North View High School - Southside Echoes Yearbook (North View, VA)

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34 SOUTH SIDE ECHOES of war has lifted, the South is again united; the old wounds of war are healed ; there remains no ill feeling or enmity any- where. Consequently the South now enjoys prosperity and peace. “Sadly, but not with upbraiding, The generous deed was done; In the storm of the years that are fading, No braver battle was won; — Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment day; Under the blossoms the blue; Under the garland the gray. No more shall the war cry sever, Or the winding rivers be red; They banish our anger forever, When they laurel the graves of our dead. Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the judgment day; . Love and tears for the blue, Tears and love for the gray.” We will only say a few words of the sad return of the old soldiers, to find their homes and everything either destroyed or fallen into ruin. They did not sit down to rest, as it were, but were up and doing with a cheerful and resolute heart. The reconstruction progressed rapidly. New inventions were made, new industries adopted and progress became general and rapid. This advancement is still continuing. Education is taking a great bound and is making greater progress than before. It is the awakening of the South in all its glory and joy. Phcenix- like, she rises and advances, never pausing or taking any step backward, but ever pursuing and ever achieving, she pushes onward. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” which can well be said of the Southland. It seemed like fairyland to the old

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SOUTHSIDE ECHOES 33 George Washington, was a Southerner. He was a noble Vir- ginian, who by his ability, good judgment, patriotic spirit and Christian character, filled the presidential chair two terms. Washington was also our mainstay in the Revolutionary War. There, too, was another — Calhoun, from South Carolina, who was a great aid to the South as a Senator. We must mention also, Jefferson Davis, the noble, self-sacrificing Southerner who was the President of the Confederacy. And we must not forget noble Lee, whose name shall ever be immortal and who so bravely distinguished himself in the Civil War and in the educational advancement of the South. There was another also worthy of praise. Stonewall Jackson, the bravest of Con- federate generals, and who gave his life for a noble cause and one he believed to be right. From the lives of such men as these one can form his esti- mate of the Southerner. It is a noble thing to think of the Confederate soldier leaving his loved ones to what fate he knew not and going out to fight for what he deemed a just cause. The cause for which they went to give their life, if necessary. And, alas ! for it to be the Lost Cause. But was it indeed lost ! No, it was not that, because of the heroic examples given the world, of brave, gallant and loyal deeds done to defend their beloved South. They can never be forgotten and always will be an inspiration for noble things. The Confederate name will ever remain a synonym for bravery and devotion to prin- ciple. It is, indeed, a joy to see these same old soldiers remain faithful and loyal to the Stars and Stripes, and enthusiastic and joyous in the glory of their country. The war seemed as a dark gloom settling down over the country. But this was not to last always, for though not vic- torious, yet not conquered, but only outnumbered, the South- erners returned to their homes and commenced the work of reconstruction. We pass over reconstruction days with a shud- der, all joy seems forever gone. But now that the dark cloud

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SOUTH SIDE ECHOES 35 voyagers and discoverers when they came to the southern coast of the Atlantic and found beautiful orange groves, waving forests, and fields green with corn. So now it seems to new- comers to this country. The South still has a wealth of beauty. There are many beautiful cities, rivers and mountains, as well as other kinds of scenery that would fill anyone with wonder and joy. Oh! what a great joy and blessing it is to live in such a land of delight. May the South still continue to enjoy peace and prosperity and delight in its joys through the ages to come! We are proud of our native land and we will be loyal to its best tradi- tions. Long live the Southland ! Lizzie Webb Petty, ’oS.