Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-10-26
cARouNE's LETTER TO POLLY.
VIcKsBURG, Miss. Oct. IS,

VICKSBURG, MISS, Oct. 10.
DEAR POLLY
1t is very beautiful here, the very
spirit of it, this meeting of these old
men so long divided by war, touches
the deepest and sweetest chords of
the heart, and makes memory more
sacred. Many people do not know
or understand what powerful factors
for good these great reunions are:
especially in the South where their
ideals and devoted loyalty to a noble
past ere part of their lives; and it is
therefore with full realization of a
fervent love for our united country
that on these historic hills should be
staged the final act of great drama;
and here again should meet a mighty
host of players for the closing scene.
Fifty years ago they met in mortal
combat. War had thrust its sword
into the heart of nation.
To-day all nature smiles, for the
men who wore the blue and gray
have come from far and near to play
their parts, to do honor to the
foe", to clasp the hands of dear
old comrades of days gone by, and
Irvine the stars and stripes with the
stars and bars". In the renaissance
Of our country's strife, it is fitting
climax. They have welded the
North and the South into a union
that will endure as long as the nation
lives.
Tenting on the old grounds, by
the glimmering campfres they are
telling the old, old stories that are
woven into history and make its
values: singing the old songs of pat
riotism and sacred memories, they
are giving themselves up to a week
Of reunion with old friends and new,
perhaps the last, until the great one;
the real one. But through it all, and
during it all, no man of the north
and no man of the south, no matter
how intensely partisan he might be
can find just cause for criticism, and
Polly, it is just as it should be. We
each went forth to champion our
cause, ours was lost; and the hills
today are silent witnesses of the
matchless valor of American hearts
and the deathless glory of American
arms'... and now, dear, as time
softens all harsh thoughts, and we
see them today, we of a younger
generation wonder, how such nice
people as the Yankees and ourselves
could have fought each other at all.
Besides the tents of the soldiers of
yesterday, stand the tents of the
soldiers of today, and with them the
soldiers of tomorrow. The younger
men are sent by the government to
zee that no comfort is missing or no
harm shall come to the veterans
while on this sacred mission.
Consecrated are these hills by the
blood that was shed upon them and
beautiful monuments stand to tell
the story Of the conflict; but the flag
that floats on yonder hill proclaims
peace and good will to all men, for
it guards the dead who gave their
lives that it might wave. Under it's
sheltering folds awaiting the last call
OF the bugle lie the bodies OF seven.
teen thousand soldiers. It Is to the
credit OF our government, the only
one in the world, that has piously
gathered together, in her most beau
tiful spots, the consecrated remains
Of her dead. Here within this hal
lowed ground fall the last rays of the
setting sun, and as it buries its gold
en- shafts among the shadows, it
brings within peace which passeth
all understanding.
The awful drama of civil war is
forgotten; the lurid colors of those
scenes have faded into the mists of
years; within the tents is friendship
and music and laughter; for the
white winged dove of peace hovers
over all.
Loyalty and lovingly yours.