The age-herald., 1901-08-04
POETRY WENT WITH A PAIR OF SHOES Presentation to Oldest Member
 of Camp Hardee TO HAVE AN EXCURSION Will Be Given To Mobile and Point Clear On August 17--Fare for
 the Round Trip Will
 Be $4.
TO HAVE AN EXCURSION

Camp Hardie, No 1S9, United Confeder- ate Veterans, held their monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. It was presided over by Commander W. J. Milner A great deal of routine business was transacted, and at the meeting James Barker was awarded a pair of shoes as being the lod- est member of the camp.
 The camp decided to give an excursion to Mobile and Point Clear on Saturday, August IT, The fare will be $4 for the entire trip, and the proceeds vii go into the treasury of the camp. Several new members were elected and the adjutant was instructed to so notify them. Adjutant J. Lawler Darby addressed the camp, saying that he had in his possession a pair of fine shoes which had been do- mated by G. W. Dillian, a Pratt City mer- chant, to the oldest member of Camp liar dee. The commander referred the matter to a committee composed of Messrs, Webb, Robertson and Bush, and after investga- ton the committee reported the records had been examined and James Barker was found to be the oldest surviving member of the camp.
 Captain Webb presented Mir Barker to the camp and in a neat little speech stated that MT. Barker was 79 years and months of age, and that he served under Captain John T. Morgan fin the Fifty-first Ala bama Cavalry. Mir. Barker resides at 3030 Twelfth avenue, North.
 Prof. s. L. Robertson, the camp poet, read the following poem, entitled '"rhe Hoary Head and Shoes," and presented the shoes:
 Look to the man who draws a prizel
 No matter who he be:
 But in the case before our eyes
 A curious sight we see.
 The winner is an old Confed,
 Who seldom gets his dues;
 How funny that hoary head
 Should get pair of shoes
 Were 1t cap-were 1t hat
 Were it, indeed, crown,
 No man of us would scoff at that
 Except a heartless clown.
 But look ye,, and consider here's
 A glorious old Confed,
 Exceeding all of us in years
 A knightly, hoary head.
 We offer him no crown-no cap,
 Which are the heros dues:
 But on the hoary head we clap
 A coal black pair of shoes.
 But worse luck has he had to brook,
 While marching for the south:
 And of course he can't afford to look
 A gift shoe In the mouth
 He gets, at least, little lift
 Out of the mud and dust,
 And stands fiat-footded on his gift,
 And moves on as he must
 And all we pray Is that he'll plod
 His way with small distress
 Win yet the prize of him that's shod
 In the shoes of righteousness. Not such as give one sores and corns,
 In labor or at play,
 But such as kill out all the thorns
 On a good mans upward way.
 So when the Styx Is crossed and sweet
 To his rest he lays him down, There'l be silver sandals for his feet
 For his head a golden crown.
 Captain Webb addressed the camp in regard to a copy of the Philadelphia North American, received by him, which stated that Union soldier now had in his possession the old flag of the Fifth Alabama regiment, who stated that he would gladly turn the flag over to the regiment if 1t could be located. Captain Webb suggested that the camp take up the matter and arrange a reunion of the regiment to receive the flag. The com mander will appoint a committee on the matter.
 General A. c. Oxford presented a sword to Colonel J. W. Bush, First Alabama Regiment. U. c. ". Colonel Bush made an eloquent speech of acceptance.