The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-11-08
IN MEMORIAM


Tuesday before last our CITY was
hallowed by another golden star that
VIII be forever a fixed and shining
light in the armament of memory.
sending a pure and brilliant glow
from that sky of sacrifice of which
we learned on Calvary.
julius Benham, Jr., of Cornell Air
Squadron No. SO, in training for the
United States army. on the 25th day
of this October past died at Camp
Dick, Texas, where he was in train
ing with his aero squadron for fur
Their instruction preparatory to re-
ceiving his commission as a United
States Army Aeronaut with the Amer
lean forces in France.
In the care of Cadet Scenter Crook
of Jackson, Tennessee, a friend and
member of his squadron, his remains
were Immediately carried to his
home, Mariana, where interment
took place on Tuesday, the 29th. In
Cedar Heights cemetery.
Mr.. Benham was a native of Mari
anna, where he was born October
9Th, 1891 and there lived with his
parents, at an early age taking an
active part in the business and social
affairs of the community. He soon
endeared himself in the hearts of all,
thereby rendering irreparable his loss
to his dear ones and his many
friends.
IN nj hn L. In
to another, his mother. Sophie Bur
rus Benham, who, in his early boy
hood preceded him long ago to that
happy Afterwhile of neither pain nor
sorrow Her life is well remember
ed as of yesterday. the more wildly
mirror of her son were so many of
the traits of her noble personality
He is survived by his father, julius
Benham; his sister, Mrs. o. G. Nor
ment; his step mother, Mrs. Jennie
Benham: and his brothers, Paul Ben
whom is now second lieutenant in
the United States forces.
One of the many stars that glisten
from his crown was his tender de-
vOtion to his father, a devotion that
was only equaled by that of the
father to the son. He was, indeed,
a source of just pride and boon to
his parents, dutiful and comforting
staff, as life's evening shadows leng-
thened.
At a recent date he enlisted in the
air service, of the army. First hon.
ors speedily came to him at his
training school at Cornell University
and, even before completing the full
course of study, he was offered a
commission as first lieutenant in the
infantry forces; but the call of the
eagles lair could not be denied and
the offer was refused
He had just completed the Cornell
course and was en- route for Camp
Dick, Texas for instruction in air
plane flight when the Spanish influ
enza claimed another victim. After
few days his illness fatally de-
veloped into pneumonia.
A more touching good bye was
never seen at Cedar Heights ceme
terry. From a neighboring camp the
planes came rushing through the air
like eagles anxious for the safety of
their young, encircling the grave, at
first in loud patter of distress, and
then receding in a drone of sadness,
and now in quiet grief like the soft
rush of a falling breeze, when to
meet them arose the sweet strains of
his favorite song, Whispering Hope"
Then gently drifting through the air
came flowers from the sky, strewing
his grave, the sweet tears of great
nation.
His grave strewn with the linger-
ing sweetness of the last flowers of
fall, may be found in the family en-
closure at the base of single ever
green, fitting emblem of the charac-
ter reposing there. Though. when the
branches of the cedar are long for
got and have withered and died
and turned to blades of grass, his
wholesome, kind, unselfish life will
continue with ever increasing
strength to tighten the paths of
others.
80 DODDRIDGE McCULLOCH.
-O