The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-19
HERO OF THE SOUTHLAND
General Gordon Lectures to Large Audi
ence at the Auditorium.
FIRST DAYS OF THE coNFfDERAcY.'
HIS Reception Was sincere ana Hos
pitabie--A1 Wed In Honoriug
the old Hero.

and honors as one OF her most gallant
and patriotic sons, arrived in Houston yes
terday morning over the Santa Fe railroad.
Upon the arrival of the train on board OF
which General Gordon reached the city a
salute was fred by the Houston ARTILLERY.
and the distinguished visitor was met al
the depot by the Cadets OF st, Andrsw.
who acted as escort for General Gordon
TO the hotel. A reception committee from
the Dick Downing camp. United Conted-
crate Veterans, and a representation OF
ladies from the Robert f. Leo chapter.
United Daughters OF tho Confederacy. we're
also on hand to receive and welcone their
beloved comrade in arms and patriotic fell
low countryman The admiration and de-
votion shown toward General Gordon by
the old veterans who wore tho gray as he
passed through their lines was beautiful
sight When he saluted them as ''boys"
many of them shed tears for they had
heard themselves addressed thus by the
general away back when grim visaged war
was rampant. AS Colonel VIM. Hunter,
fag bearer OF Dick Bowling camp, waved
the camps Confederate Gag and Inquired
If he had ever seen that nag the general
bowed his head and with far away look
in his eyes. replied in low voice. "YeS,
boys, ! have seen 1t. havo seen IT." As
he passed through the ranks OF the St
Andrew Cadets he Remarked ''Be such
men as were your s.res; this is tho best
wish ] can make for you"
En route to Houston he was literally
loaded with Strawberries and flowers and
! Adiutant Philip Fall of Dick Bowling
camp, who had been detailed to board
the train at the Santa Fe depot and az
company him over to tho Grand Central,
was truly groaning under "a load of sweeta
as b transported them from tbs train 10
the hacks. The committee, composed OF
Colonel Dillingham;, VIM. Christian j. u.
Mitchell and W. H. Crank, proved ther-
selves capable of attending TO such du'y.
The General. barring a sore arm from con-
tinued shaking OF hands with the hundreds
who crowded the train at the different sta-
tons. appeared to be quite we'll
With the party who met General Gordon
at the Santa Fe depot was John Gordon
Swope. the 5-year-old son OF MIR. and Mrs
Tom Q. Swope of this city. When tho lit
Ito fellow was presented to General Cor
don as namesake OF one OF the South's
loved leaders In the civil war, the general
was almost overcome with emotion and
when he was handed a beautiful bouquet
of flowers by his little namesake he hug
ged the little man impulsively. with ears
in his eyes. The incident wDs a touching
one, but John Gordon Swope was ignorant
of the emotions his presentation of the
flowers awoke in the breasts OF the cid
Confederate soldiers who had gathered TO
meet and do honor to tho gallant General
Gordon.
In addition 10 the many other courtesleg
shown General Gordon while in Houston.
the Left Hand Fishing club, through o
committee composed of Messrs. j. l..
Mitchell and II. p. johnson, extended an
invitation for drive down the Harrisburg
road. To the sincere regret OF General
Gordon, as he expressed II to the members
Of the club, he was forced 10 decline the
proffered courtesy on account of being fnd-
gued from his extended travels and con- |
slant speaking.
There were fully SOOO-possIbly $500
night to hear the general deliver his new
lecture First Days OF tho confederaoy."
General Gordon made his appearance on
the stage a few minutes after o'clock,
and when he came In view OF his audience
there was an outburst OF enthusiastic APP
plluse, in which the entire assemblage
heartily joined,
The lecture was under tho auspices OF
Dick Bowling camp, United Confederate
Veterans and Robert e. Lee chapter.
Daughters of the Confederacy, for tho
bene1t OF the proposed Confederate mord-
meat TO BIO erected In this city. number
of General Gordan's old comrades occupied
seats on the stage, and 1t could easily be
seen that stronger ties than mere frend-
ship bound each to the other,
When the time arrived for The introduce
lion OF the speaker Major william IL.
Crank Of this city arose, and IN eoqueat
ard well chosen words presented General
Gordon TO the audience. paying trlbntes
to his useful and patriotic citizenship, has
valor and gallantry in the service OF his
country In defense OF the high principles
which the South holds sacred and ;or
the preservation OF which her sons fought
so bravely. ana 10 his eioquenes and earn
estntss in aiding TO reunite the North and
the South aud to obliterate the last vestige
of sectional bitterness.
General Gordon thanked his friend FOR
after the necessary preliminary remarks,
proceeded with his subject and held the
eager and rapt attention Of his auditors for
two hours, With the eloquence OF his pa
trlot.e utterances.
1.-THE First Days OF the Confedelaey"
is a subject that affords unlimited oppor-
tunities with General Gofdon's experience
ana knowledge for magnificent oratory,
historical instruction and patriotic n
splration. and the brave aud gallant GeoT-
CLAN has grasped and utilized each in this
msstegpleee.
In the opening Of the lecture the real
causes OF the awful strife bstween the
factions Of the United States that made
veritable charnel house Of our fair coun-
Try are clearly and toreibly set forth, and
i Is shown that higher motives than l.
Usually accredited lmpelled each side to
AXE up arms against the other. The :
south. after the differences became Sec
ionAl, coltended aad ins.ste1 that he
constitution was one o. consent and mot
Il force: that the States were the crea-
ors and the Union was the creature, AMI
hat the creator should not he dominated
~ the creature. The North was just a.
reere and Just as Arm In lite views. and
hcea manila haid that mn uoWer ehauld |