The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-17
s:1:1E:1d1

WAR SONGS AND POEMS OF THE
SOUTHERN CONITEDERACY- Col-
lected and Retpldswitll Personal Remi,l-
iscenccs OF the War. BY II. NJ. NVhar-
ton, d. y. The John G. Winston Co.,
Philadelphia. 4l2 pages, profusely IL
Illustrated. 54ta
DR.. Wharton makes a ct,nmendable Of
fort to preserve and to r,Hsmit to the
generations to come the wAr songs and
n 1,oe. Of tile south. He has gathered in
this volume such Of these songs and POI
ems as he considers worthy of preserva-
ton. Ss4 XXI IS
S.Ny object, he declares, 'lias been to
rescue from oblivion these productions OF
a people as brave and true as ever lived 4
Their songs and poems are the prop
erty OF the nation. There Is now, ~
adds, no North, mo South, no 1cast no
West. One handles the book reverently.
IN it are lines that have not the slightest
claims to serious consideration as liter
allure; side by side with them are Others
choice aud beautiful All wcro born OF a
nution's trials and suffering. and they
came straight from the Southern heart.
In this earnestness Of appeal lies their
power to move-a power that mas not
yet deserted them and that never VIII.
What audience can sit stolidly through
the martial strains OF Dixie and Mary
read without a thrill the stirring battle
cry Of some OF the old bards--Ryan
Thompson, Hayne, Tucker, cCabe and
4 score OF otherss Some of he familiar
songs are missing from I he BOOK, put the ne
ma iority OF those worth keeping are here
The last Southern poem IN the Yolun r ~, ,ls
tho noble tribute OF the poet lest OF the l
South to THE CONQUERED 1s san e. n anu 2 =
this Is one OF the very finest OF all the the
selections On the pa go following and
completing the selections. Is the reply TO
this noen written by Sir Henry Tough
ton Bart, of Ell gland Z S.9 2s Z,
Not the least interesting portion of y he
book is the introduction, devoted TO the
authors "reminiscences of vat days )r.
Wharton served as a private In the army
OF General Lee, and he relates some OF
his experiences in the days of Sizes. TO
the sainted Gordon his commander. he
gives the highest praise and to him he
dedicates the book. He discusses this
wartime poetry that he has collected and
relates a pleasant little incident In his
own career that shows the populari y OF
THE Bonnie Blue Flag wherever 1t
may be suns; IL ~ j8j
,ners ago, on the Anchor Line steamer
Furnesia. 1t SO happened that We found
the Fourth OF j uly out in mid-ocean and
determined to celebrate it. There being
a great dearth of good speakers, the Sc
lection fell upon me to make the address,
and responded the best I could. OF
course, ] need not say it was eminently3
patriotic and loyal to the Stars and
Stripes AT the conclusion however,
announced to my audience that l was the
only Southern man on board ship; that
i was an Eex- Confederate soldier, a nd, e
ii pleased them. i would conclude my adj
dress by singing a Confederate war song,t
thus giving them g. piece Of unWritten.
history. This an nounce cement was rec aTed
with applause. and proceeded at
once to sing with all my might and the
SferyorS OF a true Southern heart Tho
Bonnie Blue Flag. '$@
The clappins and cheering >that fol-
lowed gave aunmistakable evidence that.
this song OF the South was we'll re-
cefvod. That day at dinner We had. of
(, curse. the usual patriotic meal-Colum-
fsia. soup. State spangled banner pud-
ding, stars and Stripes Ice cream. etc
and at every plate. save mine. there was
a small American flag. about three by
four inches large. At my plate there.
was blue flag with a white star In the
middle Several hundred guests. seat
ed at the table, had evidently been
Informed OF the delicate little compliment
that had been paid to me, and when
pleasant greeting came from all who were
present. and proceeded 10 devour, with
unusual delight The dinner that was set
before me.
The book abounds IN interest. and Will
find It's way into The library Of every
ex Confederate and every southerner who
wishes now and then 10 turn back 10 the
history OF that far-gone day. and see
the mighty heroes again fighting for their
home and country. II is hoped that In;
second edition a more cfNefu editorial
supervision and "A more scrupulous typo
graphical paatnHss and correctness will
he observed. There are a number Of IL
Illustrations In the book, and several Of
them picture spots familiar 10 Richmond
eyes--the monument in Hollywood the
Franklin Street residence where Gem
eral Lee lived two years and other
places.
F3 tff7NEsg jf ~~rx.-----.K--E-Y +Ae 1880