The age-herald., 1898-02-19

cessity be struck with the aptness of women's speeches. the singular talent they have for work of the kind these noble women have engaged in. Possibly they are not always governed by strict parlia- mentarys usage; possibly they do not go about things in the regulation way but their results are so rapid and so satisfac- tory that one is inclined to wonder if the masculine way is better, or in use merely because it is masculine.
 Among the most capable women present at the convention, Mrs. Wm. A. Gayle, of Montgomery, stands pre-eminent. In pre- siding she displayed in all things so grace ful a dignity, so thorough a knowledge of the requirements of her position, that the impress of her thought, as well as her personality, was left most markedly upon the gathering
 During the sessdoy yesterday morning one of the most interesting questions to arise wtas that of priority in Alabama. This honor was claimed by three chapters- Huntsville, Selma and Montgomery After much discussion it was finally proven that whde Huntsville made the movement in April of 1895 and Huntsville in September of the same year. Montgomery must bear off the palm for priority. Mrs. Margaret FauDce of the Sophie Bibb chapter (Mont- gomery) produced and read a letter to Mrs. M. D. Bibb, dated January 31. 1895, asking for such a movement, and the call was made immediately by Mrs. Bibb. After wards the chapter received the name 80 phie B9bb' in honor of the mother of Mr. M. D. Bbb. Amid thls acclamations of the delegates Miss Jones conceded the fact that the old adage 'fhonor to whom honor is due," forced the convention to accord a to Montgomery Sophie Bibb chapter the honor of priority in Alabama.
 
 dress has received and menfted so many enconiums, was one of the leading spirits of the convention. Mrs. Cory is one of Aiabama'S women of brains, and her clear, well-defined conclusions upon all questions of debate mark her easily as one of the women who lead foremost in all work, the object of which is to forward the good of humanity. Mrs. Cory is essentially a Bir- mingham woman, although residing at present in the capital city.
 Possibly the easiest solution of the sol- diers' home queeton was thait offered by Mrs Rose Garland Lewis Mrs. Lewis set fordh the fact tf.at by making an open collection list, to which each man, woman and child should contribute 1 cgnt a fund would soon mniSe its appearance Large enough to startle the promoters of the work. The suggestion is more practical tlan appears it's face, ar5 at some fu- ture day if taken up may result in a deii- mite result.
 The most touching feature of yesterdays meeting was the address of Col. D. M. Taliferro, upon the question of tie loca- tion of the Battle Abbey In the course of his remarks col Taliaferro referred to the fact that he celebrated yesterday his I'd birthday. As one looked at the venerable head crowned with its halo of silver, one involuntariy surmised at the experiences that had gone to make the man. It even seemed as though the speaker were the perSonification of the word Confederate veteran" as he stood before these daugh- ters and spoke in tones made husky with deepest feeling of the days when the boys who wore the gray were at once the hope, the pride and through their heavy suffer- ing the despair of our land. In closing, he used some words that have been used before, but bear a repetition:
 "Peace! Nothing dies that memory rocks
 to sleep,
 So swinging low in cradle of the years Lies that sweet dream that wakeneth no
 more
 Till last revile. God in mercy give It peace and rest, and sweet mem'ry
 StirS
 Her foot on cradle-round to hush it's signs, Let us with reverent footsteps tread anear And look upon it sleeping, catch our
 breath
 And speak in whispers lest our tones
 
 And waken, ere Gods time. the thing
 asleep'
 It is a noble work these women are en- gagged in. They bring to it all the enthu- siasm of a southron and all the tenderness of a woman. Some of them were, as one venerable woman said, not daughters, but mothers of the Confederacy. for they had buckled the knapsack upon their boys and folded the camp blankets for their hus- bands The men did the fghting-the wo- men the enduring. and never harder bat tle than that fought in the walled up field of woman's heart.
 Down in Montgomery they have erected a Confederate monument. It stands to- day. heavenward pointing finger call ing God to witness that the cause was just and right, be the end what it may.
 The south has deathless memories. She has hidden every scar, and in all the grace and dignity of suffering she has made her present glorious until it has become her future. She has not complained-she has only conquered. But she holds fast to her memories for her children's sake they were bought with blood and paid for with anguish, and she guards them jeal- ously It is her women she makes the custodian of her priceless treasure-her women, who did not bleed, but only suf- fered and the just passed meeting of the Daughters of the Confederacy proves that the trust was well bestowed and will be still, while yet remains that incarnation