Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-09-06
AT GRAND REUNION
SOUTH'S SOLDIERS
GIVEN GLAD HAND

Camp Nimrod Trtplett. No. 1878, Of
Watauga County, North Carolina, met
ct Hinson Chapel, AmAntha, N. c., in
its 26th annual reunion Thursday. Au.
gust 8 and Friday, August 10, 1917.
The crowd was summoned together
BY music with nfe and drum. Then
Capt. q. ]. Norris called the assem-.
blage to order and the congregation
were led In devotional services by
Rev. ]. F. Eller. n &
Then came the address Of welcome
delivered by Prof. D. J. Horton.
Mr.. Horton said:
Captain Norris, Old Friends, Veterans,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It having fallen to my lot by the
kind expression of the committee to
make to you-particularly to YOU,
old Veterans. the address Of welcome,
and being impressed with the fact
that l am called upon to make this
address to men, the noblest Of any
class In any age of the worlds his
tory--to men who made the golden
pages Of our proud history during the
sad conflict between the States in the
sixties, 1t affords me q great pleas
ure, such as is inexpressable. To you
the representatives Of thOte who met
the enemy on many battleflelds--to
you. our Southern braves, who love
liberty and home with q love that IA
high as the mountains and as deer
as the oceans that sing at their feet.
you who were as brave as Hannibal'f
troops who fought for Carthage-as
brave as the Trojans who were
masses Of courage.
Had We the spirit today that you
had during those bloody days, the
Napolean spirit possessed by the
common enemy Of the world today or
the part Of the Germans would b.
forever crushed, our democracy would
put on the crown Of victory, thu
Kaiser would step down and out ant
perfect peace would be the world'i
watchword. .. -
Oil 1t is said that Napolean's host
fought no harder when France AMI
her lilies were crushed than 20,
fought for your own southern lilie'
whose petals dropped blood for tn
hearts that were hushed-that yo'
fought like the legeons of Caesar
with more than Rome to defend
II 10 said that wherever brave MOI
are mentioned the lips Of love whia
per your names.
! believe that as you would have die'
for the South
When you mustered and taught TO
the gray,
That your lives are with reverence
| embalmed Tx B..
In your country's affection today.
I believe that when the archives o
God
Shall unbosom the things that fol
ever endure.
Southern valor, immortal as truth an
as love ..
VIII abide there forever secure.
For courage like yours, Souther
men, grand, grim. titantic warrors q
a cause, forever Just cannot die.
was born Of blood and your tears
and the life that you gave 1t wa
your life immortal; It cannot b
measured in years. The bards
coming ages will defy your dust.
The sleeve you call empty-ah. It
not empty;
But honor its meshes enfold,
And the scars you call ugly ~
symbals Of beauty
Whose meaning the years will unroll-
1
Your body was bruised, lacerated, di
figured,
to keep you q beautiful soul.
Then We meet you and We greet ~
On this glad reunion day,
Survivors Of our Southlands cause
Your fame can ne'er decay, tAsm
For we love you, grim old heroes,
As in the years gone by,
When your courage thrilled the worl
Wehn you dared to do and die.
Welcome, then, thrice welcome. hel
| today, "
You men who wore Confederate gra
Your youth IL past your growing OIL
But still your hearts are brave ar
| bold.
The cause you love, for which u
| fought, t.t' '
Like blasted hopes has come
naught,
We bid you welcome, every one.
As though you wero our mothers 20
Fling wide your gates. wide OPP
Il stand,
T welcome this heroic band.
We're glad you've come, 20 freely tal
Glad hands and warm We with u
L IsI. AAkA Is.aaa .1a
I've say II now. and mean II too
There's nothing here too good .
! you,
We cannot give you what we woul
/ But then we've done the best 7