Yazoo City herald. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1976, 1902-05-02
THE CONFEDERATE
REUNIONS.
Old Veterans Crowded Out by
Visitors.

. hfNNEA ~ Va AAN NAA NNiAANhNAh hAN hNANANAA'
who left Yazoo CRY to attend the reunion
at Dallas, returned home Friday. They
! looked worn and weary. In speaking o.
the reunion they said that it was a sue
cess in point Of numbers, but that the
crowds of visitors and of young people
were such that the battle-scared veteran:
had but little chance to enjoy anything OF
to see or hear much that was going on.
Their age and their iufrmlties prevented
them from keeping up. and no matter
where they went it was crush and a
jam. These veterans came back to
their home that they might get place to
eat and sleep and to rest.
And so it has been for several years
Those for whom these reunions are gotten
up, and in whose honor they are named,
find but little pleasure in attending them.
So great is this crush and jam getting
from year to year from those who really
have no business at them, that thousands
of the OLD veterans are declining to go.
They do not care to be pushed and brush
ed aside to make room for the thousands
who never heard gun fire, cannon roar
or smelt powder during the trying times
of '6l'65. Who can blame them'
In speaking of this in Yazoo City Friday
veteran said that he attended the re-
unions at Atlanta and Memphis, At
botl places he slept upon the grouEaa !,
took his rations from uncovered tables
and drank his coffee from tin cups, while
the Younger and more fortunate enjoyed
the hospitalities of the hotels and private
houses. As result he said he never in
tended to attend another reunion until
arrangements were made for wedding out
all except those who carried their mus.
kets and cartridge boxes during the years
of strife and carnage. He wants re-
union of Johnny Rebs." Can you blame
him, reader2 Would you blame all of
these old heroes of the Gray if they re
spectfully declined to be used as the in
struments for pleasures of others7 And this
is what will be the result if something is
not done to take better care of them when
they go to the reunions.
Time was when they could stand hard
ships. Miles of walking through heat or
cold, wet or dry, did not worry and ex-
laust They could, and did, subsist for
lays ON the husks as it were. They could |
sleep under trees and cover with the |
oroad canopy of heaven, and go to their /
luties the following day with an elastic
Itep. Their muscles were strong, their
undaunted and their hearts
hrobbed with the vigOr of Young man
lood, But 40 years have elapsed since
hen. Their hair is either that of snow
II 1t is streaked with the color of the
informs they once wore. Their steps
re unsteady and their once sturdy and
obust frames are weakened by the in
rmities due to old age. They cannot
ow bare their enfeebled bodies to the
elements Like babies, they
eed nourishment, care and attention.
hould they not have this Oh these re-
mon occasionsG Was it not their deeds
f herolsm and yalor that made such oc-
asions possibleP
Dallas, like Memphis, Richmond, Louis
lille and Atlanta, did her best to care for
ne 10000 visitors during the reunion
eriod. No fault can be found with her ,
but it was others than the ,
attic scared veterans of the Lost Cause |
tho got the fat Of the land and lay down
} rest upon downy beds at night. The
Ierald appeals to the OLD Veterans to {
all a halt upon such things. Let the
tiles who are to entertain them first pre-
are for their comforts and then for .
Tiers, and let it be understood that the !
eteTans are TO be first. or there will '
G no reunion.
Had this been the case at Memphis or !
alias, where the crowds were the largest, !
le Veterans would not have to return to
leir homes-as did those to Yazoo City
st Frday-rO find resting places.
If the sons, daughters and visitors want
go to the reunions, let them go, but
ith the distinct understanding that they
Ill be second when 1t comes to provid
C accommodations. II they do not care
accept this, let them remain away. If d
ese occasions are to be Confederate O
eterans Reunione, then the Veterans 4
e entitled to and should receive first
d