The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-04
Letters tc tbe edfter
oLp rIMEs Anp scENEs.

of an Old Citizen.
 Editor Montgomery Advertiser:
 My heart leaps up with joy
 When I behold a rainbow in the
 So was 1t when my life began.
 So Is 1t now I am a man,
 So let it be when grow old
 Or let me die."-
 These lines. are quoted from memory. written by James McCarty oliver. a gifted son of Montgomery. He was genial companion, and a young lawyer fl fields of ana under %ss the gud ance of General J. W. A. Sanford he pursued the law, being student in his oiyis crse s,rf tne me Sis usket and as a member of volunteer com pany of Montgomery, was among the first to- reach the battlefields of Vir- he was leaving the struggle at Seven Pines" with hand all torn and bleeding, being severely wounded, one finger en- my sey he Iosad 5oesary s that the lost finger might be a help to him some day. working in silent power for h Gn the oram sdor he pisasd war he died with his ambitions unreal- ized. Akin to the exquisite delight of the poet at beholding the bow of prom ing a recent visit to dear old Mont gomery, on viewing the great strides of progress on every hand in every wey oe so Say tRen and o ward march of prosperity in. all that psrtapwS tS the sr 6uSaga iSegap 9f saSsat her hobby and restful homes. her beau tiful daughters, her broad streets, her gracefully flowing river, her stately old spon t gnat emofons in fined my as memory carried me back to scenes there enacted, during the stirring and exciting times .Sa of cogseaer wss9 acy," and its halls filled with the voie: es of intellectual giants, whose fervid eloquence swelled the heart of every bursts of sloquenee have not, swayed themes and Cicero. Were mine the power no ruthless hand should dismah1 as,1d have 1t stand as it Is. the first rays of the morning sun kissing its dome, and its last rays of evening lingering about Yes, I would have 1t stand as it is an imperishable monument to the princi- ples therein founded by, patriots, many death In the front of battle in their de- fense. And there beside 1t stands the Confederate Monument. the corner stone of which was laid by Jefferson pays, Lost Cause" Few are left of those who witnessed the imposing ceremony of the inauguration of the first and on
 recall the scene. It was glorious day bright and beautiful, the very atmos- phere seemed electrified with patriotic zeal and military ciYie ans mtaTg from Court Square to the Capitol, bands playing. flags flying, drums beating and surging. swaying mass or hu- walks. Nothing at all comparable with 1t has ever been seen in Montgomery. save the Inauguration of Governor was free from "Carpetbag" and negro rule. I could but feel sad at the de- molition of the "Exchange," where in the long ago spent many nap happy ,t hours IT'S joice that 1t was rising from It's ruins to meet the demands of the times, ne- cessitating a greatly. enlarged and up to-date building, modern in every par
 Montgomery has an excellent car ser vice leading to the many attractive the the "siectric Park" was a revelation, twas a scene of dazzling beauty that met my astonished gaze. a yeritable in its Ho how any thousand electric lights made every thing as bright as day: presume there Is not park in the South to
 While in the city 1t was my privilege and great pleasure to listen to a mas terfu1 discourse addressed to the Con. federate veterans of Camp Lomax," by the Rev. J. A. Rice pastor of the Court Street Methodist Church.
 The speaker spoke with vehemence and enthusiasm as he pictured the "old of war during the "Civil Strife" dwell ing upon their valor and fortitude. Our hearts warmed up and made us feel Camp had solicited a copy for publica- ton. A few years produce great changes. In my walks about the streets saw but few familiar faces. Occasionally I would meet an old com rade, and feel the cordial pressure of his hand. As In days of war when tie fields of Virginia. I sign myself
 "Enyap." ocampo Ala, May IS. 1905.