The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-22
United DauShterC
 0 1he Confederacyo

Chapter of U. D. C., Mississippi (Aber- deen) issued invitations to birthday reception in memory of Robt. E. Lee. It was held at the home of the Presi- dent, Mrs Joseph Howard. The wide halls and spacious apartments of the lovely old ante bellum home could scarce | ly hold the eager crowd of callers. Such an array of battered but gallant vete- rans Many with one sleeve tucked away useless (but the arm had not been | uselessD while others were upon crutchcs. | Tie colors were artstically arranged; and instinctively the veterans grouped | themselves beneath the folds of a bat | tle-scarred flag that bore still the traces | of woman's tender. loving work, as well as the scorChes of "shot and shell' be- slowed by relentless enemy! | On a table iay the sword of a gallant colonel whose name is beloved in Ala | hama as well as sssippi-Colonel Key holds. It was told with pride that this sword flashed out swift and ohedient to pass on'' the command when Pickett's l charge was ordered at Gettysburg. Be- | side 1t lay the sword of one who laid it. stainless, down with his life at Seven | Pines.
 An old canteen was on exhibition. that belonged to one of Wheeler's Butter milk Rangers'-vouched for by high au- thorty. Capt Bob Houston! | Recitations and music were the fea- lures of the occasion. The exquisite poem written on the back of a Confeder ate note, was recited very feelingly by Miss Sykes Several songs were beauti- | fully rendered; the veterans humming l an under-chofus1f6r 0Tthese songs had evidently carried them away and back to those camp-fres in Virginia or Tennes- 1 see.
 Have you the words of that poem? If so, why not publish it in your column of | The Advertiser? Many an old. battle scared fellow would prize his copy dearly.
 Refreshments were served to the guests from "real' Confederate tent, stretched over fresh pine poles from which not all the green boughs had been chopped. | This made it seem very true to life-but within was a dan,y maiden (clad in Yankee" stuffsD, who served punch from gorgeous cut-glass bowl. Presto. | change. Where. O, where was the man. in-gray to whom that tent righfully be- | longed? He is safe, Safely enshrined in song and story" and, better yet in he hearts ef the women of the South.
 I send you a little clipping from an Aberdeen paper. It may be suggestive. Is there in Alabama one of these survv-
 
 Can we not know more about these pre- l cious old relics? Would 1t not be a good idea to send questionings through the length and breadth of Alabama. urging l the possessors of these priceless relics to consider the surrender of these treas- ures to the safe-keeping of the State?
 Our Legislature has done its part now, in providing the means to build a place of safe deposit for these treasures which 1 he in md yet generous donors have not lost them! They should realize rich return for | their surrender, in the consciousness of | having done an unselfish thing for the good of the young of our great State, for | the preservation of these relics is their rightful heritage! Thus is the history of a nation preserved and the Confectionery will always remain The Baby Nation of l Historyi
 | Let us gather up the songs the soldiers sang round the camp Soon the rear | guard" will "pass over the river" and we shall lose some of the tenderest and l sweetest of these songs. | l propose that the good women of our | State look In the garrets of their homes for flies of old songs and send them to MT. OV en of the History Department. Let the old soldiers know that we want copies of the songs of Lees camp-fires; l Q Wheeler's and Forests bivouac. They will respond.
 Who can furnish the notes and words of that most exquisite old duet sung dur ing the war by mother and daughter. sisters and wife-until voice failed them and the tears would fiow?" | Mother. can this the glory be. Of which men proudly tell, | When speaking of those fearless ones,
 Who in the battle fell?'' etc?
 know it was beautifully sung in Troy. Ala by Miss Hennie Worthy, who was afterwards Mrs. Henry Wiley.
 I suppose the Troy Chapter can get this data from the Worthy or Wiley families of Troy.
 A dear old veteran friend. Mir. Rufus Galloway, formerly of Troy, Ala, now of Griffin Ga. sent me the words of a lovely Confederate song he used to sing to the accompaniment of hIs banjo; haven't the music, but I know the tune: s'Three cheers for Virgini.
 The land of the free!
 The birthplace of Washington.
 The home of Robert Lee!
 Your soil is invaded | By fees not always braves
 Your fields once so fertile
 Now are covered OCT with graves!
 CHORUS:
 Nirginia Virginia.
 And sweet Liberty!
 Three cheerC for Virginia,
 The home of Robert Leei
 Virginia, Virginia! The battles begun!
 We've met the Northern hirelings | And victory we have won,
 Even the cry of Our Jackson will be On, to the charge! down the Valley fol-