The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-07-20

and greatly enjoyed by those present.
It was certainly fine.
DIR. w. H. Zimmerman responded
to the address of welcome on behalf
Of the committee in brief but feel
ing speech. It was a tender touch
ing scene to see these old soldiers
now with forms bent by the weight
of years, cheeks furrowed and plough
ed by the finger of time and whose
totteripg footsteps tread the pathway
to the yawuing grave, congregated
together on this joyous reunion,
going over in imagination the battles
they fought and the suferings they
endured for their couutry's honor in
the long ago. The recitation, "Furl
the Banner" by Miss Ruth Able was
patbetically rendered, and touched
the memories of the past as did also
"Music in Camp" by Miss Alba
Haynes.
The address of the orator of the
day, COL John P. Thomas, of Colum-
bia, was. a mastery effort. Col.
Thomas is scholarly gentleman, and
a finished orator and on this occasion
he surpassed himself and held his
large audience spellbound with his
burning e!oquence.
Ctl U. r. Brooks, in making ex-
cuse for the absence of Governor
Hayward, who was on the pro-
gramme for an address to the Sons
of Veterans, paid e high compliment
to the old soldiers and the children
and the people of Leesville, and in
sroduced Miss Elizabeth Lumpkin,
az the ''Veteran's Favorite Spokes-
woman" Miss Lumpkin is gift
ed lady, whose every movement
denotes grace, culture and elcquence
and has the rare power of swaying
and moving her audience by impresf-
ing her individuality upon her hear
ers. She is greatly beloved by the
old Veterans throughout the State.
Her theme was the Women of the
South, in the days of war and in the
times of peace. She graphically de-
scribed the part women took in the
war, the suffering and the hardships
she underwent to encourage her
loved ones in their struggle for con-
stitutional liberty and for the per-
petuation of the time honored in.
stitutions of the fair Southland.
The war cost the lives Of thousands
of brave men, the destruction Of
property, suffering to the men snd
women CT this country and some now
call it s'the little difficulty" but God
knows it was not ''little difficulty
but force and bitter struggle for
principle and home and country. She
paid glowing tribute to the bravery
and heroism of the Confederate SOL
dier and closed with an earnest
appeal to the men of the South to
uphold white supremacy at any
hazard, but then if they failed to do
so God knew that the women of the
South would.
The "Bonnie Blue Flag" was
feelingly rendered by a choir of
sweet voiced children waving hsgs,
then came the sad but beautiful re-
citation by Miss Aunie Crouch, 'The
Sentinel is IF Duty Forever" and
the ceremonies were closed with that
hymn God be with you till We meet
again"
The dinner was we'll prepared, and
was enjoyed by all.
The people of the town OF Lees.
vile did everything possible to make
the day pleasant occasion for the
battle SCARED Veterans and their
friends and everything passed eff as
pleasantly and as joyfully as the
chimes of harmonious wedding bells.
In the afternoon Col. George Bell
Zimmerman made fine address in
behalf of the Sons of Veterans, which
was received with great enthusiasm,