The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-03


joke But when the deep SHOWS of
! January came, they chilled her warm
heart, and froze her gay laugh in
death. Many a noble and promising
son of the South dropped beneath the
shadows of the Ivy House; many a
strong and stalwart form lies pros
trate in the nearby university burial
place; many brave and gallant idol
of mothers and comrades and kindred
hearts has been carried out from the
soldiers home to that home from
which there is no returning. Six hun
dred and sixty four of the brightest
and best of the offerings of Southern
homes and firesides have been offered
upon their country's affairs in that
classic village, but
The noblest thing that perished there
Was that young and faithful heart"
Her body was carried home and laid
away in Magnolia cemetery, where,
over her grave for years there re-
sounded the cannons boom, telling of
the desperate fight her loved Confed-
crate soldier was making for the home
and country, for which she so willing
ly laid down her young life.
From the same report We take the
following in regard to the Midway
hospital:
"The Midway derived its name from
it's position on a knoll midway be-
tween the court house at Charlottes-
vile and the university. 1t was a pri-
vate boarding house of much favor,
and with it's large rooms, airy pas
sages, commanding prospect, and
double piazzas, was place one would
chose to be sick and get we'll in. 1t
was our first hospital, and no pains
were spared to make it complete in
every respect. We received a most
valuable accession just after opening
the building in the persons of Mrs.
Rion, of Winnsboro, and Mrs. Meal
pine, of Spartanburg, who acted a
while as nurses. The latter soon gave
way under the severity of the labors,
and was compelled to return home.
Mrs. Rion, after the retirement of DR..
Rivers and his estimable lady, assumed
the place as matron, and still holds it.
A more efficient, patriotic, able, kind,
authoritative manager is nowhere to
be found. Her management is sui
generis. No one can initiate it. No
one surpass it. In neatness, cheerful
ness, economy, order, successful nurs-
ing, it has always been the first Of our
hospitals, and it has been said by
numberless visitors to be the first of
all the hospitals in Virginia. To this
the kindly and faithful nursing of
Mrs. Pope, of Abbeville, contributed
no little, but the secret spring which
has ever given its peculiar character
to the Midway is unquestionably the
genius of this remarkable woman who
presides there. The records of Mid
way are among the best on our rolls.
1t was truly with pain we visited this
favorite place to turn it over to the
Confederate authorities. 1t was like
parting with pet child. But Mrs.
Rion continues there and this is
link of the past"
Mrs. Rion continued at Midway af-
ter it became one of the Confederate
hospitals, giving her whole time to the
soldiers welfare. By day, by night,
she was always at her post, never a
days rest, never an hours absence
from the hospital. Her last days work
was on December 25, 1852, she gave
her soldier boys a wonderful dinner,
where it came from no one knew. But
the constant work and exposure was
too much for even her iron constitu-
ton, the next morning found her in
bed with a severe attack Of pneumonia,
that ran a rapid course. And in the
early morning hours of January 1,
1868, upon her hospital couch sur
rounded by those whom she had nurs-
ed back to life, her last words were to
her soldier boys, and away from home
and kindred her last glance was upon
the tear stained faces of men, who felt
they were losing not friend, but a
mother, as her noble spirit took its
flight.
The Confederate soldiers bore her
Il