The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-24

should be adopted. When the style had been finally agreed upon. the youthful beauties of Richmond. the Misses. Hetty and Constance Cary had silk dresses, and with their own fair hands put the stitches into that tirsr flag! Is it any wonder that the soi- diers who marched under its folds hau never permitted 1t to be captured? Is l 1t any wonder that # had been safely hidden and then carried to Cuba for | safe-keeping until 1t could come home once more? Is 1t any wonder that New Orleans will not surrender 1t even to Richmond? Was not its ogfninator their very own gallant Beauregard! Is 1t any wonder that former members of the ''Old Guard" came from their homes In distant Northern cities to march once more unoer US Ioios. What an ovation they had received from their former comradesl And so this once divided country Is reunfting in firmer bonds than those of old. An exchange of citizenship, a community of interests and, not least. giving m marriage of sons and daughters VIII surely at no distant day make of ter of history.
 Among the interesting figures that made the reunion the most notable event since the surrender. was that or Lamar Fontaine-"poet and sharp shooter'-better known as the author of the pathetic Southern song. All Quiet Along the Potomac" This unique character planned to take part of his old command to Washington after the reunion. to visit the Capitol and President Roosevelt. During the pres idency of Cleveland there was an ef- fort made to return the captured bat tie flags of the Confederacy. but the G. A. R. had not outgrown their fanat- icism then, thank God 1t Is all gone now. so. when the news of the opposi- ton went abroad through the South land, Lamar Fontaine wrote little poem that is quite worthy of Father Ryan himself. While 1t is defiant of the spirit of opposition. 1t breathes also . spirit of acceptance of results Of the war. that must have brought enlighten- ment to some of those who had opposed the movement. t
 He addresses those who favored the return of the flags. This little episode must necessarily make meeting be- tween Fontaine and President Roose- welt of peculiar interest, since the flags have now been returned.
 "Keep those banners, gashed and gory. Keep them there to tell the story.
 Of our deeds on fields of glory!
 Keep them. keep them. let them rest. Tokens of a valor splendid!
 Glorious memories with theen blended Of strife forever ended!
 Yes, you keep them, 1t Is best!
 Ye who took them. keep them. hold
 them!
 We would not again. unfold them.
 For the men who first unrolled them To the battles breee are dead.
 Keep them; they would only sadden. (If, Indeed. they would not madden) Southern hearts. while yours--they For to win them thousands biedl
 Still we hail the generous feeling
 That would close the wounds now
 healing.
 But this fact is worth revealing! Southland does not want those flags Not but that she dearly loves them, Not but that she still apprqves them, But she would not have you move Keep the dear old blood stained rassi Yes. keep them. she would not have Though she fought and bled to save She has none who now would wave To disturb our country's peace.
 You-to whom they were surrendered. Burying all that war engendered, In the love your hearts have tendered- Keep them. they are in their placcF jewel that Petersburg holds In safe keeping. Around the walls of the ven- erable structure lie the ranks of those who had first braved the perils of the unknown to found Virginia; near them lie heroes of the war of American In- dependence; while on a sunny slope to the south of those sleepers. Is the "bivouac" of those who had worn the grey in that fratricidal strife. Oh. 50 many of them! So many of them!
 In one of enclosure to itself, is a lit- tie band-lying prostrate, with flag staff keeping watch over them, the marble headstones relate that they were members of that gallant body the Washington Artillery, New Orleans. Had they given their lives to prevent that flag of theirs from being captured? Did the comrades carry the dear old color over to their resting place and let 1t salute them?
 It was Decoration Day in Petersburg, and the little florists establishment just across from the main entrance to Blanford Churchyard was doing business. The busy tones of a womans soft voice lured more than one party to enter, and here was discovered the fact that Virginia's women had not yet given up their hospital work for Here was thhe cheerful place of refuge for one of them; a de- voted woman had taken the old store
 
 as many a soldier will stilIgre- | member. She had patched the rents | made by cannon balls and shells; had | cleaned the floors of theis horrid | many a good soul had sped | from that shelter. Into the humble lit- tie nest she had moved her battered. | shattered soldier and with the resource l fuiness that is woman's own she had | devised ways and means to employ him | until the tortured body could be sub- | jugated by the deassertion of the | mind. Now the tiny place is a bower of | bloom. and the mans fingers have | grown delft in twining chaplets for | the loved read. A walk through the | bowers was graciously accorded and | lere were found grape trellises shading line specimens of American Beauties, currant bushes grew democratically in the same bed with Southern Cross' poppies. cabbages and et-willfams days; here were the dainty pink "NoIs cite" rose of Grandmother's time.
 And the giant peonies one always as- sociates with colonial things. Every customer had a cheery word for the florist; one had but to look at the | twisted limbs to realize the suffering of | both soldiers and nurse. Oh, the sweet | old Southern courtesy! how soft the | voices were as they carried praise. com fort and strength to the worn hero who | sat tying his humble little punches of | flowers! how sweet they smelled for they had the fragrance of good deeds of pain bravely borne and neishborIy sympathy, It was one of the sweetest pictures carried away from that won ierful reunion. It was the noon hour,