The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-20
GLOWING TRIBUTES
ARE PAID TO LEE
Governor Hayward Was One Of
Speakers Last Night
TALKS ON "LEE, THE MANI
E. D. Smith Also Eulogizes the South
ern Leader-Darby Gives Personal
"reminiscences of Lee-Ex-
cellent Programme.

Camp Hardee, United Confederate Vet
Grams; Camp Clayton, United Sons of Con-
federate Veterans; Pelham. William L..
Yancey and Alexander II. stephens chap
tiers of the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy held a celebration last evening
at Cable hall in honor of the one hum
dredth anniversary of the birth of Robert
e. Lee.
Rufus N Rhodes of Camp Clayton,
United Sons of Confederate Veterans. pre-
sided and introduced the speakers of the
evening.
The hall was crowded to the doors with
an enthusiastic audience, which vigorously
applauded the eloquent addresses deliv-
cred
The chairman. in introducing the first
speaker paid an eloquent tribute 10 the
state of South Carolina. briefly sketehlng
the history of the early days in the COS
when the spirit of the people was APP
preaching the point which eventually de-
clared itself in secession. He said that
tonight one of South Cardinals noblest
and most patriotic sons would address
them and that he had great pleasure in
introducing d. c. Hewyard of South Caro-
line.
Governor Hayward Speaks.
The speaker said that this was his
first visit to Birmingham, although he
had often heard of Birmingham and it's
hospitable citizens He said he had has
tened here just after turning over the
duties of his office as governor of his
own state to his successor, and that he
had no prepared speech to deliver. Il
do not intend to speak to you tonight of
Robert Il. Lee as the soldier or the states7
man, but of the man, Lee; the man as he
was after the war and when he turned
his thoughts to the upbuilding of the
American character" The speaker told a
story of man he met on a train to
whom he began to talk about Gettysburg.
II told him. said he what I had been
reading about the first days battle. and
the second and the third. and was giving
a glowing account of the grand charge
of Pickett's brigade when the old man
turned and showed me the empty sleeve
hanging by his side, saying, L lost that
arm on that OCCASION. Ever since then
don't talk much about the war to Con-
federate veterans.
Doesn't Pity Veterans.
Il never pity Confederate veterans"
said the speaker 81 am more inclined to
envy them. A year or two ago | visited
young ladies' college in Virginia, 1t
was a reception day and shook hands
with everyone Of those beautiful young
ladies, but you may judge what my feel
ings were when pne of those ladies said
Governor, 1t was so different when Gen
eral Gordon visited here. we kissed him.. -
The speaker paid a glowing tribute to
the men who wore the grey and said that
all We have In the southland today. the
foundation of it was laid by them. SHOW
me a people" said he, "who reverence
the past and l will show you a people
with a future" Having spoken of the
courage and powers of the southern SOL
der he reserved for his closing words a
beautiful and touching tribute to the
women of the south. He said he hoped to
live to see the day when the south would
build a monument to the southern moth
ers whose SONS gave their blood and lives
for the southland 81 want to see that
monument of pure, white marble typ-
cal of the purity of southern woman
hood"
Several times during his speech and at
its conclusion the speaker was greeted
with hearty applause.
E. D. Smith.
The chairman said they had with them
another son of that grand old state. South
Carolina, a man whose eloquence and
patriotism had won for him the first
place In the hearts of his people.
T. d. Smith was cordially applauded
on coming forward He said he was a
South Carolinian and was proud of it,.
MY state" said he was not the first
to talk secession, but when it came to
the point we did not waste our energies
in talk, we seeded" The speaker made
an eloquent and lmpassioned speech which
had the effect of eleetrifying his au-
dence II can't talk right" said he II
don't wan> to talk right. my blood gets
boiling hot when I think of the way
a certain lot of spectators and syndicates
are proving upon the people Of the south"
In referring to the civil war the speaker
said that when peace came and the south
saw its desolation and ruin that even
then 1t was willing to reach out the hand
of fellowship and let bygones be bygones,
but in that awful hour, to add to the
horror of the scene, a swarm of eman-
cipated slaves was sent upon them, to
crush out. If possible, the little life that
was left.
The speaker said that the pride Of the
south was in its victory over the condi-
lions which then existed and that today
the south was the chosen spot on the
earth
At the conclusion of the address a vote
of thanks was passed unanimously to
the speaker for the able and eloquent
speech.
The other numbers on the programme