The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-06
An Important Gathering Of Confederate
Ladies Next Week.
TO MEET I'M The MUSEUM ON 18TH
origin. History and Officers ofthe Conied-
crate Memorial Literary Society In the
Interest of Which the Convention
Is to be Held-A Grand work

At a meeting held last week a pro-
eramme was decided upon which would
certainly seem to promise an enjoyable
time for the visitors. as well as a pron-
table one. II was formulated by Mrs
J. Taylor Ellyson and Mrs. Thomas
Leary OF the Committee on Arrange
ments. and is as follows:
On Friday. February 18th, there will be
a general meeting OF the society al the
Museum at II o'clock. The president,
Mrs. Joseph Bryan. will deliver an adj
dress Of welcome to the visiting regents
and present them with appropriate
badges. After the meeting they will be
taken through the Museum.
Friday evening the president-regents
and vice-regents viii be entertained by
Mrs. !. Taylor Elyson. the vice-regent
for Virginia, at her home.
Saturday the regents will he entertain
cd by Mrs Bryan. AT Iaburnum. and
Saturday night they will be given a full
dress reception at the Jeffrson.
HISTORY or THE SOCIETY.
TO mere casual visitors at the Mus
cum IT would seem almost incredible that
the Confederate Memorial Literary So
ciety, is still less than eight years old.
1t was in February 1890. that Mrs. Joseph
Bryan. president Of Hollywood Memorial
Association. conceived the idea OF secur-
ing the house which had been occupied
by President Davis. and converting II
into Confederate Memorial Hall. and It
was on the thirty-frst day Of May. 1890
that charter was given TO the Confede-
rate Memorial Literary Society.
It's purposes. az therein stated were
Ito establish in the city OF Richmond.
I'm the State Of Virginia. the capitol Of
the late Confederate States OF America.
q Confederate Memorial Literary Society
or association, TO collect, and receive by
gift. purchase, or otherwise, all books
and other literary productions pertaining
10 the late war between the States and
Of those engaged therein. all works OF art
or science. all battle flags. relics and
other emblems OF that struggle: and TO
preserve and keep the same for the use
Of said society and the public under such
rules and regulations as the said society
NAV prescribe For these and other
kindred purposes the said society NAV
receive from the city OF Richmond, and
hold. occupy and enjoy the buildings and
grounds at the corner OF Clay and Twelfth
streets in said city. which were used and
occupied by the Hon. Jefferson Davis, late
president Of the Confederate States OF
America. during the late war and It
may also receive hold and use any other
property. real or personal. which II may
acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise
for the purpose Of said Company or So
ciety. and any contributions OF books.
furniture. relics. money, or any other
property. from any person. firm. or cor
poration whatever. To aid this society
i'm establishing itself as a literary society
and In carrying out it's work in that d.
rection. IL Is hereby authorized when the
city Of Richmond shall have dedicated
the said buildings and grounds. above
4 Il L. IL.
rules and regulations az said company
or society shall prescribe, 10 tender 10
the Southern Historical Society and the
Virginia Historical Society. or either OF
them. the use Of such room OF rooms In
said building as this company or so
ciety shall designate. and said historical
societies. or either Of them. as may be
willing 70 receive and use for keeping and
preserving the archives and property Of
said historical societies, or either Of
them"
THE BUILDING ACCEPTED.
on December g. 1880. the late Colonel
John Il. Cary a member OF the Board Of
Aldermen. offered a resolution for an APP
propration for a new school building (the
museum having been converted into
public school building known AS Cen.
trail school and the delivery OF the Con-
federacy White House 10 the Confed-
crate Memorial Literary Society. for the
use of a Museum and Library as soon
as the school was ready On January
=. 1891, this ordinance was passed by
the Common Council. On June .. 1894.
President Davis eighty-sixth birthday
(Which day has for that reason been
chosen for the regular annual meeting
Of the society the building was formally
turned over 20 the ladies' by Colonel Cary.
chairman Of the school Committee. in
the presence OF the School Board, Mayor.
the ladies' OF the society and It's Adj
visory Board OF gentlemen. and accepted
by Mr. Joseph Bryan. Of the Advisory
Board. on behalf Of the society The
building has been restored 10 the con-
dition in which it was when used by
President Davis except that II is now
nre-proOf and steam heated. The rooms
have been appOrtioned 20 the different
Southern States and have their names and
coats of arms TO mark them. Each room
has it's regent residing In her State col
lecting there the records, relics and me-
MORALS necessary 10 properly equip the
room. There Is also a vice-regent in
Richmond, who takes personal charge
OF the room and its interests entrusted
to her care by the regent. The house
was formally opened 10 the public on
Saturday, February o. 1896 and was on
that dav visited by thousands.
During 1897 II was visited by 1000 per-
sons. OF whom $500 were northerners and
foreigners The visiting list increases
monthly, and Miss Maury. who IS the pop
ular custodian Of the house. is kept quite
busy conducting strangers through the
various rooms With regard TO these II
may be said that there is room for In
creased energy on the part OF the re-
gents. The Virginia room IS full to over
flowing of valuable, relics: the Georgia
and South Carolina rooms have done ad-
mirably Maryland. however. which has
the little room used by Mrs. Davis as
dressing room. could easily be made one
OF the gems OF the series. because II IS
so small as TO require FAR less TO make
an effective showing. AS 70 Mississippi.
il labors under the disadvantage Of hav-
ing as regent a nonresident Of the State
Miss Winnie Davis-who cannot. there
fore interest its people so eifectually as
is desirable. Tennessee. with its indie
fatigable vice-regent. Mrs. Norman Ran
dolph. has also suffered from the Battle
Abbey discussion and a division OF IN
terest in the State. Louisiana, which has
its Memorial Hall in New Orleans, possi-
bly, takes less interest in the room al the
Museum for that reason. Texas. Ken
lucky and Alabama all need stimulus
indeed. il IS precisely that which II IS
hoped the meeting OF regents VIII give
TO all the States.
The Southern Historical Society. which
has its rooms on the ground floor owns
much which Is Of value and valuable IN
the way Of manuscripts. etc. but these
have not thus far been so placed as 10 be