Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-09-14
A Confederate Reunion In High
land,
By Lf,,eH McClung.

sociations, and not among the least
Of these is Highland county. There
the pumpkins are the largest, the
girls the prettiest, and the "moon-
shine the firiest; and there patriot
ism dwells deepest in the hearts OF
the natives. Every man who has
reached the age Of 55 is eitheo a
major or colonel, for all rumor has
fit, fought under Jackson in the
Valley of Virginia.
Every summer there is a Confed.
crate Reunion in Highland on one
of be old battlcfelds of Stonewall
Jackson. ard it is an occasion not
|soon forgotten.
Fer ni.,s around the county folk
come. They sail into town in bng-
gies and wagons, they prance in on
horseback, they roll III TN bicycles,
and mhn, trudge in on foot. They
arrive early with their tntire fami.
lies, minus the baby" The baby is
an unknown quantity at reanion
in Highland. And we'll he may be
for said one Highland n,other'-
there is no creatur lmore pc. tlngly
provoking than a'tetthing brat at
a ctItbraticrfor old soldiers. What
tie Highland pe3pleN do with The
baby on. reunion day is question.
The cyncsure of admiring and
enyious eyes is the is the Hrkes.
vile band, It's members arrived
the evening before and serenaded
the town, Individually and collec-
lively. Their uniforms of red All !
yellow glitter in the sun and each
carried. himself with a superior air.
That the patriotic strains arising
from the organization do not strike
the critical ear like those from Sou
sa's Band or the Italian Royal Ma.
rire is OF little consequence. When
."Dixie" rends the air there are
shouts that would stir even the
soul: efrethe metropolitan Opera
House 'iorchestra:
Proudly the youthful gallant
brings the fair che of his choice.
whilesthe '.old fol ks" come on be
hind. His lady love is a type of
the GEMS homo found only in the
rural districts of the South. She
is very pretty. Her features are
regular, her hair Is chestnut or
dark, her eyes are as blue as the
summer skies, her teeth are pearly
white, her complexion is thing of
beauty and a JOY ,forever-and she
doesn't know the address Of a sing
paint or powder manufactured in
the country. She is attire in a
blue dress, a white hat and a pink
sash; or a whiteadress, pink hat
and a blue sash; or pink dress, a
blue hat and a white sash. These
combinations are her style and. her
Yariety-nit. z H..
First OH lie program is the
speaking" :. Feryid rraiory is as
plentiful as ,1moonshine." and far
more public in its, distribution. The |
spellbinders do not pursue the
methods Of most reunion orators
that is, laud to the skies the South |
and her defenders.
The Highland orators eulogizes
by. comparison. Thev review in
glowing terms all the mighty acts
of half the heroes from Marathon
to Santiago. Alexandria again
marches through Persia. Hannibal
again scales theAlps AMI penetrates
into Italy. Caesar again defeats
Pompev,ard Napoltaa Is once more
transported to rea ms of glory
Then to these are compared Jack
son, Lee, Stuart and a score of 9TH
srs who won renSwn immortal by
heir devotion 70 duty, and their
deeds Of war,
After the oratIons comes dinner.
lne might ask, 500 they bring
linners" Well, no, not exactly.
Rather, they bring provision trains
treat loads Of chicken, fruits, meats,
akes and other tempting edibles,
or which the Highland liousekeep-
RS are far famed, are spread on the ;
10th covered ground. You raise
our brows and inRocepIly wonder ,
Iow p.pch Of what you see will be
aten. But in an hour nothing is
eft to .repack hut the dishes. Be- !
I'D