The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-03

.eys. ruined fields, precious life wasted,
and all the land like blood This
was the allotment OF fate to Virginia.
1t is no coincidence that Yorktown
aud Appomattox, our mightiest
American happenings, fellin Virginia.
They fell there because Virginia was
the root OF the matter in both OF the
great crises. To the material vision.
Virginia seemed ruined indeed when
the storm had passed, but now We
know that was not SO. She had sui
Tered more than any country, save
Poland, and Poland ceased To exist,
There was poverty in Virginis, but it
begos strength; there was wounded
pride but it begot in big hearts,
noble humility; there was lack OF en-
ergy OF law and order. in society, but
it begot self-reliance and constructive
hess and somehow the love of millions
lightened the gloom of the war-smit-
ten land. By the might Of the great
sacrifice, and great achievement. and
great fortitude. Virginia achieved
spiritual authority over the hearts
oil Americans that she could not have
won by the most astonishing ma
terial success. The golden peace in
which the old State had been Tapped
Tor u generation had given no sue
cessors to the great dynasty o: the
past.
The age OF war and economic ruin
through the immortal careers OF Lee.
Jackson, Johnston. Stuart and u
goodly host OF Others. established n
new dynasty OF virtue and genius.
The State became the State al mem
cries to the old who had traversed
its fields and red hills in the pride OF
youth and in the pomp OF war, audit
became u land OF spiritual values to-
the young in the North and i'm the
South who invested it, with youths
generous ardor, with the consecrs
ton that belongs tn regions where
great deeds have been done and great
martyrdoms endured. Sympathetic
and curious friends from other lands
and States sometimes wonder why
Virginia and the South give To Gen
eral Lee n sort oil intensity OF love
that they do not give even To Wash
ington. The reason is simple to those
| who know Virginia and Lee. Washing
ton stands high, clean, spotless, like
the shaft that commentaries his
fame in the national capital, at the
gateway OF our Republican history
symbolizing the majesty of the era OF
| origins and success. Lee is u type OF all
the best there is in the history OF the
whole State. Its triumphs, its defeats.
it's joys. its sufferings, in rebirths cen
tire in him. In that figure OF quiet
strength and invincible rectitude and
utter self surrender may be discern
ed the whole drama of great stock
| As he stood at Arlington on that
fateful day In 1861, shifting his hands
| in agony over a decision he needs
must make, his agony was his peo-
pies agony; az he rode in triumph
by virtue or genius and vaIor.
through the storm OF victorious bat
tie, his glory was their glory; as he
stood forth amid all vicissitudes ever
mistaken OF disaster or unspoiled by
success, his fortitude was their forti-
tude; as the result OF the Great APP
peal was seen to rest at last upon his
broad shoulders and his stout heart,
his constance was their. consistency,
as he stood at the end amid the
shadows of defeat m appealing and
unconquerable figure of virtue, OF
service and OF serene dignity, his dig
nifty was their dignity; and somehow
in the majesty OF his manner and
bearing, he reached back into the
very roots of the proud past OF the
Old Dominion and connected it's gol-
den age and it's ancient authority,
its long and happy peace with the
trouble and wonder OF the present.
Can you wonder at the measure Of
the love n people bear for such an
embodiment OF their best? Surely God
was good and full OF thought for Il
people to set a figure so.large and am
pile and faultless in the forefront OF
their life. Gone from Virginia for
ever, let us hope, are the days OF SUI
iering and privation. Progress and
peace rule her counsels and prosperity
smiles upon her fields. Wealth is
pouring into her Golfers. Hope and
capacity and genius for adjustment
glow in the hearts and minds of her
sons. Faith in all her people, whether
they issue out of the old stock chast-
ened by fortitude aud woe. or out OF
the plain people who fought her bat
ties for her, is now her chiefest pas
sion and their education her chiefest
concern. Secure in the dignity OF "a
spiritual authority which she has
earned, Virginia holds up her head
among her sisters even more proudly
than in the elder time when she gave
rulers and law to the young republic,
for her pride is more completely than
just pride that springs out OF intelli-
gent devotion to all classes of her
people. Enriched by the spirit OF gen
tie civilization is,wing about her for
generations. prpt-cted by the love
and veneratIou OF thousands, and
busy with a multitude OF schemes OF
social betterment, she will yet not be
turned aside from the glory and priv
ilege OF sharing in the inevitable re-
marking OF the legal framework and
social spirit OF the republic TO which
she gave birth and which she nour-
ished in its helpless youth. There il
"A simple and holy feeling in her heart
that the whole nation needs in "a
peculiar sense the strength and vir-
tue which she has to contribute 10
its life, and that iii some grave hour
Of national peril yet to come, ~ such
hours must come To every Democ-
racy. when blind social forces have
wrought some web OF injustice and
inequality, and the whole people
, shall be seeking for the man who will
not falter nor fail. they will turu 10
her, aud 10 her uncorrupt-d abound
ing life. ns long ages ago her sister
COLONIES gathered about George
Washington 10 act him ON their shield
as the fittest one to lead them in IA
war oil righteousness and depend
euce.
: Twenty-four American girls have
| Faa Pr,ad fnrat.rt sti.s aud IN fnn.f