Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-12
IT SHOULD BE HERE
Delightful Letter Why Richmond Should
Haze The Memorial Institute
ARGUMENT OF A TENNESSEE LADY.
Mrs. Charles II. Hyde Writes Most
Enterfainingly and ConvfncinxIy
cries Cluster Around the City.

Mrs. Ammo Bachman Hyde, the accom-
plished wife OF Rev Charles r. Hyde.
pastor OF the Third Presbyterian church. OF
this city, has written TO the CHATTANOOGA
Times. her homo paper, the following
beautiful letter, setting forth many rea-
sons why tho great memorial hall of the
South should DO located in the city OF
Richmond, which communication was pub
lished in full in last Sundays issue of the
paper mentioned:
Where the great Battle Abbey of the
South IL 10 be located is a question to be
decided in the future; where the founda-
ton is already laid is IN assured fact.
Five years before Mr.. Charles Broad
way Rouss suggested the Battle Abbey
idea, and so generously offered his thou
sands to aid 1t, q band OF Virginia women
were working out that very scheme.
An appeal for the support of the Rich
mond Museum. signed by the president,
Mrs. Joseph Bryan. and the secretary,
Mrs. Lizzie Carey Daniel. will soon be
sent TO all the Confederate camps I'm the
South The object Of this article is merely
10 stimulate an individual interest in the
laudable object OF maintaining this
museum.
As a Tennessean, l am loyal TO my
native State, whose every mountain and
stream are dear TO me- and heartily would
/ echo her desire to Secure the Battle
Abbey, did not Virginia seem the fitting
and proper place for IL.
This was the home Of "the great i'm
mortals'-Lee, Jackson, and Stuart-and
here upon tho soil for which they fought,
bled, and died, they lie sleeping. Here In
fair Hollywood, above the falls of the
historic James. and in Quieter lakewood,
thousands OF southern soldiers are at rest;
but their graves are tenderly cared for
~ the daughters OF the old Dominion.
Richmond was the beloved capital Of the
Confederacy, the Mecca OF the hopes of
thousands, who, amid prayers and tears,
saw those hopes vanish.
Almost every foot of ground for miles
around has been red with blood, and
Richmond sat upon her seven hills. nd,
trembling, saw almost hundred battles.
To paraphrase Byron
"Oh, Richmond, mother OF the South,
The orphans OF the heart turn to thee,
Lone mother OF dead warriorsl"
MEMORIAL LITERARY SOCIETY.
In May. 1890 the Confederate Memorial
Literary Society was chartered. whose
object was TO securea suitable building
allot to each Southern State a room. and
place In them relies, papers, and records
pertaining TO the history OF the Confede-
rate states during the late war; which
object IS the very essence Of the Battle
Abbey idea. The city In 1873, very
generously turned over to this society
the handsome building, now the Confede-
rate Museum, formerly known as the
White House OF the Confederacy.
This handsome mansion, on the corner
Of Twelfth and Clay streets, was built
about ISL, for a private residence, By
Judge Brockenbrough, and IL splendid
type Of that style Of architecture fast
| vanishing away. 1t Is four stories in
height. including the basement, and has
email square porch in front. In the
rear 81 "A very wide portico. running the
entire length OF the house, supported by
large white pillars similar to those al
the Hermitage, near Nashville, which
reach to the second floor and give a
more imposing appearance TO the rear
than the front Of the house.
When President Davis moved from
/ Montgomery 10 Richmond, the city pur-
chased this dwelling for $4,000 and pre-
| scented Il 70 him. He would not ac-
cept II as a gift but occupied it during
his official residence there.
And in this home was the fair "Daugh-
| ter Of the Confederacy." Miss Winnie
| Davis born.
The Memorial Literary Society have ex-
| pended I'm repairs upon the building about
| $1,000. most OF which was raised by a
bazaar, held in March, 1898. to which
every Southern State contributed.
The house has been made hre-proof,
the oaken staircases have been removed
| and iron ones. exactly similar. put ia
their place. The doors and windows
have been Reproduced as they were when
President Davis occupied the house. The
original chandeliers and mantels Of
Cararra marble are still In use. The
house ia painted q beautiful light gray
and Is surrounded by ample grounds laid
| of I'm handsome plots and walks
Upon entering the building you reach
! first a small hall with rounded ends,
| In which are inches, each containing a
bronze Hfe-sze female statue. lmmedi-
ately to the right Is the small room
which was Mrs. Daviss private sitting
room. and in which the President held
his important councils with General Lee,
Jackson. and others. THIS room now be-
longs 20 Mississippi. and in it can be seen
an original copy OF the last issue Of tho
Vicksburg Daily Citizen. printed on wall
paper. the day before tho surrender. July
3, 1853.
GEORGIA ROOM
The Mississippi Room opens into the
Georgia Room, which probably contain.
the most valuable relies in the Museum
as IL embraces the Mary do Renne collec-
ton, which was presented 70 this room
by her son, Dr. de Renne. OF Macon. Ga
Among other things Is what for lack
of political knowledge, I would call The
Declaration Of Secession" the original
copy. q parchment roll . feet In length
signed by all the illustrious names Of the
south. A bookcase contains large num-
her Of very valuable books relating to tbs
history OF the late war. over the mante
Ia a miniature OF the dashing cavalry
leader OF Virginia.; beneath 1t. written IL
that fair, beautiful hand, is-"In war
time. September 3. 1853. J. Il. II. Stuart.
The laughing blue eyes, the merry
smile. are all before you; the large gray
hat with the floating plume, pinned W
on the left side with a single star. The
beaming countenance seems 10 speak, and
YOU can almost hear that winning voice
'If YOU want 70 have good time. boys,
ioin the cavalry" That voice was hushed
at yellow Tavern many years ago, but
across the hall in the Virginia Room you
can gaze upon that same faded gray hal
and plume and star which Is here pictured
before you. for they are labelled "Jet
Stuart, worn 1sSS-'6i."
ono memento in the Georgia Room
makes every mothers heart ache When
the remains Of Georgia boy, who was
buried al Dutch GAP during the war. Were
brought TO Hollywood TO be relnterred IN
1898. there were found In his pocket a
marble and a whet-rock. Poor, little sol
der boy, away from home and mother
..But little he'll reck IL they will let him