The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-08-17

found III the thin gray line fronting
aim. But, without doubt, fewer
finer, more soul-stirring addresses
than Mr.. Craig's to the veterans yes
terday have ever been uttered in the
South.
He is marvelously gifted with the
power of werd-painting. His ,sonor-
Gus, beautifully-rounded periods have
all the sOlemnity of a great church
organ pealing an anthem of alteration
in some dim cathedral-and affect
yea just that very way. He tells Of
laughing brooks and whispering pines
and you actually both hear and see
them. The tolls of Southern woman
hood tflling fields for a desperate ex-
istence while husband. father, sweet
heaIt were suffering, fighting, dying on
some far battlefield are placed on a
canvass and held before your intent
eyes. You see it all-you are hardly
conscious of listening to the even,
superbly-modulated ~elC1uence which
paints the picture. No need to go
into the details of Mr.. Craig's great
speech. Possibly it is the mans
charm, his sympathy, his grasp of
your heart and mind that helps to
make his addresses each one Of them
q masterpiece. For that only de-
scribes his grafton to the Confederate
Veterans OF Henderson County-a
masterpiece of oratory, the like of
which may not soon be heard again
for he may not Dol again have the
inspiration of that thin gray line
fronting him.
Mr.. Craig was surrounded by vet
Grams at the close of his address, and
after they all got through shaking
hands it was time for dinner. Right
there the heavily-laden baskets were
IN demand. Little parties CT friends
relatives and families were soon
scattered everywhere on the grounds
md when they finally did stop eating
here were some dreadful holes in the
aforesaid baskets. There were no
trangers there. They were not al
wed on the grounds. Maybe the
cit they were strangers at first, but
not for long, and they knew perfectly
well they were not strangers after
dinner.
After everyone had had all they
could possibly eat, and in some in
stances that was considerable and
then some, the veterans and their
friends listened to Mr.. J. J. Mackey,
of Asheville, Colonel Rutledge q
Charleston and Commissioner of La
Dor M. L. Shfpman, all OF whom made
brief and happy little talks. A num-
Der of veterans each said a few words
to their comrades, among them being
Mr.. w. B. Case of Horse Shoe, Mr.. T
W'lecn, r. l.. Cash, J. M. Hamlin
of Pennsylvania, S n. Harding and
others of Henderson county. Mr..
Cannon made a brief address in con-
clusion, after which the following Of
1cers for the coming year were elect
ed:
A Cannon, Commander.
j. Nj. Shepherd' Ajutant.
S. K. Breeding, Chaplain.
But the crimson shafts of the set
ting sun soon to disappear beyor
yon far-fung rampe IS IF the world
are coloring the c as in the sky
with a purple and &zg,-den tinge.l
The solemn hush of approaching even
ing the frightening shadows, the
melody of approaching night warns
all that it is time to gather scattered
members of parties, to harness res
tive horses, to load into great farm
and family carry-alls and to
say a final gC9d-bye.
But the day will long remain in the
memories of the host present. It
was a day of sheer pleasure, of de-
Lightful and profitable opportunities
10 renew old friendships and create
new ones. Everyone had had a good /
time. Everyone was glad they were
there and all were slow to go, So
themselves only with the
thought that next year there would
be another reunion of the Confederate
Veterans Of Henderson county.
Mrs. William CALVIN Chiffon Who