The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-05

have barely escaped oblivion. Things
worthy of Life never die, and had these
words been as true in sentiment and
| as expressive of a people as the air
| was inspiring, they would have lived
| inseparably in the heart of the PEG.
pie.
Our lamented General Cor don gave
his warm approval to this work of the
Daughters to have a better version
adopted to make immortal the song fr
the hearts of coming generations The
| Endorsement of General Stephen D. Lee
is also in the hands of the committee
ITO those who would cling in senti.
ment to the old minstrel song we would
say that Emmett's words cannot be
biotted from the memory OF those who
cherish association with them: nor
would we. with ruthless hands. tear
| them from the pages of history Let
| them remain inseparably with the his
tory of Emmett himself. But we would
have Dixie Endorsed by all Confed-
crate organizations that we could sing
with. pride and spirit in our schools, on
all patriotic occasions. etc. and in time
1t would become the recognized Dixie.
"one other argument In favor Of the
adoption of one version is: that since
so many versions now exist, and diff
1t is impossible for a crowd in any as
sembly to sing Dixie when the words
to be used are unfamiliar. AS has all
ready been demonstrated in our gath
erings, the chorus will be sung with a.
vim, but all are silent through the
verses Let US unite in the selection
of one Dixie and upon this be a solid
South
The committee has In its possession
twenty-five versions that have been
sent in by the authors, or otherwise
collected. Several of these are highly
recommended by veterans and friends,
1t Is the policy of the committee to-
first Great a sentiment favorable to the
adoption of one accepted version of
Dixie before considering critically or
comparatively any one of the number
on its files.
when the matter was presented to
the United Sons of Veterans, in con-
vention at New Orleans, the idea was
almost unanimously accepted. and the
requested committee from their ranks
was appointed to cooperate with the
committee from the Alabama Division
U. d, c., and is composd of Hon.
Thomas NJ. Owen of Montgomery, Ala;
Hon. Harry L. Seay of Dallas. Tex,
and Hon. e. P. Cox of Richmond, Va.
The United Daughters of the Con-
federacy. in convention at Charleston.
s. c., November. 1908, were not pre-
pared to fully accept the plan proposed
but in a very limited time, in which full
debate on the question was impossible.
a number of strong, thoughtful women
spoke favorably to the resolution Of
fered by the Chairman of the Alabama
committee. others spoke adversely. pre-
fe, ring to leave Dixie and its numer-
Gus versions untouched. However,
raotion prevailed to have a committee
o. three appointed to work Jointly with
the committee from the Alabama Dr.
vision ard United Sons of Veterans for
the purpose of investigating the sub
ject and to report to the convention
at st. Louis in october the feasibility
of adopting one version of Dixie.
Mrs. Mary e. Bryan, who conducts
an important department in The Sunny
South, gives the following in a recent
issue: Friends, can any of you send
me some worthy words for our beloved
air Dixie?' Miss Annie Riv-
Ell of Fairfax, S. c., wishes to have
her pupils sing Dixie during the clos
ing exercises of her school, and she is
mortified to find that the only words
available are such nonsense rhymes as
lie Missus marry Will de weaber.'
There should be some noble and APP
propriate words set to this air of dear
associations. Who will write them?"