The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-06-15

lGRlSldjuIG luduC INV - - - go
holiday in honor of Jefferson DAVIS,
the one and only president OF the
Confederacy. 1t is an especial day
of observance by the Daughters OF
the Confederacy Our programs for
the day always speak in loving mem
cry OF his unblemished character, his
upright L. e. and his great and unself-
ish service, whose memory we honor
and cherish.
But while we honor the great
chieftain of our country we would
not forget you survivors. In the
morning of life you bore the South'G
brightest hopes; now, in the twilight
and until evening comes, the Daugh-
tiers reverence you and would do you
homage; such as you are, gray,
SCARED and moving with slow step TO
old age, the grateful and unforget-
ting South claims you as her own
and would fold you close to her
mother breast.
The South's past is sacred and dear
to us. We love and venerate 1t. When
we meet isolated ar alone to COM
memorate this past and live again its
tender yet awful memories there
comes no dream of disloyalty to our
united country, but there comes in
spiration and courage and strength
for the work of the day.
In this meeting today the smallest
part of it is that which is spoken.
The tenderest and sweetest part is
that which finds no voice in spoken
speech. 1t is the recollection that
comes of things done and things seen.
1t is the recalling of the scenes and
occurrences of fifty years ago. The
feast of memory is too rich and too
varied and thoughts come too rapidly
for speech to do them Justice We
haven't time today to single out many
individuals, but there is one of whom
I am always ready to speak, and he
is the private soldier. Truly, he was
a superb creation, and when we re-
call all that he did, how, ragged and
hungry and footsore, he never fall
tered, but pressed ever onward to
the call of duty our love for him
grows as the years go by. Disaster
could not appall him, hunger dismay
him, or suffering subdue him; and
only when the leaders said the end
had come did he think of laying
down his arms With a grandeur of
soul that the world cannot compass
and sublimity of purpose beyond
all telling he fought and suffered and
when need be died; asking and re-
ceiving no recognition other than
comes from the consciousness of duty
we'll performed.
"Only a private! No ribbon or star
Shall gid with false glory his
name!
No honors for him in braid or in bar,
His Legion of Honor is only scar,
And his wounds are his roll of
fame"
Badges of merit have been given
by every nation and for many
causes, the chief being distinguished
bravery in deed. The Cross, aside
from it's religious significance, has
entered largely into the history of
nations The Crosses bestowed for
valor are many. The two Crosses best
known are those given by England
and France. THE Cross of the Le-
gion of Honor" was established by
Napoleon in 1902, and is given for
distinguished merit. The Cross par
excellence of military distinction is
the English Gross of Victoria,
which is given only for some daring
act of courage by soldier who was
serving under military rule. These
Crosses are given for one deed of
daring-one gallant action.
There is one little Cross that marks
endurance to the end-bravery that
plucked fame from the blazing can
mons mouth, not once, but often;
scorn of the paralyZing fear of
death; that accepted hourly danger
for love of q cause-and that is the
bronze Cross worn by Confederate
veterans.
In Southern skies blazes a cross
seen in no other portion of the
world-a cross whose two bright
stars of almost the same inclination
point out the South's pole and serve
to guide the storm-tossed mariner
across the painless seas; a cross
unique, mystic, beautiful, it is alone
in the order of it's grandeur. So, on
Southern hearts rests the tiny Cross
of Bronze that, too, is alone in the
story it tells. No one deed of daring
won it for it's wearer. 1t whispers
of patient bearing of unnumbered
hardships, of long service in camp
and battlefield bravely done; of hun
ger accepted gladly for the sake Of
cause; of courage that never finch