Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-01-01

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The following striking picture was
drawn by the south's great orator. the
late Henry w. Grady:
LET me picture to you the footsore
confederate soldier. as buttoning up In
his faded gray JACKET the psroie which
was to bear testimony to his children Of
his fidelity and faith, he turned his face
southwark from Appomattok in April,
1866. Think Of him as ragged, half
starved, heavy-hearted. enfeebIed By
want and wounds, having fought to
exhaustion, he surrenders. his gun,
wrings the hands of comrades in silence
and lifting his tear. stained and pallid
face for the last time to the graves that
dot old Virginia hills, pulls his gray cap
over his brow and begins the slow and
painful journey. What does he find
let me ask you who went to your homes
eager to find in the welcome you had
justly earned, full payment for your
four years. sacrifce-what, does he find
when. having followed the battIe-stain-.
ed cross against overwhelming Odds,
dreading death not half somuch as cur
render, he reaches the home he left so
prosperous and beautiful? He finds his
house in ruins, his farm devastated,
his slaves free. his stock killed, his
barns empty, his trade destroyed, his
money worthless, his social system,
feudal in its magnificence, swept. away !;
his people without law or legal status
his comrades slain, and the BURDENS of
others heavy on his shoulders. Crushed
by defeat. his very traditions are gone.
Without money. credit, employment,
material, or training; and besides all
this, confronted with the greatest prob
lem that ever met human intelligence
the establishing of status for the vast
body of his liberated slaves. What
| Dies he do-this hero in gray with a
heart of gold? Does he sit down in
sullenness and despair? NOT for day.
Surely God. who stripped him Of his
prosperity. inspired him in his adversely.
AS ruin was never so overwhelming,
never twas restoration swifter. Tie
soldier stepped from the trenches into
the furrow, and fields hat ran red with
blood in April were green with harvest
in June; women reared in luxury cut up
their dresses and made breeches for
their husbands, and. with patience
and heroism that fit women always al
a garment, gave their hands to work.
II see South, the home of fifty
millions of people. who rise up every
day to call from blessed cities, vast
hives of industry and thrift; her coun-
try side the treasury from which her
resources are drawn; her streams vocal
with whirring spindles; her valley {
trampled in the white and gold of the
harvest; her mountains. showering down
Z, The music of bells as her slow-movine
flocks and Herds 60 forth from then
4 folds; her rulers honest and her people
loving. and her homes happy and theil
i hearthstcnes bright and their water.
still, and their pastures green, and hel
conscience clear; her wealth diffuaee
and poor houses empty: her churches
4 earnest and all creeds lost in the gos
pei. Peace and sobriety walking Kane
in hand through her borders; honor il
her homes; uprightness in her midst:
i plenty in her fields; straight aud simple
faith in the hearts of her sons anc
daughters; her two races walking to
gether IN peace and contentment; sun
shine every where and'all the time. arc
night falling on her gently as from the
wings of the unseen d we,