The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-12
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Montgomery, in gala attire, is in rthe hands of the advance guard of the gray haired survivors of the great armies of the Confederacy.
 Score upon score of the old wearers of the gray, the survivors of the matchless army whose deeds will live in song and story, when taps have sounded over the mound that marks the resting place of the last survivor. came yesterday to Montgomery. birthplace of the storm cradled nation that fell.
 In the hopeful days when the Stars and Bars were first flung to the Southern breezes and hearts were high with con fidence. many of the dauntless soldiers of Alabama come to Montgomery impa- tient of any delay, eager and restless to get to the front. The future was fair with every promise. Hope was. at its highest, and to the eager soldiers 0f the Confederacy, their beloved South, with her constellation of States, was even then ready to take her place in the nations of the world.
 To the brave and impatient hearts. at- turned in love of the South to die for her RlOTy, no SdCTIuCe SecLlSu tOO SfSdt- lO meet in battle the assailants of their rights was to them a priceless privilege. The air was electric with patriotic fervor and in every heart burned the ambition to achieve glory in battle against the invaders.
 The years passed and some of them came back to pick up the threads of life, to care for the devoted and tender wo- men who with strained ears for news of the loved ones at the front, wore the years away in need and hopeless long ing, but who bravely kept alight the lamps of patriotism and stirred the hearts of men to actionI
 Asleep on Battlefields.
 There were others who never returned They slept, and still sleep, on the hills and in the valleys of Virginia They sleep in unmarked graves in the trenches about Vicksburg. in the field about Shi- loh. In far-off prison graveyards in the bleak North, they sleep their last sleep, and others rest on the mountains of Ten ressee and Georgia.
 To the great vortex of flame and fire Alabama gave 12S.000 to achieve deathless fame and glory. From that four years of glorious fighting 30000 of the bravest of the brave never returned. Death upon the field of battle or the no less honor
  the portion of the 5000 who never re- turned.
 Others came back defeated but heroic alike in victory and defeat. Living and dead alike are enshrined in Southern af- lection and will be as long as patriotism and bravery have a meaning.
 They that came back many of them stopped in> Montgomery. no longer the fair and hopeful commonwealth they had known Saddened by defeat and grief like Niobe rhe lamented the death of her children "voiceless in woe" And here in their weary journey home the ragged and footsore Confederate soldiers stopped moment to rest. The heavy hearts that were in the city then so typical of the South and the Confederacy may not be told.
 Heroes Gather Today.
 And today the heroes who swore ale glance to the bonnie blue flag and fol- lowed Lee, Jackson, Johnston. Hood, Gordon and others known to fame have again gathered in the city whose destiny was so linked with the Confederacy. They came here forty years ago in the flush of youth. Their locks were thick. their faces glowed with health in their eyes burned the brightness of hope ard determination and thei1 steps were light and buoyant.
 A great change has the passing years wrought Heads that were brown then are silveled now in honorable age, and bright eyes are dimmed with the forty years that have passed. They who step ped so lightly and buoyantly walk in slow and measured steps and sadder yet to see are many empty sleeves and the wooden substitutes for the limbs left up- on battlefields.
 More honored than ever before. if such a thing were possible. they are in Mont gomery today.
 Flags Float to Freezes.
 The Stars and Bars, the red. white and red floats in every breeze. Business houses are dressed in Confederate colors and the City Building, 1t may be said. is mass of bunting. The Auditorium which the ses- sions of the Division will be held today, is layishly decorated in Confederate colors. Potted palms and cut flowers from the Daughters of the Confederacy add beauty and attraction to the building. The Mayors office and the front of the City Building is also handsomely decorated as is police headquarters and fire department headouarters on Madison Avenue.
 It Is earnestly urged by the Committee on Arrangements that the entire busi- ness district of the city be decorated in honor of the Confederate soldiers. All merchants are requested to take patriot ic interest in this matter The question