The age-herald., 1898-07-21
MIGHTY HOST
 |NVADES ATLANTA Number of Visitors Will Proba-
 ply Reach 5O,OO0. MANY VETERANS PRESENT Much Disappointment Oyer the Absence
 of Mrs. Jefferson Davis. THE NAME OF GEN. JOE WHEELER The Gallant Confederate Cavalry Leader Is on Every Ones Tongue. GEN. GORDON WILL BE REELECTED Command der-in Chief, As No One VIII Hear of His Leave Taking Louisville Will
 Probably Be Selected for the
 Next Reunion.
The Gallant Confederate Cavalry Leader
 Is on Every Ones Tongue.
GEN. GORDON WILL BE REELECTED

Atlanta, Ga., July 2O.-A mighty host ln- vaded Atlanta to-day. For two days the Confederate veterans and their friends have been coming in, and a conservative esti- mate of the people now in Atlanta to att tend the eighth annual reunion of the vet erans is 4O,0O0. The railroads are advised that several special trais are on the way, and, as the traffic inward bound is still very heavy, to-morrow's arrivals are expected to swell the total number of visitors tc the 10000 mark.
 Confederate ranks are well represented, yet much disappointment is expressed at the unavoidable absence of Mrs. Jefferscn Davis. Mrs. Davis health is not good, and, fearing that the journey from Richmond would overtax her, the rst lady of the Con- federacy has given up the trip. Miss Win- nie Davis, however, is expected tomorrow morning. She will be met at the depot by a reception committee and escorted to the residence of Mrs. William M. Davis. Ihe names of Joseph Wheeler, the gallant cav- airy leader, and General Fitzhugh Lee arc on every lip, regret for their absence, how ever, being set aside by the fact that they are now nobly prosecuting th south in the struggle with Spain.
 The interest of the day centered in the first meeting of the veterans in the audi torium
 General Gordon delivered an address which thrilled his auditors and called forth response in terms which admit of no doubt as to the generals place in the hearts of his fellow comrades. The speech of the day abounded with praises of the heroic deeds and achievements of the sons of the south in the present war, and the names of Hobson, Bagley, Schley and Blue were cheered to the echo. General Charles D. Hooker, of Mississippi, the orator of the day, was given a cordial reception and his address was well received.
 Gordon Win Be Elected
 It goes without saying that General Cor don will be reelected comander-in-chief. The general who has held first place for the past ten years, 1t is said, has been considering the advisability of withdrawing on account of his health, but the demon stration accorded him toay shows that he still holds the hearts of his fellows, and that they will not hear of his leave taking. General Stephen D. Lee, of Mississippi, and General Moorman have been mentioned as possibilities for the position, but these gentlemen realize that the first place be- longs to General Gordon and they unite in saying that he will be the leading spirit in the organization as long as he lives.
 The chances seem to favor Louisville as the next meeting place. Charlestons ad- mirers say that their state furnished twice as many. followers of the flag as Kentucky; they have the facilities for caring for the crowds; their city council has appropriated large sum of money for the entertainment of the veterans and, finally that Louisville is out of the way from a geographical standpoint. Louisville, however, has the support of the states of Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama and enough in fact to practically Charleston contingent, supported by Texas and Virginia will fight it out, however, and the contest will not be decided until Friday.
 Picture of Gen. Lee
 Prof. E. F. Andrews, director of the Cor ceran School of Art, of Washington, the celebrated artist who has painted many oil portraits hanging in the east room of the white house at the national capital on solic- itation of General John c. Underwood. has painted a magnificent full length military portrait of General Lee to be presented to the Confederate Memorial Association. The portrait will be unveiled at the Audi torium Thursday night with appropriate ceremonies the orator ofthe occasion being MT. Lucien Knight, the we'll known speaker. -e
 The Maryland delegation today. in the absence of their official sponsor, Miss Mers, designated Miss Polly Hawksworth Norris, of Baltimore, to fill the place.
 Receptions to the sponsors have been the order of the day in social circles. This af- ternoon at the Kimball House Miss Ella Powell, leading society woman, assisted by a number of young men, gave an infor- nal reception to the fair ones and their maids of honor
 The Capitol City club tonight kept open house in honor of the sponsors
 MT. ana Mrs. W. l.. Peel, of 46s Peachtree street received the Daughters of the Con- Seder6cv tonight. A number of receptions
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