The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-21
Strong Reasons Why the Suuth's Great
Museum Should Be at Richmond.
The FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WELL LAID.
Fourteen states Interested I'm FIJI
ing the white House of the Com
rcdcracs with Valuable Memen-
toes OF Cause That Les Very
pear Though lost.

& conyeited the White House of The CON
y fsierscy into museum which they nope
! 10 eventually develop into great Sou'h-
Gegn Battle Abbey:
8 The Confederate Museum IN 'he 1tl
\ ferson Davis Mansion, in Richmond
va. has been aornally opened FOR visit
o.s,. and although sail incomplete as 10
It's final arrangements and full collection
isit IS fast assuming proportions which
will call for more ROOM Judging iToi'
its success 50 far. the door ices ana sA'e
of .,soilyenirs" will meet the current
5aYnpnees Visitors from California and
sM,npesata on the West and Nonih. aiid
all the way down from the EAST 10 'he
South are already registered
Fourteen States are represented IN
these rooms with rice-regertS ana re-
gents In each state, who are earnestly
4 but quietly at work. IN iaot' ','ls 49,
which Is now so far advanced mas peen
: done so quietly that only those who nave
been laboring realize that this Museum
il more than a local institution. ne
society was started in February, 1881,
,NiIAl exactly the design and scope OIL
what has later become so well known rs
the .IBattle Abbey of the South pushed
q eaqeriy by the soldier patriot, Charles
"a. Rouss. Woman-like. indefatigabie
zeal and labor has been quietly given
without advertising, and but little publ
cation, and unwoman-liSe Win lo'
much talk Every hard-earned dollar
has been expended only where 1t seemed
to bring substantial returns, until now
the Mansion and grounds donated by
the city,, repairs. fire-proofing. restoring
the building to its original appearance
etc, paid for by funds raised by the
society represent not less than rom
$50 900 to s65, 000 1t has probably been
a mistake that the society has not made
known more extensively its aim and lis
hae l,irtnp rhpSN
years, q steady collection OF relics, ana
there is in actual possession not only
relics but documents and manuscripts
of untold value. The Southern Histori-
cal Society, in which can be found the
most valuable and reliable data for the
lover of truth and the future historian
+ Except in the War Records Office. in
washington, d. Co may be designated
as a part of this society, having be
come permanently established in this
Mansion. In the Georgia Room Will be
found the Mary de Renne collection, one
of the most valuable and extensive col
lections OF southern, tosethern with
other papers and relics in existence.
This lady began her work early In the
war in behalf of an historical society.
sparing no trouble or expense, and using
all her personal influence and per:ua-
siveness. which was great, to secure Toy
love what could not be bought for
money.
AMPLE GROUND FOR IT.
The grounds belonging ito this dwell
Ing are sufficiently extended 10 permit
the erection of n building, such as Will
be required for the Battle Abbey OF the
South. and already 1t Is shown that an
additional building will soon be required.
Cannot these grounds, now In such beau
eiful order. which could Ibe secured free
of cost. be utilized by MIR. Rouss and
the veterans? Cannot this siNty-odd
thousand dollars, already raised and
wisely expended in securing the greatest
relic OF all, THE White House of :he
Contederacy." and dts contents. be com
bined with the effort on foot. by this
later movement? When th4s society
was formed in 1890 there had BEN no
proposition anywhere to establish Ma
Rional 1,lemorial han Or such term is
ailowable): and that II should be ma
tional din the nations capital. seemed
inst and right in eternal fitness of
things Added TO this reason that the
capital represented alike every State OF
the Confederacy, which no other place
could do, were the sacred associations
In the hearts of soldiers from every
State. who fought in desperate combat
at the gates of this citadel; and the
undying love and sorrow of women in
every State, whose loved ones lie slesp-
Ing in Hollywood and Oakwood-those
men whose lives We're given q willing
sacrifice at these gateS.
THE WORK OF OUR WOMEN.
1t was Though the loving thought of
the women of Richmond that this en-
{ deavor 10 establish a Battle Abbey in
Richmond would be carrying out the
wish of every dear veteran OF their be-
foved cause; and IL was undertaken in
the belief that every one of them would
sustain this effort TO their fullest ability
Should these veterans decide that som
other spot can better represent the Con
federacy, there will be no word Of com
piaint. AS ii was through the will OF
ths Southern people that Richmond
should be their representative in the
8 past. she gladly accepted the trust; and
as she stood at the front, amid the
2 shock OF battle while her fields were
bather In blood, so. again. IL this honor
and crown be placed upon ancther's
& brow. she will stand
Tho childless and crownless in her
s voicsless Woe"
content that their Will be done
This hall must needs stand as II IS.
The house by its charte. goes back 20 the
city If ceasing to bs used thus: its relics
were donated to go into that house. ana
as sacred trust 1t must remain as Il is
, VirBinia's most sacred and precious me
mosials are pledged and given here
= Lees. Jackson's. Stuart's. Hiu's--ani
cannot be removed. so in the great Bat
3 tie Abbey, II planted elsewhere. there
: can be but small representation OF this
old cattle-scarred State.
The Battle Abbey feature has been oh
served in the con ction OF all relies. tha