The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-09-30

movement To preserve ana SanCtty the |
past; to make hopeful and arouse the |
future. The personality of young |
girl, frank, generous, of rare strength !
and sweetness, has been craven on the
hearts of the South, has entered into the
lives of the people. 1t is wonderful
thing, rare in all history. 1t is as in
comprehensive to those who have not
seen the great demonstrations of love,
reverence, worship, such genuine wOr-
ship, as it is wonderful and thrilling to
those who have,
Those three days of the Confederate
reunion held in Atlanta, Ga, a few
weeks ago. July q, %, %, heralded as
the largest and most successful reunion
ever held in the South, bringing to-
gether for the last time, for many, the
old comrades of the COnfederacy, are
also memorable in that they marked
the last public appearance of the
Daughter of the Confederacy.
1t was in the morning out at the EX-
position grounds, in the suburbs of the
"Gate City" 1t was dusty and not; the
buildings looked tawdry and unattrac-
tive in the white glare. The old sol
diers in SLOUGH hats and long gray
boards, their worn gray coats tinged
with the bright cOlOrs of badges and
glitter of medals, lounged in the shad-
Ows Of Moorish looking walls, or limped
about with their comrades in the midst
of as great crowd AS was ever gath
cred in Southern city. They were
expectant.
miss Winnie's coming TO-DAY"
$50 they say. Well, l can shake
hands once more with her before | am
gone"
"Who's coming? Miss Winnie? God
bless her! She don't ever forget u.s."
"Shes the sweetest woman on Gods
earth" And so the talk ran.
To stranger in the South, one who
had heard of Miss Davis, as most
Northern people hear of her, a little in
definitely, it must be confessed, the all
prevailing sentiment, the eXtravagant
and universal praise, was surprising,
bewilderng What was she to be loved
so? The tiniest child by the peanut
stand looked up with smirched face.
"Miss Winnie's comm today, lady,
and he smiled like 4 cherub.
True, she was the daughter of her
father; she typified the Lost Cause; but
that alone did not make her loved by
the little children.
"What makes you love Miss Winnie
SOP"
The child was dumfounded.
, "Because-ain't you never seen Miss
Winnie? Never seen her? Why, be-
, cause-well, jes' because she's Miss Win
! ME-"
Then came a cry, "The Auditorium
l The thrOng of old soldiers, men, womer
: and children, surged toward the blI
e building, where several thousand PEG
pie were already concentrated. Herr
the Stars and Bars were tlOati"g will
I, the Stars and Stripes. Gray-looking pOr
. traits of Stonewall Jackson, Robert L
l Lee and jefferson Davis hung draped il
flags above the platform. Banners o
Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia
the three great departments of the Unit
ed Con federate Veterans, presided owe
-, by Stephen D. Lee, w. 5. Cabell AM
Wade Hampton, waved among the sol
diers: flags, badges and insignia repre-
e scented in gorge Gus colOrs every COnfed
It crate society, league, organization, char
n ter, in the South. The infantry, CavaI
nv, artillery of the COnfederaCy, tina
# vast army, what was left of them
=. massed in there, line on line, GOrdO
: once again at the lead. 1t was an il
J. spring background for the paughte
81 of the Contederacy.
a. "Open the way! open the way!
l. Miss Winnies coming" The word
: were uttered with reverence.
~ miss Winnie Davis will be here /
70 two minutesw called another man j
q gray at the door. an AXE room, please
as for her to pass to the platform"
1T ooh! Miss Winnie's coming! Mis-
le Winnie Davis is cOmingw whispere
)r hundreds of people in the crowd; jos
,r ling forward, standing on benches an
:, chairs.
" In another moment a little, whit
30 clad figure TODD under the big woOde
t, framework of the gallery, a strons
g, we'll built little woman, with rather
or masculine-shaped head and feature
ia full of strength and character, a ce
IN tain charm and sweetness about then
80 too, which drew one instantly, compel
W ing trust, respect, affection, at this M
III ment arOusing emotion. Her eye
r which faced you fair and frank, wei
a shining as though full of tears, and ht
~ smile was wonderfully bright and gla
IN They met her as she met them, S
All lently, gladly, then cheers broke GU
~ The band Numbered some triumph
90 aria, but no one listened to that
IN path was opened and she passed slow
KS toward the platform through maze
Ill outstretched hands, bony and wrinkle
H. hands-many of them with the tinge
off or with distorted joints, all with Il
nd old gray sleeves-she took them a
~ everyone, in her strong, young han
-, "How do you do, sir, how do you do
ny she cried, with such force of WELDON
in her tones that some of the old 81
diers broke down and cried. 81 a
glad to see you sir. Oh! yes, sir, lit
Jeff's just coming along, you ought
ns- see him, he is so tall" and she won
let 20 their hands a moment when S
spoke of er sisters child and said g
us tail" and then others would pre-
% eagerly.
ice an have to give you my left har
an sir, it's nearest my heart, though" a
so she passed on cheering everyo
'ar with good hand grasp and a genui
lat word or two of thoughtful inquir
lp- there was no "chawmed- to see-you'
ro- about her, she was natural, hapt
FOR honest. 1t was healthful, invigoratiI
ut Just to stand quietly by and watch h
'er "Let me see Miss Winnie just OF
AT, again before | die" cried many a
re- many an old soldier, land I'll
shI happy"
lar Jeff Davis gal an our gal, too" cri
eu others, "Three cheers for Miss w
niew She reached the platform. VIII
nu the leaders of the men were gathered
al Gordon, Hooker, Lee, Cabell and
cry rest, those brave Confederate gent
teu men.
ith AS she stepped to the front the mu
Ine grew louder, more Triumphant,
III cheers rent the air, and old Gene