314 Southern Historical Society Papers.
And the songs, with waving wing,
Fly far, float far away ; From the age's crest, o'er the world they fling
The shade of the stainless gray.
Might, sing your triumph songs ;
Each song but sounds a shame. Go, down the world in loud voice throngs
To win from the future, Fame.
Our ballads born of tears
Will track you on your way, And win the hearts of future years
For the men who wore the gray.
Davis wore the gray ; since then
'Tis Right's and Honor's hue. He honored it, that man of men,
And wrapped it 'round the true.
Dead, but his spirit breathes;
Dead, but his heart is ours ; Dead, but his dear and sunny land wreathes
His crown with tears for flowers.
A statue for his tomb
Moulded of marble white ; For wrong a specter of Death and Doom ;
And angel of Hope for Right.
But Davis has a thousand graves
In a thousand hearts, I ween, And tear-drops fall from onr eyes in waves
That will keep his memory green.
Go, Glory, and forever guard
Our chieftain's hallowed dust, And Honor keep eternal ward,
And, Fame, be this thy trust.
Governor Lowry followed in a graceful tribute to Jefferson Davis. This tribute was grandly eloquent, perfect in diction, and went to the hearts of the old veterans.
The benediction was pronounced by Chaplain H. F. Sproles.
The unveiling, and all ceremonies incident, passed off without a single unpropitious circumstance. The crowd that attended was by
