Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-17

dwelt spartbcularly on the last week and
even fhe tast night before the dissolution
of oufs2zsalorous armies, relating many
of his Personal experiences. However,
most of MS time was devoted to the re-
construction period he spoke in terms
of highest praise of the loyal and law
abiding spirit of the southern warriors
as they returned to the urspeak ab e
hardshlps of private life. The south was
as great in defeat as IL would have been
in victory. Gen. Evans made a strong
plea for greater appreciation of our
southern heroes from our southern peo-
pie. He he'd up our hsroes for emulation
Let our men who are called to make tn s
country great be such men as Albert
Sidney Johnson, Robert e. Lee, StoTiswaf
Jackson ard Jefferson DAYS; and our
women,-God bless sem-let them be such
women as their confederate Mothers"
In conclusion he spoke of the Old gray
jacket and the memories which cluster
around 1t. and eff the stainless flag, now
furled forever, an1 as ne recalled these
tender "reminiscences. every veterans
head was bowed and many eyes were
dim with tears. AT the end of this very
Instructive and eloquent lecture Gen.
Evans shock hands with hundreds of his
fellow soldiers, each feeling that the ties
of eomradeship birds them just as close
together after thirty years of separation
as in 1865.
At 4:3O p. m. Grambs' orchestra gave
the usual concert, playir g several popul9r
two-steps and lively melody, ertitlad
Snap Shots" After this enjoyable
musical prelude DR.. A b. Jones intro
cuoed to the large audience Col w. II.
benson. of BIRMINGHAM. who spoke on
The Confederate Veteran" Col. Derson
said that he trusted in his theme to
arouse those sentiments that should burn
in the heart of every man who follow d
the southern cross. but his own eIeauant
words caused the hearts Of his hearers,
young and Old. to burn with the same
patrieffe sentiments which imhued the
f'sroes of 1861. Throughput the entire
speech he expressed himself in language
so ehaste and eloquent as to challenge the
7dmiration OF the most critical. AT the
first of his lecture he spoke Of those
causes which produced the rem9rka be
character of the confederate veteran. He
then went back to the Beginning of our
nsleenal history three things must be
considered-the deyelepme mt Of the yenti-
merit Of unfonism which ceused the I'd
ton of the colonies: the separation
AID differentiation of thu nation heee
OF climatic and geogra ph'cal infiuere-s S;
ar1 the final political struggles for SUI
premafy. These old ques.iN ms which
were discussed by Clay. Calhoun and
Webster-the Missouri compromise nt1l-
1hcatior. the anti-slave law. the fugitive
slave law. the Taxes ann,ax a ton, ETC.
were spoken of at length AMI discussed
IN mastery and logical way. He show
~ clearly bv the indisnutahie feets Of
hi tory that every idea concernir G slavery
originated in the northern mind ard that
the confederate veteran is the product
OF a war caused solely by political rea-
sons. Naturally brief discussion of, the
leading political issues of the day entered
irleo the speech, ard although many dis
agree with Col benson on those ques-5
TORS, all are compelled to admire his
candon his honesty, his patriotic and
philoa9phic search after truth '.ti 49,
AT $50 p. m. the c. L. S. C. discuss
topics appropriate to the day. At s
O'Clock there was music as usual by the
orchestra. At $3.50 the SmallsY- au artelte,
gave another delightful concert They
wer@ ably assisted by Misses. Hearn and
Caruthers. readers. The 'quaf4ettsVaag
popular melodies. such as fannie
Laurie. So Coming Thro' the Rye "eTys
Old Kertncky Home" "Unc'e Ned" etc.
Miss Caruthers' humorous readings con-
vulse3 tbs. house with laughter. Kiss
Hearn's plastic poses wefee adm ira bE4eL
every Rflvepteft was chara eteriznd by,
grace and b"auty. Forging the Forest''
by the orchestra completed the pro-
grammP a., s-z=Atl.l