The age-herald., 1898-04-12
BURNING WORDS
 OF ELOQUENCE FlOEed for Suffering Cuba at the AuditO-
 rum Last Night. AN ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE Displayed Its Loyalty to the Stars and
 Stripes AND CHEERED DIXIE TO THE ECHO The Patriotic Demonstration for the Starving Cubans and to Build Monument to the
 Martyrs of the Maine a
 Grand Success.
AND cHEERED DIXIE TO THE ECHO


 which flowed from the lips of the patriotic speakers who participated in the pro- gramme and lent their aid to the worthy cause.
 The stirring strains of "Dixie" were cheered to the echo and the enthusiasm rose to a high pitch when Mrs. H. H. Sin nige sang the "Star Spangled Banner with Old Glory entwined about her which she grasped from the hand of General Fred S. Ferguson at the close of her song.
 The exercises were opened at o'clock when forty-sx ladies from the Pollack- Stephens Institute representing the forty five states of the union and the Goddess of Liberty were escorted to seats on the stage by attachments from the Birming- ham Rifles and Jefferson Volunteers under command of Sergeant Frank D. Davidson. Each young lady was becomingly attired in white with a sash of the national colors entwined about her inscribed with the name of the state she represented and carrying a miniature United States flag in her hand. The seats were arranged in a semi-circle with the Goddess of Liberty seated in the center and the scene presented was both beautiful and inspiring.
 The Decorations
 The stage was decorated with a profusion of red, white and blue bunting draped in graceful folds around the massive columns and stretched across the stage
 A beautiful United States shield sur mounted with screaming eagle in brass which was draped with silk flags hung di- rectly over the speakers stand and was greatly admired.
 An overture by the Birmingham Musi- clans Union under the direction of Prof. Fred l.. Grambs was the first number after which w. M Newton, commander of the rpa +l, Indo hia1 auspices the entertainment was originated, Captain G. F. Hart, chairman, who briefly explained the object Of the meeting and the history of it's inception.
 Rev. R. D. Weir, pastor of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church, offered prayer and eloquently invoked the divine blessings of Providence upon the meeting.
 Chairman Hart announced that on &C., count of the recent bereavement in his family Governor Johnston would not take part in the exercises which was greatly by the audience.
 Mayor Frank V. Evans and Hon. J. A. VanHoose responded to the "Chief Execu- tive of the City and the Founder of the and eloquently did they both lend their voices to the Cuban cause.
 The next number was the Liberty Duet which was beautifully sung by Messrs. Washburn and Handley. It was necessary for the chairman to state that on account
  cores so great was the applause after this number.
 The Blue and the Gray
 The "Blue and the Gray" was responded to by Captain J. Clyde Miller representing the blue, and General Fred s. Ferguson, the gray, and earnestly did both speakers pledge their united support to the defense of national honor if it be found necessary to declare war against Spain.
 A medley of national airs by the Birming- ham Musicians union proved an inspiring number.
 "When Destiny Calls the Man and the Hour Meet,'' was gracefully responded to by Dr. O. T. Dozier of Camp Hardee, United Confederate Veterans, and Major w. H. Hunter, of George A. Custer Post Grand Army of the Republic. Both gentle men made eloquent appeals flor suffering Cuba and advocated armed intervention by the United States.
 Next followed the inspiring so-g the "Star Spangled Banner" by Mrs H. H. Sinigee. whose beautiful voice was never heard to better advantage. Captain Fred s. Ferguson waved a beautiful flag over the songstress as she poured forth the in- spring words and so enthusiastic became the scene that Mrs Sinigee graspd the flag from the gallant captain and wrapped It around herself as she finished the last strains and left the stage.
 
 sponded to by General Rufus N. Rhodes, Sons of Confederate Veterans. and Captain Frank F. Bolin, of the United States army, in the absence of M. D. Friedman, who is in New York. General Rhodes said that he was the son of a confederate soldier, and a democrat, but that he had absolute conf1- dence of the republican president who was elected as a partisan, but was serving as a patriot. The day for Cuhan independence had arrived, said the speaker, and-would bs granted. The Sons of Confederate Veter- ans. he said, stand ready to defend the honor of the country.
 Captain Bolin, on behalf of the Sons of Veterans of the United States army, said that they would fight among the front ranks if call to arms was made in Cuba's cause.
 In the absence of Mrs. George c. Ball, who was next on the program, Miss Mo- mic Terrell gave a Southern Woman's Views on the Cuban question: and while her remarks were slightly tainted with in points of dramatic redition and delivery, as wellas eloquence, was per- haps the best number on the program.
 Dixie Land
 "Dixie" by the Birmingham Musicians union brought forth. the widest applause from the audience, many of whom rose to their feet and cheered.
 A telegram from E. W. Barrett of The A Age-Herald, Q who was detained in Mont expressed regreat at his inability to be present to respond to the subject ''The Press as Potent Fatcor In Mould Ing Public Opinion" Dr. B. D. Gray Of the First Baptist church, who was to have responded to ''The Pulpit" was also un- avoidably absent.
 Miss Alice Fallon, whose sweet voice IS often heard by appreciative audiences,