Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-27
Southern Beauties.

Atthe Confederate reunion at Birm-
jncham, Ala, this week, a series of his
toricel and dramatic entertainments
were arranged for. Old negroes, famous
plantation songs, musicians rendered
iavorite aad iamo us southern melodies,
veterans appeared in the tableauX of
camp scenes, and the domestic side of
Dixie during the war was properly il
lustrated.
4 Confederate Galaxy of Beauty"
was organized. 1t consisted OF one
Young woman from each southern
State whois supposedly the handsomest
girl in her Commonwealth.
Miss +. :. Clark, of Newport News,
Nirsinia's representative in the galaxy
ofbeauty. is indeed charming woman.
She is taller than the average, OF an
exceedingly willowy. graceful carriage,
and is a decided blonde, with features
OF a Greciau mould.
incidentally it may be stated that the
Young women selected are in every case,
daughters of representative southern
families. whose ancestors have played
an important part in the history OF this
Southland. These girls were, OF course,
the sunshine of the meeting. They
were the toasts Of every occasion and
the pets ofthe army Of old soldiers.
Blt the tableiux in waich the gal
axy of beauty participated was the
feature Of these entertainments. The
first of these tableauX presented the
States in the act of secession. The
States, represented by their fair daugh-
tess, were on the stage. tach young
woman held banner ON which was
worked the coat OF arms of her Com
monwealth. The time is the fall OF
$50 and the States are excited over
the election news. when a messenger
comes in and announces that Abraham
Lincoln has been chosen Pr sit en- :.
There is alarm, excitement, unctria IL Y
among the group. Then South Caro-
Ina steps forward with the announce
lnent that She viii secede.
The other States are in alarm and
doubt as to what to do when Mis-is-
sppi steps to S5uth CMolina's side, fol-
lowed by Florida, and then Alabama.
Then the other States advance in the
order of their secession When all
come to the front the States group
themselves about Virginia and the cur
tain falls to the music of pixie.
The second tableau presented the
South after the battle of Gettysburg,
the turning point of the war, when the
back of the Confederacy is broken and
the elastic tread of an invddiag army
has been converted into Lees retreat
across the Potomac. All of the blue
ness of defeat is now staring the South
in the face. The glory and pastime of
war are now things only to be remam-
bcrcd The conflict has become 4
matter of serious and fearful impor-
tance The young women have now
doiled their festive attire. Dressed in
back they may be seen working busily
for the soldiers. Distress and priva-
ton will be depicted in many ways,
and this tableau was exceedingly pa
thetic.
The third tableau presented thesoliG
South ofto-day. Kentucky Maryland,
and Missouri have now joined the
group. The young women in this
tableau were attired in becoming Gre
clan costumes.
The fourth tableau presented the
union ofthe blue and the grey, a Fed
eral and Confederate soldier, each
dressed in his representative uniform,
standing with clasped hands. Their
arms were stacked in front OF them.
In rear of and suspended above them
WAS Columbia, the Goddess of Liberty,
beautiful girl OF Birmingham, with
her graceful arms outstretched in a
silent benediction. A legend under
meath read, "Uutcd We Stand.