Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-09

| should b A ode and the esAndest orchss-
| ira that tho South can supply.
| These arc the principal features which
occur 70 mo ct this time. Nov IL our OPP
| portunity.
rur PRIVATE soLprxss' MONUMENT.
"The t,ay on WHICH the statue II un-
yelled which is to perpetuate the fame bf
their immortal leader will be an suspicious
OCCASION" said ex-Police-Justice ID. q.
Richardson, "for laying the cornerstone
of the monument to be erected to the
memory of the private soldiers and sailors
| of the Confectionery. The cornerstone OF
/; the monument to be on Libbys Hill can be
| laid on the morning of that day and the
unwilling ceremonies take place after
| wards without any change of the usual
order OF exercises on such.occasions."
xAKx IT MEMORABLE OCCASION.
"Sound the trumpet at daybrcak. roar the
cannon at SUNRISE suspend business OF oil
kinds, parade the employees OF the various
workshops as distinctive organizations.
put the city in gala attire with bunting.
streamers, and unusual decorations, both
business places and residences. Parade
FIRE. police. street. water. gas, and all de-
partments: in a word. make 1t the greatest
event the city has ever known. and our
children should be indelibly impressed
with the idea that General Robert Il, Lee
was the greatest. noblest, and best be-
loved Virginian of his day" is the view
of Captain Charles +. Taylor
sHAM-BATTLE.
"I would suggest as the most interesting
ending Of the day of celebration OF the Lee
monument unwilling in May o "sham-bat-
. A. - N
and home military: this TO be under the
command of the senior officer OF the Viz
pinia volunteers at the Exposition-G Grounds.
and that q moderate entrance fee be charged,
which should go to one of the most de-
serving organizations in this or any other
State--the First Regiment Virginia Volun-
teers."
This is the idea of Major William NJ.
Evans, of the brigade staff.
COMPETITIVE DRILL.
al think that your present programme
of itself would be attractive, but another
feature may be added which might bring
a great many people from distance"
said MIR. Joseph S. Potts. passenger
agent of the Richmond and Danville
Railroad Company. "A competitive drill
for prize of $1,000. open only to
military from States which formerly
composed the Confederacy. might be an
indueement for Atlanta. Charleston. Savan-
main, Montgomery, and other southern
cities to send companies here to compete.
These companies will also add greatly to
your street pageant" he added.
BRING TOGETHER THE SKELETON RANKS
General Thomas l.. Rosser answered by
letter from Rugby Hall, Albemarle county.
saving that think the " Army of Northern
Virginia" in skeleton as it now Is, should
be represented in the parade OF veterans at
the Lee monument unwilling in May.
Each corps should be present and COM
manded by its ranking survivor. and I'M
der han should follow each division, bril-
gade, and regiment in its proper place and
under its ranking surviving officer.
think the organization of the army should
DO taken when at the zenith of its glory
the fights around Richmond in 1862,
when dear old "Stonewall" and II. L Lee
were together.
THE PRESENT PROGRAMME ENOUGH.
II think what has been arranged quite
enough" said Captain w. Gordon McCabe,
of Petersburg. THE ceremonies should be
imposing, yet simple. as BELTS The noble
simplicity which marked every action and
utterance of our great Captain.
That the ceremonies will be imposing
may be safely predicted, for apart from the
volunteers the indications are that there
will be present on that day the greatest
gathering of the surviving veterans of the
Army of Northern Virginia ever seen by
this generation.
Equally sure are we of an grafton worthy
the theme.
Let us not mar this severe simplicity by
any popular feature" whatsoever.
THE woMEs's PART
Said Professor II. II. Harris, of Rich
mond College: In the otherwise admira-
bic arrangements for unwilling the Lee
monument, so far as they have come to my
knowledge. is one conspicuous lack. The
most devoted and self-sacrificing uphold
ers of the Lost Cause were our noble
southern women. They, too, have labored
most in raising funds to build the monu-
ment. They will in great numbers grace
the occasion with the charm OF their pres
ence. But ought they not to take some
suitable part beyond that of silent specta-
tors?
MAY is a month of verdure and blossom.
Suppose a number OF ladies be selected to
array themselves as vestals and close the
public exercises by weaving a garland of
fiowers-not costly exotics, but sweet ma
tlves of the sacred soil-around the base of
the pedestal. Thus shall woman put.
modestly and quietly, as Is her wont, the
finishing touch to theimposing ceremonies
and lay fragrance and beauty, emblems of
herself. at the feet of the grand old hero.
REMEMBER OUR LEADERS.
DIR. J. William Jones: The arrange
ments for unwilling the Lee monument
the parade of volunteers and veterans.
the prayer. the grafton, &c.-seem to me
TO leave nothing to be added, and are in
such good hands that / hesitate to make
any further suggestions.
believe that it Is understood that the
A., So hor ,i,ta Acc
Is to have its reunion and Grafton that
night, and their committee will no doubt
provide for rally of old Confederates
such as we have not had for long time.
If now the Virginia Legislature will fol-
low the example so gracefully set by
Georgia and make General Lees birthday
the 10Th of January--a legal holiday"
fix upon that day for an annual celebra-
ton, it will greatly help to keep green the
memory of Lee III the hearts of our people,
and to teach the rising generation what
true, noble, pure, grand man he was, and
how worthy to take his place among the
greatest and best of all the worlds history.
PUT THE scHooL-cHrLDREN IN THE PRO-
GRAMME.
DIFFERING to the judgment of our ex-
cellent superintendent of the City Schools,
William +. Fox, Esq.,, would suggest as
suitable and popular feature of the
exercises incident upon the unwilling of
the Lee monument the presence of the
pupils of the public schools of this city,"
So said Mr.. K. A. Brock and he added:
1T would be an impressive tribute to the
fruitfully- blessed efforts of the closing |
years of the noble life of the hero-educa-
tor. who, abjuring the most tempting al |
lurements of pecuniary ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. |
steadfastly dedicated himself and his in
spring influence TO the so-essential cduca- |
ton and just encouragement of the youth |
of his country in their changed circum- |
stances of life. Let, therefore. the school |
children of Richmond have a joyous holt |
day on the suspicious May-day and at |
tend the ceremonies in body. would |
have the girls at least bear flowers to cast |
in reverential tribute about the monument |
of Lee, the peerless soldier and hero, and |
the yet grander, self-sacrifcing president |
of Washington and Lee University"
BRING OUT THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN HIS |
TATTERED GRAY.
DR.. J. ]. Lafferty: The day for the I'M
yelling of the statue of Lee will bring to-
gether for the last time the remnant of the |
" Army of Northern Virginia." within
500 oh &c THE c,tv Thay abonl1 coma in