The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-02
GEORGIANS OF MONTGOMERY
GIVE MEDAL TO MISS GAIT
Presented in Recognition of Her Refusal to Sing
"Marching Through Georgia" Received
Token at Kentucky Reunion.

The Georgians Of Montgomery, soeie-
ty composed Of native Georgians who
have located here have presented to Miss
Mary Talbot Gait of Louisville KY
medal, in recognition of her refusal to
sing Marching Through Georgia" at
school entertainment in Louisville.
The movement to present, the medal
to Miss Gait was started by General ).
w. A. Sanford, member OF the
Georgians, and the presentation was MADE
Thursday in Owensboro, KY, during the
Kentucky reunion of Confederate Veter-
ans.
The medal on its front side bears the
State seal of Georgia, with the dates IT'S
its admission into the Union, and 1851,
the date of the adoption OF Its present
constitution, and the motto WISDOM,
Justice, Moderation" On the diverse
side is inscribed Miss Laura Taipot dalt
presented by the Georgians. Montgomery.
Ala, 1902"
A special from Greensboro KY. tells
of the presentation of the medal as foi-
lows: -.
this morning with prayer by the Rev. y.
William Jones' Major 10. Haycratt de-
livered the address OF welcome ana cap
tain J. B. Briggs responded on behalf
Confederates are in attendance.
THE principal feature today was the
presentation by Captain Ellis, In an eio-
ouent speech, Of a gold medal TO Laura 3
Talbot Gait, of Louisville, on penait VI
the Georgia Society of Montgomery, Ala.
1.-THE medal was brought here by MI
Charles Smith Adams OF Montgomery,
Ala, a member Of the society, WIN =
letter from the president requesting tn at
Captain w. T. Ellis present 1t to MISS
Gait. In presenting the medal. Captain
Ellis said, in part:
The Presentation Speech.
1.-The Georgia Society of Montgomery.
Ala. though strangers, wishes to Join
with the Rice E. Graves Camp IN honor-
ing the child who is our invited guest.
When little Laura Gait declined to sing
Marching Through Georgia" she touched
a chord which vibrated far beyond the
limits of Kentucky. The thriilinS notes
of that chord not only reached sne MONIES y, :
land of cotton but aroused universal ems
thusiasm among ex-confederates every
where. .. :,
q. AS an evidence of its appreciation Of
the loyal spirit our little guest displayed,
this Southern society has instructed me
| in its name and on its behalf to decorate
| this Kentucky girl with mccall Wncn
they ask her to accept as a Dadge OF
which the Georgia Society has Tor her
and "a an evidence of the nope winch ner
| conduct has inspired.
"sI accent the honor conferred on me
and with your permission. Mr. Chairman,
| will present the medal with which THIS
| Southern society desires to decorate our
| little guest, who, in the innocence OF
| childhood, performed an act which pup
| licly attests that there are those among
| the children, of the South who honor tne
| memory of the men who defended the
| lost cause; that there are children IN the
| South who are insisting that the truth
| and the whole truth concerning the ClVii
| War ought to be correctly recorded.
tyrtu. HiValr more
than local Significance. This Southern
society in presenting the medal which II
| directs me to deliver as an evidence OF
| its approval of our little guests conduct
when she declined to sing song which
| reflects on the memory of the people OF
| the South, is furnishing material for ac-
| curate history; history which in DEFER
! ence to the truth ought long ago TO have
been written. That other men and other
| times may properly understand the true
| Significance of these exercises ana cor
| rectly judge the motive which actuates
those who participate in them, l Will
| state the facts briefly. and in doing SC
| will set down naught in malice.
| 1.-The father and grandfather of little
Laura Gait were Confederate soldiers
| both of them are dead. Her grandfather,
Dr. Gait, was the first surgeon of the
LIST Kentucky cavalry, which regiment
was commanded by the late Ben Hardin
Helm. There are those present who serv-
| ed as soldiers in this regiment, and who
| remember DR.. Calf when he wore Con-
| federate uniform and defended the cause
| of the South. There are others in this
T audience who remember DIR. Gait when