The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-20

-, 'Ao anniversary VI Cue Ulrtuu2y Oh
the second foremost OF Virginia's galaxy
of great sons, Robert e. Lee, was eele-
DRAFTED as n holiday. The feverish ac-
tivity of American life did not admit of
laying aside business cares and engag-
ing in obsorvances of the day by orations
and public dinners, and whatever of
celebration there was was confined to the
closing of banks and the public schools.
An old Confedera tie soldier held forth
to TIMES reporter as follows on tho
subject:
''1t is too early yet to properly cele-
brate the birthday of Robett E. Lee in
general manner, but l do think a
little moro notice of tho event should
havo been taken of it than the simple
closing of the public schools and the
fiscal institu lions. Indeed, the church es
should have held memorial services,
eminent divines should have preached
the virtues of the glorious leader of tho
Lost Cause, and publiNmeeting should
have been held. Even II we accept the
Northern idea that the South was
wrong in attempting to leave the sister
hood of States by force of arms, we can
not reject tho fact that the central
figure of our armed hosts was most
estimable and lovablc character. His
private life was pure, his public acts
worthy OF stimulation in spite of the
fact that for five years he was esteemed
Il rebel by majority of the Northern
people. The Northern people cherish ten
der memories of their leaders, and we re-
spect those feelings and join with them
in landing their dead. We admire their
heroes, and as the generation of to-day
passes away tho South will celebrate
anniversaries of Northern heroes in
common with their fathers former foes.
but there is 4 sentimental holy
sentiment-attached to the Lost Cause.
II ltwere crime to love our crstwhile
leaders and heroes we would all gladly
be criminals, and the most thoroughly
reconstructed man in the South cannot
be divorced from that love.
Permit me to indulge tho hope that
all of us will unite next year, under the
flag of a reunited country, in properly
celebrating the virtues of that noble,
though defeated, soldier and Christian
gentleman Robert e. Lee, and that
Roanoke, the amalgamation OF all seq
lions OF the country-North and South
be foremost in so DOING
TIE DISCREPANCIES ELsEwHERE
RICHMOND, Va. Jan. 10 Special
To-day the first public observance of
Gen. K. Il. Lees birthday was cclc-
DRAFTED by tho principal cities through
out the commonwealth. The State and
municipal Offices, and banks were all
closed and business was quite generally
suspended. No 22d Of February or lth
of July has been so universally ccle-
bratod since the close of the war rs was
to-day. In this city the parade was
strictly military one, participated in
by veteran. cavalry and artillery nnder
the supervision of Lee camp of Con-
federatc veterans, who paraded through
tho principal streets, thence to Lee
monument. where thousands of pcople
were gathered.
On the arrival of the procession the
band played popular Southern airs and
the infantry and artillery fired q salute.
Tonight Lee camp gave a banquet
which was attended by Governor McKin-
ley, Mayor Ellyson, and other distin-
guished citizens
Here and there along tho streets on
the line OF march, which was thronged
with people, the Confederate flag was
observed in addition to other bunting
flung to the breeze.
DANvHLE, Va, Jan. 10.-[Speciall-
otherwise there was no formal obscry-
ance of General Lees birthday. Very
few people took Il holiday and business
went on much tho same as usual.
NORFOLK, Va, Jan. 10 Special
The first celebration OF the birthday of
General IL. Il. Lee was observed here
to-day. Tho procession was an imposing
orc and composed Of civic societies, the
militia and cx-Confederatc veterans.
There were X-Confcdcratcs in line who
had not appeared in line since the war.
PETERSBURG, Jan. 10 Special -
General Lees birthday was most appro-
priatcly observed in Petersburg. Busi-
ness was suspended and the public
schools closed. Statutes were fred by
the Il. Il. Ice battery at sunrise. Al
noon there was big parade OF military.
Confederate veterans. civic societies. tho
fire department, the police and school
boys. Ex-Govcrnor VIM. T.. Cameron
was chief marshal. Tho stores and
dwellings, along The line OF march were
deliberately decorated with flags and
bunting. Interesting exercises were
held at the Academy of Music in the
presence OF an audience which filled the
building. Prayer was offered by the
Rev. c. j. ellison. An address was de-
livered by Mayor Charles j. Collier
ATLANTA. Jan. 10 Special Lees
birthday, which is legal holiday in
Georgia, was celebrated here under the
auspices OF the Virginia Society. Banks
and public Offices were closed, and the
postofiice kept regular holiday hours
io-nlghtat the capitol Captain w. Cor
don McCabc, of Petersburg, Va. de-
livcrcd an address 10 the public upon
Lee and the Defense OF Petersburg"
After the address Can't McCabc was