The age-herald., 1899-11-14
Interesting Exercises in City and
 at the Grounds.
MAYOR DRENNEN'S ADDRESS
Today is Matrimonial Day, and Popu- lar Couple Will be Married test for Most Popular Wo-
 man Grows in Interest

open at S
 AFTERNOON. Bridal party arrive at grounds at 1:30. Public marriage at 2 O clock. Band concert and racing begins at 2:30 D. m. Balloon ascension at 4 p. m. High ladder dive at D. m. EVENING. Fireworks at S:30 p. m.
 Yesterday was Confederate veterans Day at the State fair, and the largest crowd that has yet passed through the fair ground stiles turned out to honor these brave survivors of the lost cause.
 Promptly at Il O clock the old warriors formed themselves into line in front of the headquarters of Camp Hardee, fin Nine teenth street. From that point the column marched to the city hall, with the confed- crate emblem and the stars and stripes floating at the head of the line. The col- unn of infantry was preceded by carriages containing J. w. Bush, J. w. A. Sandford, Rev. E. W. Jones, Miss Key, sponsor of Camp Hardee. and other prominent vet erans.
 To the step of ''Dixie" and ''The Girl I Left Behind Me" these warriors, who onee hungry and sick, shouldered muskets and fought for the honor of the south, marched down the street. Many were warped and withered with age. but the spark of bra very still ldndled brightly in their eyes, and no body of 800 men ever presented a nobler appearance than did these survivors of the confederacy.
 Mayor Drcnnen's Address
 Arriving at the city hall the column was halted, and Mayor Drennen addressed the veterans as follows:
 Confederate Veterans: It has been my good fortune recently to meet the hero of Manila and to shake the hand of the hero of Santiago; but feel that no grea ter hon. or can be conferred upon me, mayor of the city of Birmingham, than to welcome the old heroes of the southern confederacy.
 'It is not altogether from the press or of- f1cial war bulletins that history makes up her verdict
 Many name which now shines out bright in history was almost unknown to fame when the flag which you now carry was torn to pieces with bullets.
 When the history of the war from 1861 to 1865 was written the names of Forrest, Lee and Stonewall Jackson shone out on it's pages as do the names of the heroes of the Spanish-American war.
 Ut is not only as officers and privates that 1 address you. but I welcome you as the representatives of the greatest heroes the world has ever produced.
 lover one of the doors of a little church
 
 Thank
 "When we think of our southern heroes, when we think Of your wonderful victories with the disadvants ges under which you fought; when we think back over the past thirty-six years, we must not forget to be thankful to the Great Ruler of this universe that He has at last united us all under one flag and has made our lives one great and glorious victory"
 The rebel yell greeted every paragraph of the mayors speech.
 Other Speakers
 Captain Steele made short reply in be- half of the veterans in which he warmly thanked the mayor and the citizens of Bir mingham for the cordial welcome extended.
 General George L. Thomas was the next speaker. He paid an eloquent tribute to the veterans and spoke of how fast the num- bers were diminishing. He said:
 Comrades: When I cast my eyes over this body of Confederate Veterans the gray hairs that meet my sight tell me in a lan- guage more potent ahan amy that l can command that all elf us have long since passed the meridian mile post on the jour ney eff life; our suns are going down; our shadows are lengthenfng, and ere another score of years have rolled into the abys of the past every member of this veteran band one by one, will have crossed the dark, cold river that flows between us and the other shore, and it may be that some of us are today standing so near to that Leahean stream that we can almost hear the dip of the oar of the silent boatman as he pulls for the near shore.''
 During this beautiful address the crowds which had congregated on the street cor ners dheered lustily. At lthe conclusion of the exercises the procession moved for ward again and marched to the Fair grounds arriving there at 12 o'clock. After being massed together, the address of well 1ATft Colonel J w. A. Sanford. the orator of the day. delivered a forcibe and eloquent ad- dress, teemdng with patriotism The veter- ans then dispersed and enjoyed the sights of the fair.
 Other Attractions
 Though everybody paid homage to the gallant old soldiers, there were many other attractions to interest the visitors to the fair
 The largest crowd ever assembled at a race course in this state witnessed some ex- citing contests between the thoroughbreds. Every available seat in the grand stand was taken and hundreds stood up to be near the track. When the starters gong called the horses to the post for the first race at least six thousand persons were sizing up their favorites. The shouting would commence from the jump and at every tura the spectators would rise to their feet and, by yelling, endeavor to pull the horses to the front. Nothing like the excitment yesterday has ever been seen at the fair grounds track. The paddock was packed almost to suffocaton, and it was a scramble to place money on the favor Hes.
 At 1:30 the Mexican band gave another concert. Every selection was greeted with apprecitive applause, and Signor Ricardo Pacheco was kept busy lowing in &C., Acknowledgement until the concert was end ed.
 Another beautiful display of fire works was given last night and was witnessed by the largest crowd which has yet passed through the gates at night.
 Negro Department
 The exhibits in the mammoth tent for the colored people are attracting great atten- tion among the white people. The Anglo Saxon race realize that when the negro be- comes more intelligent, honest and con- servative he makes a better man and cti- zen. Prof. w. H. Council Is being highly praised for his most excellent work at Nor nal and the elaborate exhibit of his school
 Tho rt fancy work and Panaral displav