The Colfax chronicle., 1903-05-30
The Confederate Veterans.

ans held in the city of New Orleans on
the 10Th, Goth, 21st and 22d of May,
1908, was the greatest reunion the
South has ever seen, not only in the
number of people gathered to share
the Crescent City's famous hospitali-
ty, but also in the Importance of the
deliberations and the celebrities pres
ent. Among the most prominent
we're Gen. John b. Gordon, Gen. Joe
Wheeler, Gen. Stephen d. Lee, Judge
John H. Reagan, of Texas, Judge
John H. Rogers, and score OF others
of less notableness. The widow of
Stonewall Jackson, who was also
present, came in for liberal share of
the honors heaped upon herself and a
hundred or more of the sponsors and
maids of honor in attendance. The
grand Grafton of Judge John H.
Rogers was a most mastery exposi-
tion of the legal phase of the South's
cause, and is fine contribution to
the history of the war.
Limited space forbids our attempt
ing to give any outline or particulars
of the numerous notable speeches
made during the convention. Suffice
it to say that eloquencc and intense
patriotism was the order of the day.
The estimate is made that fully two
hundred thousand persons visited
New Orleans during the four days the
reunion was in progress, and the
crowd eclipsed anything ever known
during the famous Mardi Gras fes-
tivities.
The great Auditorium at the Fair
Grounds, where the Reunion was held.
would only seat $4,000 or Is, 900, a
mere bagatelle of those in the city,
but the enthusiasm of the fortunate
number who could witness and hear
the proceedings was an inspiring and
a most instructive experience. Other
thousands were scattered about the
Fair Grounds, registering and holding
at the various State head
quarters, or gathered in tents under
the great live oaks, renewing their
old acquaintances of the eos, and
fighting over the historic battles OF
those string times. Seated upon the
grand stand overlooking the race
track, for hours in the day, and even
into the night, several thousand per-
Sons could be- seen gazing upon the
scene spread out before them
and listening to the inspiring strains
of music furnished by the numerous
bands.
But the wonder of it all grew upon
one, as when whirled back to Canal
street he found there a perfect sea of
heads, SO much so that the crowd at
the Fair Grounds was scarcely missed.
A visit to Audubon Park, Athletic
Park, City Park, West End. and 9TH
er public places, found them all filled
with visitors, and the ability of the
city of New Orleans to furnish aMuse-
ment for vast numbers was most
manifest. Indeed it was remarkable
how expeditiously and comfortably
the electric railway cars handled the
vast crowds that surged from place
to place of interest. In no case did
one have to wait for more than few
minutes to get car. True, a body
would frequently have to crowd in
and stand up for his ride, but he 'got
there" all the same, and that in q
very short time. The capacity of
those cars is simply wonderful, and
there seems always to be room for
one more in them. Then the good
nature and civility with which all
bore the discomfort of little extra
crowding was infectious, and it went
a long ways toward relieving the in
of the situation.
The ability of the city people to
handle the crowd was not only shown
BY the street railways and the police
'orce, but also by the hotels, restan-
rants, ice cream saloons, soda water
ounts, department stores. and all
other places that we visited. They
Ill seem to have mastered the knack
of getting along with a big crowd,
and know how to serve it without
getting into confusion. A polite sug-
yestion to clear the gangway, or keep
does the business, and it
would be well for those expecting a
ike experience to take pattern from
The Crescent City folks.
The big day of all was Friday, May
22d, the day of the grand parade,
when the old veterans, the sons of
and various military organ
zations, cadets from several colleges,
md the maids of honor, and camp