Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-23
Mr.. RoYALLs LECTURE LAST NIGHT
A High Tribute to the Private Soldier
Campfire scenes and Songs

The entertainment at the Theatre last
NIGHT for the benefit of the private soldiers
and sailors monument fund was AN expe-
rience TO all who attended It.. In all OF us
features it was unique and highly enloya.
bic. The audience was one OF the largest
and most fashionable ever assembled in
the building and there were many promi-
nent people in the upper galleries..
The entertainment opened win camp
fire, which was very realistic and In whicn
familiar musical programme was carried
ont. Among the singers were Messrs.
Frank w. Cunningham. Elmore Hotchkiss,
Polk Miller. Thomas Boiling. Withers Mill
Ter. Henry Miller. Toney Miller, Judge u.
G. Minor. Charles 4. Boiling, John K. L.
Anderson. Kirk Mathews, Levin Joynes,
G. OBJ. Cowardin. James Branch, X. L.
Daniel, II. Theodore Ellyson. Harry Owen,
Ed. Hanewinckel, Hardy Pyle, Carter
Wormley, 4. A. Catlin, L, Y. Mayo, Colonel
A. w. Archer, G.. Percy Hawes. James I.
Wood. John Baseler, George Voelker.
Adolph Thilow. Richard and William
Wagener. and others.
After this Hon. ID. G. Richardson pre-
sented Mr.. William l.. Royal, the lecturer
of the evening. Mr. Richardson spoke of
Mr. ROYALS services as private solder
in the Confederate army and OF the posi-,
tion he had attained at the bar, but sald
that the highest honor he had reaped ana
the most patriotic service he had rendered
Virginia was when he threw away emolu-
ment and advised the States creditors 10
compromise with her in the settlement OF
the public debt.
The PRIVATE SOLDIER.
Mr.. Rovalps subject was: THE Life,
Times. and "reminiscences of the Private
Soldier of the Confederate Army" and
was treated in his characteristic style. lie
contended that very few of the Confede-
rate private soldiers stopped TO think
about what they were fighting for. The
truth was a big neighbor was trying 70
make them do what they didn't want TO
do, and they were ready 10 dle pt-
fore submitting. The Confederate soldier,
he said. was backed in this by the senti-
ment of the people, and in order to under
stand their inspiration one had To under
stand the people. He gave some inter
esting statistics regarding the compare
tive numbers of the two armies in Grant :
march on Richmond, and related some OF
his own thrilling experiences as scout
and as prisoner of war.
Mr.. Royal also gave some very amusing
incidents of soldier life and paid his re-
spects to both the politicians and to Gen.
eral Palmer, the commander OF the Grand
Army of the Republic. His tribute 10 the
courage and fortitude of the private sol
der and TO the Confederate tiag were most
earnest and enthusiastic.
The CAMPFIRE SCENE.
The lecture was followed by another
campfire scene and the rendition of more
familiar Confederate songs in most in
spiriting style. In this scene dance was
also introduced, and 1t Is safe to say that
seldom has the stage OF the Thea
tire been more effectively set. There
we're several stands of Confederate
colors, including the flag of the Be-
cond Virginia Cavalry, and numerous
typical Confederate camp accessories.
Three of the uniforms on the stage
were relics of Appomattox. Colonel Co.
wardin wore the uniform in which Major
Thomas A. Brander was married and sur
rendered. Mr.. Levin Joynes had on the
uniform of Sergeant-Maior James L. Co
wardin, Of the engineer corps, and Mr..
Hardy Pyle wore the jacket of Mr.. Ed
ward S. Cardozo. OF the Otey battery.
The affair was in every respect success,
and afforded an evening OF rare enjoy
ment.