Oxford eagle., 1902-06-12
The gift to Washington ARTILLERY

A<S S,AAS ~ - ''~%S>>~~Ak5
of an old piano. war relic-by
Mrs. Albert @. May of Jackson, has
excited a large degree of interest,
and is worthy of remembrance be-
cause Of the sentiment that impelled
the gift and the historic associations
that cling around the old battle
SCARED instrument. The facts are
these:
Mrs. May is daughter of Mrs.
w. w. Scott, who was formerly Miss
Bette Cooper of Jackson. For
many years there has been in the
possession of her family the piano
that was moved out of the home of
her mother, when it was set on fire
to prevent its occupation by the.
Federals in 1868. SThe boys" of
the Fifth Company, Washington Ar
tillery, were part of the advance
guard of the army which was march
ing to Vicksburg to relieve Pember-
ton, and the music from the old
piano, played upon by Capt. A. G.
Swain, inspired them in the face of
death and danger. They finally left
it with the family whose home had
been burned. Only few survivors.
of the shot and she'll of the Civil
War remain now, and about thirty
of them witnessed the presentation
of the battle-scarred instrument last
Saturday, when Mrs. May gave it
into the keeping of the Louisiana
Historical Association, in Memorial
Hall, New Orleans. The presenta-
ton speech was made by Hon. A. @.
May, and poem, ''The Battle
Scared Piano." written by Miss
Margaret Lackey of Hillman COL
lege, was read.
The old-fashioned instrument,
with its scratches and scars, that
a battle-stained veteran would value
as stars" is now worth only a few
dollars, but the Washington Artil-
lery would not take a kings ransom
for it.
The local pages of our State pa
pers have contained little else, for
fortnight, but column after column
of "School Concerts" "Closing Ex-
ercises" and "Commencements," al
ternating with hundreds of Person
ais, announcing the return of the
lads and lassies from school. To
one who has given the subject atten-
ton, there is great cause for satisfac-
tion in the fact that ten or fifteen
years ago, ninety-nine girls out Of a
hol1d1So iSAb tCp<ftS NIL LIN
time came to ''go off to school" This
was true of a great many boys also.
Now, however, it is the exception to
read of either bog or girl going be-
yond the borders of our own State
for an education. The benefits aris-
ing from this improved condition of
affairs is beyond imagining. 1t is
better for the State, for the schools
and for the parents and students
now that we have schools Of our own
the peer of any in the land, that
they should be educated at home
among the men and women who are
to be their friends and neighbors in
future days.
The Executive Committee Of the
Sons of Veterans met in the senate
chamber June Sd and adopted a
charter for the division in this State,
and elected Temporary officers to serve
until the regular meeting in Octo-
Der. These officers are: W. E.
Daniels, Yazoo City, president; j.
W. Bailey, Meridian, vice-president; !;
t. NJ. Henry, Jackson, secretary; !;
George G. Myers, Holly Springs,
treasurer. The following commit
tee to prepare constitution and by
laws was appointed: Monroe Nc
Clurg, L. p. Henderson of Green
wood; ]. R. Green, Waynesboro; O.
Mckay, Meridian; G. B. Hum
phreys, Greenwood. The charter
was adopted by the committee
Reports from the State convict
farms bring the encouraging news
that the crops are in prime condi-
ton, which warrants the prediction
of unprecedented harvests. May the
prophecies not fail and may the
hopes be all fulflled-not alone ON
these great State farms, but on the
smaller places all over Mississippi,
where the farmers SOW and reap and
gather the harvest in!
The return of Mrs. Hala Ham,
mond Butt to fields she loves and
which she brightens and beauties
causes rejoicing in all the editorial