladies than now, we
greet you at this assamblage of our
Order. In song and marble and
bronze your deeds have been memo
rialized ana history is writing them
in imperishable glory. Well may
your mothers exclalm i'll the ian-
guage of the Spartan Mother,
These are my jewels.
Sister Daughlersiof the Confedera-
cy of Abpevllle, let me in bcnalf OF
cur entire State Division thank you
for your wholesoul welcome
may | avail myself on this occasion
with becoming modesty, to say some
thing Of woman S part IN this great
struggle, and Of her holy services IN
building monuments to perpetuaJe
the glory Of our cause, and III kee1-
ing fresh the memory and the graves
of our deathless dead.
Who has or ever shall record the
achievements of our women i'll the
| laes war: Which of her MANY sided
traits, which of her many tragic
situations, will seize first the imagi-
nation OF a future artist, or appeal
strongest to the inspiration of the
poet who is yet to write the South's
greatest Epic: Where shall Nher
I;story begin! Where shall it end?:.
Was iGher unspeakable sacrifice IN.
the begianin H.ifcn=she aiasss skealsstt-'
ea on her loved ones the armor of
that holy war, and sent them away
from home to fight for their coun-
try, or later, her accomplishing en-
durance of untold prlvation and
loneliness and desolation, or her di=
vine. fortitude and resignation, when
father, husband, son, brother or
lover fell on the distant battlefield,
and came back to her no more forev-
er, or when she moved like an angel
through the hospitals, or in the rear
of the firing line, watchful as a Ro-
man Nestal ministering ITO her
wounded soldiers, cooling their few
cred lips, soothing their last hours
with her gentle words and soft deft
hands, or, when in the darkest hours
of our blessed cause, when our brave
heroes in front were being crushed
by overwhelming numbers, her faith
kindled by Heavenly fires, kept
alive the waning hopes and dropping
courage of our naked, starving and
shattered armies and she met with
her smiles the ragged remnants of
the returning soldiers and pledged
them her eternal faith and sympathy.
We who were born since the bu-
gle sangi truce at Appomattox, and
the returning soldier brought home
the fate of the confederacy, reared
in an era that bartered> the crimson
of the dripping sword for the green
er blossoms of the olive branch, we
have come together in the spirit of
the,younger South, inspired by the
patriotic zeal and love we have for
the cause. Unmarked graves of
our reposing heroes are scattered in
mournful numbers over the hills and
ravines of our beautiful Southland.
They deserve honor at some ones
hands-at whose: The women of
the South accept the trust. They
who laid down their lives with John
stone at Shiloh-Who fell in the
wild charge with Jackson at Chan
cellorsville-Who went to God from
the rocks and hills of Chickamauga,
All are our deaa. NesGovernment
gathers up their bones with paternal
care and preserves the records of
their glorious lives and sublime
deaths. Their Governments is dead.
But we, the daughters of these
brave and noble men, will have their
names written on the hearts of their
countrymen. and transmit their deeds
as priceless heritage to their chill
dren's children, and their mer ories
will be cherished as long as men
| I Il Al