Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-21
Tablet to Miss de Lagnel.

1HUiGI ~ luioo 0O A<e~ts A~a'
A handsome bronze tablet erected in
honor of Miss Julia Celeste de Lagnel
bv the Woman's Auxiliary to r. +. Lee
Camp. Confederate Veterans, was I'M
yelled last night 10 the Confederate
Veterans Hall, in the presence OF large
gathering The event was also the occasion
of reception to Lee Camp, the members
of which attended in body. Follow
ing the unveiliOg exercises light col
lation was served.
The tablet is set 10 the wall on the
west side of the main hallway, and is
the work of George Julian ZDlnay, tho
celebrated sculptor, now Of st. Louis.
Near the top it bears in has relief liie'
sjzed likeness of Miss de LagnePs head,
and near the bottom, also in bas relief.
is "a representation Of the fight of "The
Conquered Banner"
TIE inscription reads: "ln loving re-
membrance, Miss Julia Celeste de Lsg-
mel. Born January %, 1924. Died
September Z, 1881. Loved and honored
fox the purity OF her life, the integrity
Of her character, her many deeds OF
charity. her devotion to the cause OF
the Southland. Erected in this, her
formsr home, by the Womsn's Auxiliary
r. Z. Lee Camp, No. 2, G. ", 1906"
Promptly at 8 O'Clock the uaveilins
exercises we're opened with prayer by
Rev. r P. Phillips OF s.. PauPs Church.
Comrade J I'm NJ. Johnson, Of Lee
Camp. then delivered an eloquent address
on behalf Of the auxiliary. He said:
Madam President, and ladies' of the
WomsDs Auxiliary to K. f. Lee Camp,
Confederate Veterans, Alexandria. Va.
sincerely wish you had selected
someone else to make the address upon
the unwilling of this handsome tablet,
because fear am not equal TO the oc'
Casion.
The design and the execution OF 1t re-
feet the highest credit on the taste OF
your committee and on the skill OF the
artist. 1t is an exquisite work OF art
and according TO my nou.arustic Judg-
ment above criticism.
1t was a peculiarly happy thought for
you to have decided to place this 6eauti-
fnl tablet, TO perpetuats the memory OF
Julia Celeste de Lsgnel, one OF the most
dcvot d and patriotic women OF the Lost
Cause, in this building which was her
home for 80 many years, and in the city
where she lived 1t may be truthfully
said You coul not have chosen truer
and more representative woman OF the
Southland for this honor THAI she was.
II was said about her only a short
while ago That her uDselishDess and her
generosity entitled her TO have this great
honor conferred upon her.
can simply remind you what she
was. She was cultured and refined, loyal
and gracious, pure in life and pure in
heart: a woman of remarkable cheerful
nes,, courage and spirit.
A friend with her during the war
said that no cry of pain ever escaped
from her lips, no word Of dependency
was ever spoken by her. PriyaiiOns,
sufIerings and even sorrows did not
dampen her ardor. She bore all these
with brave heart aud cheerful face.
MY friends, ii remains for some com
petent person to tell OF the part played
hy the women in the war. To tell OF
their nobleness, their sufietings, their
sorrows, their heroism. their tolls and
their seony Of SUSPENSE | am not cspa-
bic of the task, aud, therefore, | will not
even attempt 1t.
Ladies of the Auxiliary, | congrat-
ulate you on being one Of the first organ
igations 10 the South to erect memorial
10 a woman; and |, likewise, congrat-
ula'e you upon your happy choice OF the
woman.
| have only one more thought to ex-
press and 1t is this: / hope vet TO see sn'
other monument in our beautiful cap
ital city of the South, and thereon some
thing Ike this inscribed; God bless our
noble Southern women who gave them
selves wholly to the cause; who never
DOUBTED its righteousness, who never
fallered in their loyalty to it, while it
lived, and who still hold allegiance to
the Lost Cause.
A: the con fusion Of Mr.. Johnson's
remarks Mrs J. Marriott Hill, president
of the Woman's Auxiliary, drew the
curtain, which revealed the taNlet.
Later Past Commander Z. Q. Gra-
ham, of Lee Camp, in graceful speech
on behalf of the Womsn's Auxiliary pre-
sented handsome bouquet to Mrs. h.
n. O. Brien, who conceived the idea oil
cree ing the tablet, and VINO was large
ly instrumental in carrying it to con-
clusiOn.
A musical programme, in which Miss
Blanche wager, Mrs. Thomas Hulfish,
Mrs.. NJ w. o. Brien, Miss Leila Steiner
and d.. On,cslt participated, was rem
derei. A light collation. was served by
the women OF the Confederate societies,
and all who attended eDj yed q most
delightful evening
Holiday.