The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-24
VETERANS CUP TO MRS

The Atlanta Constitution gives the following account of the presentation of beautiful silver loving cup to Mrs Sarah E. Gabbett, Custodian of the Southern cross of honor:
 Mrs. Sarah E. Gabbett, Custodian of the Southern Cross of Honor. is more than proud. and justly so. of the hand some testimonial of affection and es- teem presented to her by the United Confederate Veterans. "A
 The gift, presentation of which, was made for the veterans by General Clement A. Evans ton the occasion of the celebra tion of General Lees birth day in Atlanta last Thursday, is a large and massive silver loving cup. which sits upon pedestal of highly polished Georgia oak. the pedestal hay ing been made at the Georgia School of Technology Each of the three spaces between the handles is appro- priately engraved.
 Upon one face Of the cup appears bett, Custodian of the Southern Cross of Honor, from the United Confederate Veterans. January 19. 1905."
 Upon another face is engraved a fac presented to worthy veterans by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Upon the third face appears the Confederate battle flag.
 The presentation of this cup came at the conclusion of the Lees birthday exercises, and in thanking the veter- ans for their kind remembrance Mrs. Gabbett replied as follows to the sen timents expressed by General Evans:
 General and Comrades: I am all but overwhelmed and can hardly find words with which to thank you. Cap tain Harrison told me that you intend ed giving me a surprise But that eternal gossip. The Atlanta Constitu- tion. had stolen a march upon. you, so revealing your plans: One thing can eral troops to steal a march on you
 Tt is well that l was not taken by surprise, for how would it have been citation of your most kindly thought? It is more probable that emotion would have rendered me dumb. It is well that had few days in which to real words with which to tay and express my gratitude for the love which prompted your gift. Captain Harri- son also has asked me to give a talk. talk To be forewarned is to be fore armed I am afraid of myself-I might give way. Therefore to hold myself in check I have taken the notes from which now read.
 Besides talking. I have a more pre- eious characteristic: I know a good thing when l see it.! This beautiful cup is a good thing-a very good thing. But l know one far better. It is this-the loving heart of each and every veteran who thus expresses his appreciation of the efforts of ths Daughters of the Confederacy, and of their agent, to do them honor[
 If you could read the letters which are necessarily written to your custo- dian by the officers of the various chapters when sending for crosses, you would understand the sympathy grat- itude and veneration which we feel for the men who wore the gray. As for your custodian. it is true l have worked early and late in the examina- tion of more than forty-five thousand certificates of eligibility. and a very voluminous correspondence has been no light work. But what of that? It has truly been work of love. My harvest has been rich indeed: my sheaves have been very full! My low ing cup has run over; my heart has throbbed with exultation. my eyes fill- ed with tears as I read the short and simple annals Of our defenders, of our devoted patriots who freely offered themselves and all they possessed on the altar of their country-the men who wore the gray.
 Tt has been my constant efSOrt to induce the veterans to give us some slight sketch of their service. for what glorious history these records would make! Were l a younger woman nothing would delight me more than to spend my time in chatting with ev- cry veteran. thus laying up untold Homer as were the valiant deeds of the Grecian warriors-equal in gall lantry to the Chevalier Bayard.
 Every certificate will be filled with other treasures in Richmond but I have not succeeded to my liking. The veterans are shy of telling their sto- ries. Some few. however, l recall.
 q have lately noticed that a great many have served only one year-the last year of the war-and on inquiring the cause of this late service have found that it was given by mere boys For instance. company E, of the 72nd North Carolina regiment. was com posed entirely of 17-year-Old boys Soon after going into the service they