Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
GIRLSIN THE PARADE
ONE OF THE STRIKING FEATURES
OF THE NASHVILLE REUNION.
PEOPLE LAVISH IN THEIR HOSPITALITY
rInborate Preparations for the
Grent Meeting, Profuse Decor"-
.,onx and Abundant Entertain
ment.
nlent.

po,r Miller returned to Richmond
Thursday morning after a weeks stay III
Nashville. He says that when Nash-
vnle made a bid for the reunion Tor loS"
81 was done at time when a larse
boSv OF Tennesseeans were in this city
On attendance on the 1896 reunion, and
witnessed our beautifully-decorated city,
the grand military display, and the I'M
stlnted hospitality Of the Richmond
people. No wonder then that they were
asking themselves the question, "Can
We do as well in Nashville?"
"IIow did the Attendance at Nashville
rompare with that at Richmond?
Dispatch man asked Mr.. Miller.
The attendance Of veterans was not
as large, and the active military, which
was a great feature in ours, was absent.
BESIDES. we had a score or more OF bands
while they did not have half
4 dozen. The city was crowded with visi-
tors. and doubtless there were thousands
OF old soldiers who did not show them
selves on the streets on account OF the
intense heat. We had a decided adj
NdnfaUt III the NthAllNAs A'~El'ANr Nl4t III
tolerable heat, there were two severe
thunder-storms during the parade,
which greatly demoralzed the paraders
and spectators The parade in Nash
VILE. while different from ours in many
respects, was nevertheless very at
tractive And this difference was de-
cidedly 10 the advantage of Nashville.
We had the best of them on the display
Of soldiers and music. but the pretty
girls mounted on horseback and tally
hos and the beautifully decorated car
riaees-nOwors and flags in the greatest
profusi0n-won the hearts of the old
fellows. The sponsors, in open carriages,
rode az the head of their respective
states. and as their state flags waved
over them the spectators cheered the
States thus represented
JUST REASON FOR PRIDE.
Nashville has every reason to be
proud of the way in which all Of her
plans for complete success Of the re-
union were fully carried OUT The SOL
dlers there. members Of Cheatham
Eyouac. seemed TO have been in charge
OF the details and i never saw men
work harder. Colonel John L. Hickman
was everywhere. and DIR. McMurray. Of
the Confederate Hotel, was at his post
day and night. feeding the soldiers who
could not afford TO 80 10 the city hotels.
went down TO see the Doctor one day,
and found him experimenting the cook
ing and cutting up Of $50 shoais, 2yO
lambs, and j think he told me he had
used up in three days $500 hams This
gives evidence Of the love Of the peo-
pie Of Tennessee for the Confederate sol
diers when you are told that all these
things were given chcerfully by the peo-
pie The hospitality Of the people or
Nashville could not be surpassed any
where. Every private house was thrown
open TO visitors, and as the procession
moved along the streets men, women
and children yelled themselves hoarso
sn their efforts 10 show their love for
the veterans Of the Lost Cause. 1t was
laughable to see those pretty girls, all
drapcd IN pure white. as they sat upon
the tally-hOs and took the terrible down.
pour OF rain. They looked like they had
waded into the ocean with white bathing
suits on Many an old soldier fed when
the rain came, and these girls drove by
headquarters after the storm 10 let them
see that they stuck to their posts. $50
did those clothes)
SOME WHO ENTERTAINED.
Among those who entertained most |
! would mention Mrs. II. $. |
IIollins. the wife Of one of the most |
prominent businessmen there, and a |
daughter OF DR. Eady. who was leading |
citizen and beloved physician in Chris
tansburg. Va. before the war; Mrs. Fail. |
a greatniece Of President Polk. and Mrs. |
Van Lear Kirkman, who. It is said. owns |
the handsomest country home in the |
United States. Her husband was a con- |
spicuous member OF Governor Taylor's |
stan, and bis good looks are only dimmed |
by the presence Of his lovely wife. who |
IL better looking sim. The sponsors and |
people o. prominence from every quarter |
OF the South were the bene1ciaries of
The kindly hospitality OF General Kirk
man and wife, and 20 them and TO General |
Jackson, OF the celebrated Belle Meade
farm. 10 due the credit for the pleasant |
rccoilections OF Nashville on The part OF
many visitors.
A CREDlTABLE EXHIBITION.
The Centennial exhibit" Mr. Miller
continued "is a credit TO the managers,
ana u well worth going a long ways 10
see. IL Is miniature Worlds Fair
ana al night, and with the improvements,
made In electrical appliances In the past