Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-30
CONFEDERATE REUNION.

ern veterans are again IN evidence IN
the city. The annual convention OF
the United Confederate Veterans open
ed to-day, and the city is already rapid
ly filling up with those who will COM
pose the vast throng.
The convention is held at the EXPOSE
ton grounds, about mile from the city,
and in the music hall, which has been
enlarged for the occasion go as to seat
10000 persons.
The principal business before the
convention will be the reception and
disposition of the report of the commit
tee on southern history, and the deter
mination of the location of the South
ern Battle Abbey.
New Orleans is making determined
fight for this prize. The Crescent City
people say that they are not only pre-,
pared to offer splendid site, but Will
put up money, too. Richmond, Nash.
vile, Washington and Atlanta are hard
at work pushing their claims.
The convention was called to order
this morning at 10 o'clock by General
John B. Gordon, general commanding
the United Veterans, and most of the
morning was taken up in speeches OF
welcome, etc. 1t is hardly probable
that much real business will be done
before the second day.
The Auditorium has been handsome
ly decorated. Over the immense stage
is large painting of Virginia's coat OF
arms. On the right is lifesize paint
ing of General Lee and on the left an
other of General Jackson. Around the
rail of the galleries are coats of arms OF
the southern States shrouded in bunt-
ing. The flags of the Confederacy and
of the southern States are everywhere
conspicuous. On the posts above the
galleries are banners bearing the
names of generals of the Confederacy.
On entering the big building to the
left is to be seen sign reading "Wel-
come, Confederate Veterans" and on
the right is another with these words,
"Welcome, Sons of Confederate Vet
erans.n There are tables enough for o
thousand men to eat at one time. The
veterans will use tin plates and tin
cups.
The first social function of the re-
union was the reception at the Confed-
crate White House yesterday evening
OF the regents of the Confederate Mu-
scum. 1t was largely attended by the
most prominent society ladies in the
city. All of the sponsors and their
maids of honor who have reached the
city were in attendance. Miss Payne,
the sponsor for the District of Colum.
bia, and the ladies who accompanied
her, reached there too late to be pres.
emit, as did also Mrs. Jefferson Davis.
Mrs. Davis was met at the depot by
Hon. ]. Taylor Ellyson, president Of
the Davis Monument Association, and
driven to the Jefferson Hotel, where
rooms had been engaged for her. She
was quite i'll few days ago and it was
feared that she would not be able to
attend this reunion. AS stated yester.
day, her daughter, Miss Winnie, will
not be present.
General Gordon, the head of the
United Confederate Veterans, arrived
last night.
The design for the Jefferson Davis
monument, the cornerstone of which
is to be laid on Thursday, i5 that furn-
ished by Mr.. Percy Griffin, of New
York. His plan was adopted by the
committee of design, composed of we'll.
known gentlemen of Richmond. The
choice was approved last night at
Joint meeting of the members of the
Davis monument board and the monu-
ment committee of the United Veter-
ans. There we're twenty-seven COM
petitors, included among whom were
some of the first architects of this coun-
try. Mr.. Griffin's plan was awarded
the first prize, Mr.. E. S. Rogers, of
Richmond, second, and Mr.. w. S.
Nolan, of Richmond, third.
The monument is mausoleum not
unlike in appearance to the admins
tration building at the Worlds Fair,
and will be built of Tuckahoe granite,
and contain statue of Davis under
the dome. The estimated cost is $780,
600.
The history committee of the United
Confederate Veterans met in the hall of
the House of Representatives yester.
day. This committee, primarily formed
to select and recommend to the south.
ern schools books containing a history
of the war not prejudicial to the South,
as they claim certain northern histories
are, has taken wider scope, and yes
terday formulated report which also
recommends that a monument be erect
ed to the women of the South. The
report is q voluminous paper, and, it is
said, contains much interesting informa-
ton. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, of Missis-
sippi, is the chairman of the committee.
They also appointed a special COM
mittee to look into the question of con-
verting the battleields around Fred
ericksburg into public parks. They
recommended several histories of the
war to be used in the public schools.
When Governor O'Ferrall returned
from the memorial services at st. Paul 8
Church Sunday night, conducted by
Bishop Peterkin, in memory of Jef1er-
son Davis, and entered the grounds of
the executive mansion, accompanied by
the members of bis staff in uniform, he
was accosted by half dozen boys, the
sons of reputable citizens. One, who
ACTED as spokesman, requested permits
sion for them to place a Confederate
flag in the bronze hand of the figure of
Washington on the big stature in Capi-
toll Square. Governor Q'Ferrall repli-
ed that inasmuch as General Washing,
ton had nothing to do with the Oonfed. |