The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08
1.-THE GREATEST SOCIAL EVENT.

The Dallas CTex) Times Herald de-
clares that the Annual Encampments of
| the Confederate Veterans has grown to
be the greatest social event in the South
1t goes on to say:
"Coincident with the annual meeting
of the veterans of the civil war, is the
meeting of the United Sons of Confeder-
ate Veterans, men and boys who have
| been raised by those fathers who fought
| for the Southern cause and those mothers
who prayed for Southern success. and who
| have gradually absorbed the ideas of those
| parents. This is in itself big thing
| Year by year the veterans are passing
| away, and the possible number in the
| membership is becoming less from time to
| time, but the Sons have increased in num-
| berS from year to year since the COS, and
| those who were babes in arms, who were
| but few years or were yet unborn when
| the finish came. now exceed in numerical
strength the fathers who fought. and their
organization is becoming powerful.
THE sponsors. the maids of honor the
| chaperons and their escorts form another
| large body. All over the Southland there
| are selections of the queens Of the social
! realm as sponsors. either for camps, bri-
| gades, division or departments. and each
! sponsor chooses her maids of honor. Then
! chapcronS are selected. This brings about
the social feature. Escorts must accom-
/ pany them, and thus several thousand Of
this social class are included in the Wis
itors."
This years was the greatest gathering
ever held. The paper makes this compari-
son:
Those who saw it in Houston in 1895
remember it as a pigmy by the side Of this
one today. Then small club dance hall
accommodated the ball for the SPONSORS
| and maids. This year il required the larg-
est auditorium floor space in Texas for
the dancers, and hundreds sat about the
! hall unable to find a place to tread the
measures Of the dance. Then there were
few gathered TO talk over the events of
the four years of the war. Today there
is miniature city represented in the camp
Of the veterans"
The Times Herald cannot forcsee how
great the function may become. 1t prog
nosticates:
at is hard for one to estimate how
large it will grow to be. 1t is difficult to
| imagine the future of these reunions. but
it can be assured that the next city to en-
terrain will find each year of growth ex-
ceeds the increase OF the previous ~
months. Added to the thousands who
come as veterans. the thousands who come
as Sons and the thousands who come as
| sponsors. maids and chaperons, the thou
sands of Daughters of the Confederacy
and the thousands who take advantage Of
| the cheap rate 10 see the country, and you
! have gathering which is greater than
one can realize.
This social side referred TO is feature
which cannot be overlooked. The people
! of the Southern States are neighborly.
| they like to visit among themselves, and
when an opportunity is offered for Il gath
cring of this kind, no young lady declines
an honor offered her. The honors are Civ
en- TO those who move in the leading social
| circles OF each community, and several
| thousand young ladies representing the
| towns, villages and cities OF the South
ern States journey to that city fortunate
enough TO entertain them. To these is
/ given the greatest attention. Receptions
are arranged, balls are provided for and
! every pleasure is fixed. From the time
| the young ladies arrive until the train de-
| parts for their homes, they are given what
! Texans call good time A reception at
| this place the first hour and another one
! two hours later, and then another later
| on. Here they meet each other, friend
| ships are commenced and acquaintance Of
other days are renewed"