Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-07-28


young women as they fit about from
place to place.
The custom of selecting sponsors
and maids of honor seems TO have
beon handed down from past ages,
and although few of the veterans
can tell why they are appointed, all
will say that they are necessary
a1iunnt to tho reunions, and it has
c"'ae to be recognized as ono of the
first things thought OF in connection
with the big meetings. Tho custom
is one of tho most interesting fea-
lures of tho reunion, ii brings
together congress of the fairest
women of the South and keeps alive
tho lino admiration of Southern
womanhood which has grown into q
passion among the veterans and true
Southcrncrs.
WHAT SPONSORS ARE FOR.
One of tho most prominent Con-
federato veterans was asked to OK
plain something about the custom,
and he said:
"One of the most interesting fca-
lures of tho reunions is the custom
of appointing beautiful sponsors By
the different divisions, departments,
headquarters and by every camp.
"This beautiful custom is, of
course, taken from the ago of chiv-
airy, that of selecting o beautiful
woman to whom the brave could pay
homage, and for whom they were as
willing to break lance and risk
their lives rs they were to knecl and
be crowned victor in the games or
tournament by their lovely hands.
"In every age the beauty, grace
and ]oveliness and courage of woman
has inrr;rcd the soldier and patriot
and sustained his hopes in the fire of
battle and in the hour of peril.
"Nowherc has the real courage,
patriotism and valor of women been
moro resplcndent with heroism than
during the Confederate war. The
story of the courage and devotion of
Southern women during the four
years Of storm and battle which
swept ovor tho Southland forms tho
brightest and most heroic picture in
that unequal strife.
cit is meet, therefore, that the
daughters of the heroic women of
the Confederacy should participate
in these reunions, and after a lapse
of years as the evening shades gather
around tho old veterans and before
night closes into everlasting dark
ness, stand sponsor for the camps,
divisions, departments and head
quarters, all composed Of tho bravo
survivors of the Southern army, of
the men who made history, for their
country for all time to come.
"The custom was instituted for the
first timo at the reunion held at New
Orleans in 1892, when Adit. Gen.
Moorman had succeeded in organizing
most of the Southern States into
divisions, and conceived tho idea
that it would add much to the beauty
and enthusiasm of tho reunion to
have each division send a sponsor,
with Miss Winnie Davis, the daugh-
tor of the Confedcracy, to preside
over all.
"This lovely and interesting fea-
turc was successfully carried out,
and at each successive reunion has
been one of the most prominent fea-
turcs of this great gathering of
brave men. The commencement at
Now Orleans has been broadened
until every camp now appoints ono
or two sponsors and the department
commanders, also Gen. Gordon, the
commanding general, and Adjt. Gen.
Moorman for headquarters"
THE OFFICIAL SPONSORS.
The official sponsors and maids of
honor attending the reunion arc the
guests of tho Atlanta Reunion Asso-
citation, and they are regarded as the
most charming visitors in the city.
They represent the general organiza-
ton, the three departments of armies,
and then the state divisions. Each
department tand division is entitled
to one sponsor and each sponsor is
entitled to one maid of honor. There
arc about forty official sponsors aud
maids of honor for the reunion, and
all others arc representatives Of ii tic 6
congressional districts and camps,
and other unofficial departments.
The next annual reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans will be
held in Charleston, S. G.
BY vote of 1864 to $40 the con-
vc2tion today decided the contest
betw cen tho South Carolina city and
Louisville in the formers favor.
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