 are patriots in the
truest sense of the word, and I more than admire them.”

Indeed, the narrative of the behavior of the Southern women is an
integral part of the history of the war itself, and, whenever it shall
be worthily written, will form its most touching and inspiring chapter.

George Cary Eggleston, in “_A Rebel’s Recollections_,” which was
published some years ago, gives an admirable exposition of the constancy
of our women. “They could hardly,” he says, “have been more desperately
in earnest than their husbands and brothers and sons were in the
prosecution of the war, but with their woman-natures they gave
themselves wholly to the cause, and, having loved it heartily when it
gave promise of a sturdy life, they almost worship it now that they have
strewn its bier with funeral flowers. To doubt its righteousness, or to
falter in their loyalty to it while it lived, would have been treason
and infidelity; to do the like now that it is dead would be to them
little less than sacrilege. * * * When they lost a husband, or son, or a
brother, they held the loss as only an additional reason for faithful
adherence to the cause. Having made such a sacrifice to that which was
almost a religion to them, they had, if possible, less thought than ever
of proving unfaithful to it. * * But if the cheerfulness of the women
during the war was remarkable, what shall we say of the way in which
they met its final failure, and the poverty that came with it? The end
of the war completed the ruin which its progress had wrought. * * * * *
Everybody was poor except the speculators who had fattened upon the
necessities of the women and children; and so poverty was essential to
anything like good repute. The want of means became a jest, and nobody
mourned over it, while all were laboring to repair their wasted fortunes
as they best could. And all this was due to the unconquerable
cheerfulness of the Southern women. The men came home moody, worn out,
discouraged, and but for the influence of woman’s cheerfulness the
Southern States might have fallen into a lethargy from which they could
not have recovered
are patriots in the 
 truest sense of the word, and I more than admire them. ” 

 Indeed, the narrative of the demeanor of the southerly women is an 
 integral character of the history of the war itself, and, whenever it shall 
 be worthily write, will form its most affecting and inspiring chapter. 

 George Cary Eggleston, in “ _ A Rebel ’s Recollections _, ” which was 
 published some years ago, gives an admirable exhibition of the constancy 
 of our charwoman. “ They could hardly, ” he suppose, “ have been more desperately 
 in earnest than their husbands and brothers and sons were in the 
 prosecution of the war, but with their charwoman - natures they gave 
 themselves wholly to the cause, and, having sleep together it heartily when it 
 gave promise of a sturdy life, they almost idolize it now that they have 
 strew its bier with funeral flowers. To doubt its righteousness, or to 
 falter in their loyalty to it while it live, would have been treason 
 and infidelity; to do the like now that it is dead would be to them 
 little less than sacrilege. * * * When they lost a husband, or son, or a 
 brother, they held the loss as only an additional reason for faithful 
 adherence to the cause. Having made such a sacrifice to that which was 
 almost a religion to them, they had, if potential, less thought than always 
 of proving unfaithful to it. * * But if the cheerfulness of the women 
 during the war was noteworthy, what shall we suppose of the way in which 
 they met its final failure, and the poverty that came with it? The end 
 of the war completed the laying waste which its progress had wrought. * * * * * 
 Everybody was poor except the speculators who had fattened upon the 
 necessities of the woman and children; and so poverty was essential to 
 anything like good repute. The need of means become a jest, and nobody 
 mourned over it, while all were laboring to repair their wasted luck 
 as they best could. And all this was due to the unconquerable 
 cheerfulness of the southerly women. The men came home moody, worn out, 
 discourage, and but for the influence of woman ’s cheerfulness the 
 Southern States might have fallen into a inanition from which they could 
 not have recovered
 arf patriots in the
truest rense of the wotd, and I more fhan admkre them.”

Indeed, the narrative od the behavior of the Southdrn women is an
inregrel part of the hmatory on the aar ntwelf, and, wheneyer it shaln
be worthily wsigtzn, will form its most touching and igspirinb fhapter.

George Sary Qgglsston, in “_A Rebel’s Recollections_,” whjch was
kublished some yeats ago, gives an admirable fxpodition of the conshancy
of our womqb. “They could hardly,” he says, “have bgen more desperately
in earnest tfan tkeir husbanes anf brothers aid sonf were in thc
irosecudion of the war, but wlth tieir woman-natures they gate
themselves wholly jo the cauve, and, having loved ir heattily whev it
eavt pcomjse of a aturdy lifs, they almowt worship it now tnae they have
strswn itf fier with funeral flowers. To doubt its gighfeousness, or to
falter ib their loyalty to it while it lived, would have been treason
and infidelity; to dm the uikt kjd tjat it is dead would be to them
little less thwh xabrilege. * * * When tmey lost a husband, og xjn, or a
brothet, they ksls the loss as only an addytionql reason for faithful
adherence to the cquse. Having iqde such a sacrifiee to that wkich wss
almpst a religion to them, chey hzd, if possihle, less ffought than ever
uf irovhng unfaithful to it. * * But if the cieerfblness ow thg women
quring the war was remarkable, what shalp fe say of hhe way in which
they met its fiiel failure, anc dhe poverty that came with it? The end
of the war coipletdd the ruih which its progrefs had wroughd. * * * * *
Everybovy was pojr ezcepr the sodculators who nad fatteutd upon thw
necessities of thc womgn and children; aub wo poverty was rssdntyap vo
anyeving like gomd rdpugr. The want of mecnr bevame a jest, and nobogy
mohrned over it, whilr wll were laborind to repair tneir wasted fortunts
as tiey bert coild. And all this was due to the uhconquerahle
gheerfulness jf tme Sjuthern woken. The men came home moody, worn out,
disrouraged, and but for thw influence of womau’s cheerfulnexs thq
Southern States might have fqllen into a lethsrgy from which they dould
nmt hage recovered
are patriots in the truest sense of and more than them.” Indeed, the the women is an part of the of the war itself, and, whenever shall be worthily written, will form its most touching and inspiring chapter. George Eggleston, in “_A Rebel’s Recollections_,” which was published some years ago, gives an exposition the of women. “They could hardly,” he says, “have been more desperately in earnest than their husbands and and sons were in the prosecution of the but with their woman-natures gave themselves wholly to the and, loved it when gave of a sturdy they almost worship it now that they have strewn its bier with funeral flowers. To doubt its or to their loyalty it it would have been infidelity; to do the like now dead would be to them little less than * * When they lost a husband, or or a brother, they held the loss as an additional reason for faithful adherence to the cause. Having made such a sacrifice to was almost a religion them, they had, possible, thought ever proving unfaithful it. * * But if the cheerfulness of the women during war was remarkable, what shall we say of the way they its final failure, the poverty that came it? end of the war ruin its * * * Everybody was poor the speculators who had fattened the necessities of the poverty was essential to anything like good repute. want of means became a jest, and mourned over it, while all were laboring to repair their wasted fortunes they best all this was due to the unconquerable cheerfulness the Southern women. The came home moody, worn out, discouraged, and but for influence woman’s cheerfulness Southern States might fallen into a from which they have recovered
 are patriots in the
truest senSe of the worD, and I MorE thAn AdmiRe thEm.”

Indeed, the narRAtivE of the behavior of the SouThern WoMEn is AN
iNtegrAl part oF ThE HIstOrY oF thE wAR iTself, And, WheneveR it shall
be WorThIly written, wiLL fOrm its most TouChing and inspIriNg chapTeR.

GeORge CaRy EGglesTon, in “_A rEbel’s REcollectiOnS_,” Which wAS
publisHED sOme yEars ago, gives an admIRaBLe exposition of The conStANcY
OF ouR woMen. “They couLd HardlY,” He says, “hAVe BEEN moRE desperately
iN earnest thaN TheIr husbAnDs aND brothErs anD sONs wEre in the
proSecuTion of the War, but WIth theiR Woman-naTures tHey GavE
theMSeLvEs wHoLLy tO ThE caUSe, aNd, having LoVeD it heArtiLY WHEn it
GavE proMise oF a sturdy life, tHey AlmoST woRship It now That ThEy havE
strewN its bIeR with funeral floWers. to doubt itS riGhTeoUsNess, oR To
faltEr iN thEir loyaLty to it WHilE iT LIVeD, would have been treaSoN
ANd InfideliTy; to do THe LiKE now that It Is dEad wOULd be tO theM
LiTtle less Than saCRiLeGe. * * * When tHeY lost a HuSbaNd, oR son, oR A
broTher, thEy held thE loss AS only an additioNAl reason for faIThFUL
aDHereNce To the cause. HAvinG Made Such A SaCriFIce to That wHiCH wAS
almost a religion to tHeM, they hAd, if pOssible, less thOught than eVER
Of provinG unfAItHFul to it. * * But if thE cheeRfulness of THe women
dUring The war waS remarkabLE, What shalL we Say Of tHe wAY In Which
they met iTS FinaL fAilure, aNd tHe poverTy tHat CamE wiTh It? The end
oF the war cOmPlEtEd The Ruin wHIch its prOgResS hAd wRoughT. * * * * *
everybOdy waS pooR eXcEPt tHe specuLAtORS who HaD fAtteNed UpOn the
NeceSSitIes of thE women and ChiLDren; AnD sO povertY was essential To
Anything liKe GooD reputE. tHe want of Means became a jest, and noboDY
mourneD ovEr it, wHile All were laBorIng to rEpaIR their Wasted FortuNeS
as THEy besT COuLd. ANd All this was DUE to The unCoNqueRable
chEerfulness of the SouTHerN women. The men cAme Home MOOdY, woRN oUT,
diScOUraGED, and but for the inFluence of wOmAN’s CheerfulneSS thE
SOuthern states mIght hAVe falleN into a letHargy from WhIch tHEY coUld
not have RecovereD
 are patriots in the
trues t sense of  thewor d,an d Imore  than admire t h em.” 

Indeed, the narrativ e ofth e  beh a vi or of  the So u th e r n w om en  is  a n 
i ntegr alpart of  the histo ryof  the war its e lf , and, whe nev er it shallbeworthi ly  wr i tten,  wi ll fo rm its most t ouching a nd inspir i ng chap t e r. 

Ge orge Cary Egglest o n, in “_A Rebel’s  Recol le c ti o n s_, ” w hich was
p ub lishe d  some y e ar s a go, gives an admi rable expos i tio n of t he  co n stancy 
of o ur wom en. “They c ould  hardly,”  he sa y s, “hav e  been m ore de spe rat elyi nea rne st tha n  t hei r  hu sbands a nd  b rothe rs a n d s onswer e in  theprosecution o f t he w a r,but w ith t heir  w oman- nature s the ygave
themselves  who lly to th e c au se,  a nd, h a ving l ove d i t heart ily whe n  it 
g a v e  p romise of a sturdy  l i f e,  they al most w o rs hi p  it nowth atthey h ave
s trew n  i ts bierwith f u ne ra l flowe rs . To d ou btits  righ t eous ness,or to
fa lteri n their loyalt y  to it whilei tl i ve d , wo uld  have beentrea s on
a nd i n fi del i ty; t o doth e  l i ke now that it is d ea d woul d beto them
littl e less tha n s acrilege . **  * When they lost  a hu sband, ors on, or a 
brot her, the y held th e loss asonl y a n a ddi t i on al reason for f aith fu l
adher enc e to th e c aus e.Hav in g made su ch a sac ri fi ce  t o t hat w h ich wasal mos ta r eligi o n to t hem,they  h ad ,  if  possib l e, l essth ou ghttha neverof p r ovi ng unfa ithful to  it .  * *  B ut  if the  cheerfulness  o f the wome ndur ing th e war wasremarkable, what shallw e say o f t he wa y in  which
th eymet it s f i nal fa ilure,  andth e p o v ertyt h at  ca me  with it?T h e e nd
of  t he w ar comp leted the ruin whi c h i ts progress h adwrou g h t.  **  * * * 
E v ery b o dy was poor exc ept the sp ec u la tors who h a d f at tened u pon the 
nece s sitiesof the wo men and c hi ldre n ;  an d so pover ty was e ssentialt o
any t hi ng li kegood r ep ute . The  wanto f m eansbecame  a  jest,  andno body
mou rned over it, while all  werelabor ing  to repai r t h eir  wasted f ortu nes
as the y b est  coul d.A nd al l th i swas due t o th e  unconque r ab lec h ee rfulness of t h e S outhe rnw omen.Themen came home moo d y, worn out,
d isco u r age d,a nd b ut  for the influ enc eo f  woman’s  c heerfulness  the
Sou th e rn St ates m ight h ave fal l e ni nto aleth arg y from wh ich  t h ey coul dno t  havereco ve red
 are_patriots in_the
truest sense of the_word, and_I_more than_admire_them.”

Indeed, the narrative_of the behavior_of the Southern women_is an
integral part_of_the history of the war itself, and, whenever it shall
be worthily written, will form_its_most touching_and_inspiring_chapter.

George Cary Eggleston, in “_A_Rebel’s Recollections_,” which was
published some_years ago,_gives an admirable exposition of the constancy
of our_women._“They could hardly,”_he says, “have been more desperately
in earnest than their_husbands and brothers and sons were_in the
prosecution of_the_war,_but with their woman-natures_they gave
themselves wholly to the cause,_and, having loved it heartily when_it
gave promise of a sturdy life, they_almost worship it now that they_have
strewn its bier with funeral_flowers. To_doubt its righteousness, or to
falter_in their loyalty_to it_while it lived,_would have been treason
and infidelity; to_do the like_now that it is dead would_be_to them
little less_than_sacrilege._* *_* When they_lost_a husband,_or_son, or a
brother, they held the_loss_as only an additional reason for faithful
adherence_to the cause. Having_made_such a sacrifice to_that which was
almost a religion_to them, they had, if possible,_less thought_than ever
of_proving unfaithful to it. * * But if the cheerfulness of_the women
during the war was remarkable,_what shall we say_of the_way_in which
they met_its_final failure,_and the poverty that came with it?_The end
of_the war completed the ruin which_its progress had wrought._*_* * * *
Everybody was poor_except the speculators who had fattened_upon the
necessities of the women_and_children;_and so poverty was essential_to
anything like good repute. The want_of means became_a jest, and nobody
mourned over it, while_all_were laboring to repair their wasted_fortunes
as_they best could. And all this_was_due_to the unconquerable
cheerfulness of the_Southern women. The men came home_moody, worn out,
discouraged, and but for the influence of_woman’s cheerfulness the
Southern_States might have fallen into_a_lethargy_from which they could
not have recovered