The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
CLASPED HANDSAGAIN.
General Longstreet's Name Held
in Honor.
The Georgia Press Association Entertained
by Mrs. General Longstrect-inci-
dents of the Occasion.

GAINRsvnLE, Ga, July Especial. For
four years General Longstreet was the bull
dog Of the confederacy.
in the carnage Of battle inthc gloom and
disaster Of conflicting arms, his towering form
was the object around which the hosts OF the
confcderacy rallied. When victory crowned
the arms of the men in gray, it was Longstreet
who lead the way and when defeat drove them
hack 1t was LongstIeet who contested every
inch Of ground, and proved that while south
ern men might be defeated, they could never
be routed.
In the piping days Of peace, however, when
weak men became brave in the absence OF tie
enemy, brave men, who had borne the brunt OF
the battle, sought n revival OF the fraternal re-
lations which should never have been broken.
Longstreet, who in war had earned the right
to hold what opinions he pleased in time OF
peace, fell victim to that prejudice which Is
SO unreasoning that few men dare to fight 1t.
And thus it happened that for over twenty
years there was gulf between the hero, whose
right arm was Lees strongest support, ana
tho men who had so often followed his lead
into the very jaws of death.
When Mrs. Longstreet asked the Georgia
press convention to meet her under her own
roof the Longstreet of the past twenty years
passed in panoramic review, But it was only
momentary, and then the gallant figure which
had led SO many a hard-won fight looined up.
IL was the Longstreet of 1864, the Longstreet
whose name is already recorded in history, and
the I0ngstreet whose name Will live In song
and story while memory OF the confcderacy
lasts, At the mention of his name by the lips
OF a woman that woman his wife, that Wie
type Of the womanhood OF the south which
had excelled the record Of its sex in devotion
to home and people, a mighty cheer went up,
and private and commander were rs one
again. Longstrcct was once more IN the sad
men us ready TO do his bidding as ever gather
ed to his side in the army OF Northern Viz
ginia.
Thus tho scene presented in the beautiful
parlO!S of Mrs. Longstreet in the Piedmont
hotel became historic and one well worthy of
painters brush. The honors of the occasion
were dispensed by Mrs Longstreet, sur
rounded by Miss Lula Longstrcet, Mrs. Ken
dali, Mrs. Ross, Miss Edmondson, Miss Bar
nett, Miss Sanders, Miss Aycook and many
other ladies. Captain II. w. Newman, Of
Canton, who happened to be here on business,
was drafted by the association to make the in
Productions, which he did in happy manner.
Advancing toward the distinguished lady,
Captain Newman said:
Mrs Longsreet IN behalf of the Georgia Weekly
Press ASSOCIATION, to thank you for this
dial reception, and TO ay honor TO the wife of one
who so gl0rlously illustrated southern Valor and de-
Tended the virtue OF our mothers and daughters.
Mother, the sweetest name that was ever ltsped by
Saxon tongue. When Douglass the Scottish chief,
went to regain the tomb of our blessed Savior from
the hands of the iniidels he carried the
heart of , Bruce in a a, golden casket ana
holly pressed he threw the casket in theTanks of tie
enemy and said: go, brave heart, will follow
thee or die" Your gallant husband was the heart
Of Bruce 10 the army of northern Virginia, and
when he gave the command they would follow him
20 victory or TO death. We hope that your lives
may he long spared as henedictpn to your coun-
try. May gentle winds and fair gales wait thee to
mansions on high to house not made with hands
eternal In the heavens. You win now be intro
duced to the members of the Weekly Press assoca
ton Individually.
Mrs. Longstrcet in whose eyes tears had
gathered as she listened to the eloquent words
Of the gallant orator, grasped him firmly by
tho hind and said fervently:
u am 50 glad to meet my people. My only
regtct Is that my husband is not here to hear
yourwords. know how they would touch
his heart. ~
Tor each one Mrs. Longstreet had pleasant
word or an encouraging SMILE When Mr..
Moore, of the Crawfordvile Democrat was
introduced, she said eve are all democrats
now" The applause which followed this was
only cqualled by that which came, when to
Mr.. Farrell, an cX-federal soldier. she said:
1--WE were on different sides during the war
but we are all in the union now"
Before taking leave of Mrs. Longstreet, Col
following resolution, which was unanimously
passed:
Resolved, Tint the members OF the Georgia
Weekly Press association hereby tender their sin.
cerest thanks 90 MIS-. General LongstrccU for the
hoSWtAbie reception given us and express our
upiegned regrets at the absence of her distin-
gushCd husband, whose name is loved and revcred
by all who wore the gray and who love the beau
teous southland.