The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-30
"a IT. LEE day brought Fitz Lee
EzM weather, sunshine and balmy

Ea ITz LEE day brought Fitz Lee
- weather. sunshine and balmy
air. OF all tho days of this merry
month of May. yesterday was the bright
est ard the most glorious. 1t was per-
feet day.
The Southern train on which General
Ice journeyed from his home in Virginia
to Birmingham was due at a quarter to
noon. and the Confederate veterans on
whose special invitation he cnme the
National drard-infantry and cavalry
and the Mayor and Aldermen were lined
on Nineteenth street. resting on Morris
avenue. a half hour before the time. The
committee of reception and the marshal
and his staff were waiting near the pas
senger station. But the train was delay
ed three-quarters of an hour, reaching
here at 80. A special committee from
Birmingham met the distinguished visitor
at Admission and escorted him to the
city.
Greeted by Noise.
On the approach of the train the loco
motive whistles and the whistles on the
mills and factories blew their welcome.
Then the men and women who thronged
the streets said Hes coming;" and the
school children, many thousands of them,
who were assembled in the park clapped
their hands in glee and kept time with
the music of the whistles.
As soon as General Lee had alighted
! from his car and had shaken hands with
| the committee he was escorted to horse,
| which he quickly mounted. and In less
| than five minutes the procession was
moving to the city hall. The doughty
| general rode at the head of the column
! and everybody recognized him and every
! body cheered. The men lifted their hats
and Lee was uncovered all the way along
the march in recognition of the salutes
from the citizens.
The general was In splendid form and
he looked as If he enjoyed the ovation
thoroughly. He was bestride beautiful
steed of light bay color and fiery spirit
and the horse pranced as If he was proud
of his rider. Lee wore a suit of black and
derby hat. A SLOUGH hat would have
made him look more the military, to be
sure. but he would be picked out for a
| West Pointer and Lee anywhere and in
any garb, because he Is every inch a SOL
der.
! Mayor Extends Welcome.
At the city hall General Lee dismounted
avenue where Mayor Drennen received
Finn and in a felicitous speed well
coined him to Birmingham and extended
the hospitality of the municipal corpora
ton. General Lee responded in hearty
happy, vein and his big, round voice rang
out so as to be heard from Nineteenth
street to Twentieth street. He was APP
plauded from beginning to end and his
eloquent sentences about the valor of the
Confederates and the glory the Stars and
Stripes that wave over a reunited coun-
try were hailed will demonstrations of
approval at once spontaneous and rapt-
urous.
AS the procession moved from the city
hall to the park the crowds seemed to
| thiclsen. No such turning out en- massc
had been seen in Birmingham for many
| g. day. At the park General Lee re-
viewed the parade and reviewed the
school chlldrcn. At half-past one the
ceremonies were oyer and the citys
guest was escorted to the Hillman.
Birmingham honored itself In this fit
| ting reception to Fitz Lee. the hero of
two wars. and Lee was deeply touched
| by 1t. From the moment he set foot in
| this city he felt that he was in the home
of his friends. The general spent a por-
ton of the afternoon resting in his room
At night he delivered his lecture on 1.-The
United States and Cuba" at the Audi
toIium before a large and appreciative
audience.
G. A. r. Withdraws.
The only incident that occurred yester-