The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-05-29
TIE LESSON or THE MARCH

are looking with dimmed eyes toward
the setting Oi the sun, and soon will
come the silvcry notes OF the tattoo
.call-aDd then taps Lights out
along the line, go to sleep"
Reunions are not merely occasions
OF bunting and of songs and of parades
and Of cheering. They recall and they
foTetell. These meetings recall those
days of the sharp agony of conflict.
the long Convalcscence, the fearsome
vigil on the picket line, the hunger
and the thirst Of the rifle pit, tho
smoke and the dust and the noisome
odOrs Of the blood fertile field.
They foretcll the relentless march
of the remorseless arms OF Time
which dccimates and then annihilates
all armies.
The last few days have been happy
ones for the old soldiers of South
Carolina. The embrace, the comming-
ling Of tears of joy, the happiness of
gazing once more into the loving eyes
OF comrades long since believed to
have been dead. Oh, the week las
been full of such beautiful incidents,
such reunions that no people can ap-
Dreciate save those who fought under
the Starry Cross, fought when they
knew they were beirg driven back,
surely and remorselessIy, and yet they
fought, stubbornly. valiantly happily
In the cause of their beloved country.
And comes the reflection, doubly
sad after the fleeting days Of happi-
ness, that for some this is the last re-
union. Just few more years and
these golden hearted men will nave
gone from among us, yes, the last one.
Just few more years and they will
not be here to tell of the great battles
which made the world cape in amaze
mcnt upon the valor Of the South, with
her unframed soldiers facing the
trained and serried ranks of the reg
ulafs of the army of the United States,
In numbers Overwhelming.
AS the days go by, it becomes more
and more the intensified duty of the
people of the South to keep alive the
memories of those conflicts in which
we waged glorious fight. Our chill
dren must be given the true sentiment
OF the South in the matter OF Seces-
sion. Where proud monuments rear
their heads, there must have been a
Cause.
1t has been great blessing to An
derson to have had here one of the
last of the great reunions OF the Con-
federate soldiers. For the little ones
coming on will remember that great
parade, their wondering minds will
begin the inquiry which in the end
will lead them to realization of the
grandeur, the sublimity of the cause
for which their grandsireS offered
their lives--and in many instances
Death claimed his own. the brightest
OF the gems OF the chaplet Of the
South.
1t was a thrilling scene, one which
must have struck in upon every heart
with an appeal that will receive a
response in n deeper veneration for
the matchless courage, the incompar-
able patriotism, the uneGualled chiv-
airy of the men of the South who
fought to achieve for themselves a
nation whose shrine oe liberty should
forever be kept pure. That is what
the reunion Is worth to Anderson.
Our little ones received lesson whicn
countless pages of lore and of story
could not thus have impressed upon
them.
There at the head of the column
floated the silken, folds of the flag
of the gallant Fourth, the flag under
which our own Anderson boys march
ed out upon the plains of the First
Battle OF Manassas. How many
splendid sons OF noble Anderson moth
ers turned to caress with their dying
glance the folds OF the banner to die
for which was coveted honor. Never
let that flag lose itS message OF love,
nor the mute messages which the dy.
ing lads upon the bosom OF fair vir-
ginia would have had 1t to bear their
loved ones. Let their memories ever be
kept enshrined In. the hearts OF our
people and let the people collect, pre-
serve and perpetuate the narrative
of their deathless valor. their i'm
perishable devotion to their country.