The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-05-30

that he may be spared. One day he
seemed bouyant and bright, only TO
! relapse the next into a state of hope
lessness Here at the dying hour they
watch his struggle. They see the va
cant stare that presages death They
see the faint smile pass over his face
as he recognizes those about him.
and then they see him pass off into
unconsciousnes and death And when
death at last relieves his sufferlngs a
solemn peace enters the home and all
Hnd relief in the conqueror Of life. For
weeks all have been in state of sus-
pense and constant vigil. dreadful of
the night and fearful of the morrow;
but now it is all passed. He who has
entered the silent mystery suffers no
more; the sharp poiniard of death
pierces the hearts of those who remain
TO miss him and there leaves scar.
/ Sad as is the scene which | have
Just pictured. how much more pathetic
IS the spectacle of soldier, whom
war has divorced from the amenities
OF home, wounded and alone. breath
4 ing his final breath on a blooG-soaked
! Held, with no tender hands or loving
hearts to sooth the agony of death
There is always certain respite of
grief in the consciousness, that moth
ing within human power was left I'M
done to allay the suffering and prolong
the spark of life in the Departed one;
but even this consoling thought was
denied those who We're SO rudely be-
reft by cruel bullets.
| want to remind you That those gal
liant troops that marched into the jaws
of death in defense of this union were
not the only heroes of that war Back
at home We're the wives and mothers
whom we must not forgt. Through
those four years these brave souls
endured a passion, the agony of which
Deggars description. 1t was their lot
! to remain at home and suffer the tor
turing pangs of uncertainty and ex-
4 pectancy. No drums or fifes to cheer
or encourage them in their duties.
they guarded and cared for the homes
and children of those in the Held.
With bated breath and fearful heart
they heard the meagre news from the
front With what fofrtitude they bore
their losses! Away in the heart of
The south their heroes were fighting,
and they must remain helpless to
minister to their suffering and pains.
Scarcely family but had one or more
IN the army, and as the lists of dead
and wounded followed the reports of
battle, many were the homes visited
good women consoled each other in
! their hours of sorrow, tEve comfort
to the afflicted and courage to the dis
tressed
| see before me but scant rem
nant of those grand women. Each
has a story of hardships and trials
that constitutes her claim to the UNI
dying gratitude of the country. To
them no monuments of granite have
been reared; no marble shaft is built
to perpetuate their fame, but in the
hearts of the men they shall not be
forgotten, and their noble sacrifices
shall serves as an eternal inspiration
.
4 Upon these women, now emaciated
and feeble fell the greatest burden
OF that war. 1t was they who waited
and watched the long nights through
in the hope that tomorrow might see
the end 1t was thcN who waited
in vain for the return of those who
were never to come back. And it is
they, who. today patiently await the
final call when they may meet once
more the boys who marched away in
81 to return no more
| have alluded to this fearful epoch
in our country's history that | may
bring more forcibly before your minds
the tremendous sacrifices that our
forefathers have made in the interest
of free government. and to remind
you, in my feeble way, of the great.
debt of gratitude which we owe not
only to those who fell on the field of
battle but to the disappearing ranks
Of those who survived | confess an
unusual pride in the valor of the
American volunteer, for my grandfath-
er, to whom owe many thrilling tales
of battle. spent some four years of his
life in defense of the staIs and stripes
on the battle fields of both north and
south. Some years have passed since
he answered the final taps and joined
his comrades In that eternal haven.
From whose bourne no trav-
eler returns"
Though the ravages of time and
disease are fast thinning out the ranks
of the civil war veterans. and many
of those who remain, because of age
and infirmity cannot join with us in
these exercises today. yet it is graft
flying to observe their sons and grand
sons here to take their places.
Let me address but a word to the
members of the Grand Army of the
Republican men whose virtue and
valor we are here to extol and glorify.
What is the reward for your faithful
service? and what is the recompense
for the priceless blood of your com
rades? In answer | will say the re-
/ ward is annie In the sunset of lifa