Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-18

made the hours preceding dawn the only
ones of the twenty-four endurable in
point of temperature. and a shower bath
the only form of diversion we had time
or thought to indulge in, to go out-of-
doors was sometimes worse than remain
ing in our wards.
Day by day we were called to our win
dows by the wailng dirge of military
band preceding soldiers funeral. One
could not number those sad pageants:
the coffin crowned with cap and sword
and gloves. the riderless horse following
with the empty boots fixed in the stirrups
of an army saddle: such soldiers as could
be spared from the front marching after
with arms reversed and crape-enfolded
banners: the passers-by standing with
bare, bent heads.
Funerals less honored outwardly were
continually occurring. Then and there
after the green hillsideS of lovely Holly
wood were frequently upturned to lind
resting places for the heroic dead. So
much taxed for time and for attendants
were those who officiated that it was not
unusual to perform the last rites for the
departed at night. A solemn scene was
that in the July moonlight, when, in the
presence of the few who valued him
most We laid to rest one of my own
nearest kinsmen of whom in the old serv-
ice OF the United States. as in that of
the Confederacy, il was said He was
spotless knight.
Spite CT it's melancholy uses. there was
no more favorite walk in Richmond than
Hollywood a picturesquely beautiful
spot, where high hills sink into vel
vet fluctuations. profusely shaded with
holly. pine and cedar, as We'll as by trees
of deciduous foliage. In spring the banks
of the stream that runs through the val
ley were enameled with wild flowers and
the thickets were full of May-blossom and
dogwood Mounting to the summit of the
bluff, one may sit under the shade of
some ample oak, to view the spires and
roofs of the town, with the white colon
made of the distant capitol. Richmond,
thus seen beneath her yerdant foliage
upon hills. girdled by hills" confirms
what an old writer felt called upon TO
eXclaim about il, Verify, this city hath
pleasant seat.
On the right below this point. flows the
rushing yellow river making ceaseless
turmoil around islets of rock whose riffs
are full of birch and willow, or leaping
impetuously over the powders of granite
that strew its bed. Old-time Richmond
folk used to say that the sound of their
favorite James Tor. to be exact, "Jeems)
during no matter how many years of
absence haunting them like strain of
sweetest music; nor would they permit
suggestion of superiority in the flavor OF
any other fluid to that of draught of its
amber waters So blent with my own
memories of war is the voice of that tire
less river that seem to hear it yet, over
the tramp of rusty battalions. the short.
~ nIo,r hall tlae,
clash of passing bands. the gallop of
eager horsemen, the roar of battle, the
moan of hospitals, the stined note of
sorrow.
During all this time President Davis
was familiar and picturesque figure on
the streets. walking through the Capitol
Square from his residence to the execu-
tive Office in the morning. not TO return
until late in the afternoon. or riding just
before nightfal to visit one or another OF
the encampments near the city
He was tall, erect. slender and OF
dipnified and sodierly bearing, with
clear-cut and high-bred features, and OF
a demeanor of stately courtesy TO all. He
was clad always In Confederate gray
cloth and wore a soft felt hat with Wide
hrim Afoot his step was brisk and hrm;
in the saddle he rode admirably and with
martial aspect. His early life had been
spent In the Military Academy at West
Point and on the then northwestern from
in the BLACK Ma Wdf- ne dil-
erward greatly distinguished himself at
Monterey and Buena Vista, in Mexico.
At the time when we knew him every
thing in his appearance and manner was
suggestive of such training.
He was reported to feel quite out Of
Mace in the Office of president. with
executive and administrative duties, in
the midst of such war. Gen. Lee al
WAYS spoke of him as the best of mill
tary advisers. His own inclination was
TO he with the army, and at the first
tidings of sound of gun anywhere
within reach of Richmond he was in
the saddle ana off for the spot, to tine
dismay of his staff officers, who were
expected To act as an escort ON such &C.
"a sions and who never knew at what