Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-11-07
A Texas Editors Tribute.

natural and inevitable Inentdl Suggestion
associated with great deeds the places
where these deeds were wrought, and
many place possessing within itself
and by reason of its geographical or
Typographical environment no special
charm has become historic and hallowed
because OF the deeds and incidents OF
which it has been the scene ,and by reason
of which il holds a peculiar place in the
minds and memories OF men.
The world has been made better by the
cherishiug of such sentiment, just as it is
made better by the influence OF all these
things which have within them the ele-
ments OF the historic and sacred.
The land of Palestine is exceeded in
beauty BY many other lands, but through
all the ages yet TO come it will be in the
eyes OF men the Holy Land, because ii is
a land touched by angel footsteps and
the land of lowly Horeb and towering
Carmel, of Bethlehem, of Gethsemane
and OF Calvary.
The Valley of Virginia can claim moth
ing of divine presence and association,
save that in all that is heroic and unset
fish and which is tinged and touched by
elements ofservice and sacrifice for dutY's
sake, there is the elements OF sacriticial
love. Yet it is realm covered with
glory as with agarment.
Apart from all association with the
deeds which have been enacted there,
and putting aside for the time all conSid-
Grafton OF the splendid civilization and
social system which reigned there, it is
a land of rare Typographical and scenic
beauty, and it is not surprising that the
pioneers who Invaded the primeval
forests" OF the peninsula nearly 300 years
ago pressed forward TO occupy it in\that
morn OF its virgin beauty.
Its towering mountains looked down
upon far-spreading valleys Of marvellous
fertility, and were dotted with forests OF
stately beauty and inviting shade, and
through every vale and valley there could
be seen winding like threads OF shining
silver rillS and branches and springfield
streams surging their way to sea.
A Christian civilization reared accord
ing to the highest standards and lllustra-
ted in men of courage and culture and
intellect and all the elements OF manhood
in its highest Interpretation, and in women
lowered with every social and moral
virtue, grace and steady growth OF many
days and years, and is the fruit of devotion
to lofty ideals and standards.
History attests that liberty found her
most ardent lovers and her most valiant
defenders among those who were reared
and lived among the mountains, and when
the tocsin OF war sounded in 1861 the
world beheld most striking ccntirma-
ton OF this truth OF history.
The sons of Virginia who dwelt in the
valley needed no second call TO arms.
They heard and responded 10 the first
their mother sent forth, and never since
men in the remote and misty past first
did battle did such an army gather under
battle flag as that which, under the lead
ership OF Lee and Jackson, swept up and
down and over and across that valley
which slumberS in the shadow OF the
Alleghenies and the Blue Ridge, writing
its achievements in blood on hiStory's
pages and winning fame as fadeleSs as
the stars.
The peace, the happiness, the Con-
tentment of the faireSt, goodlieSt land that
heavens sunshine ever kissed was rude
ly broken by wars dread alarm, but the
men and women who dwelt there paused
not 10 ask the reason or count the cost.
They heard of the tramp of hostile and
invading legions, and there was no need
of judicial construction of statues CT con-
stitutionS to enable them to decide where
right and duty lay.
The heart of each loving and patriotic
son OF Virginia was the temple OF Gods
own law OF self-protection and self-de-
tense, and they obeyed il and with fight
ing and marching and suffering and dying
they set an example OF love OF home and
native land and of willingness to die in
their defense which thrilled the world
and made the Valley of Virginia through
out hallowed ground.
When valor could no longer stand
againStStarvation and overwhelming odds,
they yield, but not till then and amid
hardships, indescribable poverty the
sorest and oppression most cruel, they
gloriously illustrated that indeed "peace
hath her victories more renowned than
war"
The rifle gave way to the Ak, the sword
was wrought into the plow share, and
the work the soldier of Virginia has
wrought in two score years is unparallel-
ed in all the annals OF human achieve
ment.
They have rebuilded their homes, rear
ed again their shattered altars, restored
10 fruitful fertility their waste places, and
where the dun and somber smoke ofbat-
tie hung upon the air there now rises the
smoke OF myriad factories, and where the
hoomiup of cannon told Of deadly car
mage and wars fearful harvest, the roar
OF the furnace and hum OF the spindle and
the whir OF the loom and the harvester
sing the triumphant paean OF peaceful
achievement.
The valley is as beautiful as OF yore.
Fields of wheat tanned by gentle bfeeZes
ripple like seas otmolten amber, the ban
ners of the corn gleam in the glorious
sunshine, the gentle kline stand knee
deep in the purple bloom OF the clover,