The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-21

whom it is addressed by the ladies who
nave converted the White House of the
Confederacy into Il museum, which they
hope to eventually develop into IA great
Southern Battle Abbey
The Confederate Museum i'm the LETTER
Il son Davis mansion in Richmond, Va,
4 has been formally opened for visitors,
ana although still incomplete as to its
nnnl arrangements and full collection,
II Is fast assuming proportions which
will call for more room Judging
from its success SO far, the door fees and
sales of souvenirs will meet the current
expenses. Visitors from California and
Il Minnesota, Oh the West and North.
and all the way down from the East to
the South are already registered
fourtccn states are represented in these
rooms, with vicc-rcgents and regents i'll
i each State, who are earnestly. but quietly
at work. In fact this work. which is
now so far advanced. has been done 80
quietly that only those who have been
| laborin", realize that this museum is
more than local institution. The
society was started in February, 1890
K with exactly the design and scope of what
has later become 50 well known as shc
i battle Abbey of the South. "pushcd 50
eagerly by the soldier patriot. Charles h.
fou>s. Wuman-lkc, interchangeable zeal
/ and labor ha, been quietly given. withou,
and unWomIu-!ikc. with not much talk
Every hard earned dollar has been
expended OnlN where ii seemed to bring
substantial returns until now the man
sion and grounds donated by the city).
repairs. fire prpOing, restoring he build
ing 20 it, Original appearance, etc. paid
| for 10y funds raised 10y the society. rep
resent not les than $50. 900 to $50. 900
1t has probably been II mistake that the
society has not made known more ex-
tcnsivcly it, aim and its success. There
hats been during these years. II steady coli
\ lection of relics and there is i'm actual
T possession not only relics but documents
and manuscripts of untold value. The
Southern Historical Society, in which
can be found the most valuable and re
liable records and data for the lover of
truth and the future historian) except
in the War Records Office. in
Washington. d. c., may he designated
as II part OF this society. having become
permanently established in this mansion
In the Georgia room will be found the
Mary de Rcune collections. one of the
most valuable and extensive collections
of southern. together with other papers
and relics i'm existence. This lady began
her work early in the war in behalf
of AN historical society, spmring no trou-
bile or expense and using all her personal
Influence aul responsiveness. which was
great, To secure for love what could not
he bought for money.
The grounds belonging to this dwell
ling are sufficiently extended To permit
the erection al "a building. such a. will
he required for the Battle Abbey of the
South, and already it is shown that an
additional building will soon be re-
quircd,. Cannot these grounds. now in
such beautiful order, which could he sccur-
ed free of cost. he utilized by Mr. Rouss
and the veterans Cannot this sixty odd
thousand dollars. already raised and
wisely expended IN securing the greatest
relic of all, The White House of Confcd-
crncy," and it, contents, be combined
with the effort on foot by this latter
movement: When this society WAS
formed in 1890 there had been no PROPOSE
iion anywhere TO establish II national
memorial hall tif such Il term is allow
ablc); and that it should he national, in
the nations capital, seemed lust and
right in eternal fitness of things Added
To the reason that the capital represented
alike every State of the Confcderacv,
which no other place could do, were the
sacred associations in the hearts of sol
dicr> from every State. who fought i'm
desperate combat at the gates of this eta
del; and the undying love and sorrow of
women in every state, whose loved ones "
ing sleeping in Hollywood and Oakwood
those men whose lives were given IL
willing sacrifice at these gates
1t WAS through the loving thought of
the women of Richmond that this en-
dcavor to establish Il Battle Abbey in
Richmond would he carrying out the
wish OF every veteran of their beloved
cause; and 1t was undertaken in the be-
lief that every one of them would sus.
tain this effort to their fullest ability
Should these veterans decide that some
other spot can better represent the Con.
federacy there will he no word of com.
plant. As it was through the will of
the Southern people that Richmond
should be their representative in the
past, she gladly accepted the trust: and
as she stood at the front. amid the shock
OF battle, while her fields were bathed
III blood, So again, if this honor and
crown be placed upon anothcr's brow she
will stand
Tho childless and crownlcss in her
Voiccle-s woe
content that there will he done
This hall must needs stand aS is: the
mouse by its charter goes back to the city
il ceasing Ia he used thus. its relics
were donated 10 90 into that house, and
rs sacred trust it must remain as il is.
Nirginia's most sacred and precious
memorials are pledged and given here
Lee :, jackson =, Stuart's. iiiil'S-aud
cannot be removed. 80 in the great Battle
Abbey, If planted elsewhere, there can
he hut - small representation of this old
battle sacred State
The Battle Abbey feature has been oh
served in the collection Of all relies. the
ladies making the eifor6 to- obtain with
every relic the name and record of sou,.
soldier, and donations are requested 70 bo
sent in memory of some soldier who.,
uutpp aud record Shall l,f. ir..-;I...,l -