The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1907-05-24
AN INTERESTING PAPER
Read by Mrs. Victoria HOyIe Be.
fore the U. D. {. Convention at
Jackson, Miss.
Madam President and Daughters
of the COnfederacY:


esteem it a privilege to bring
greetings from the Tupelo Chap
ter to the Mississippi Division in
convention assembled. We have
a live" president up in Tupelo
and a Give" chapter, with a
membership Of 40. When we
were frs organized we held our
meetings IN the ladies' parlor at
the court house; but feeling the
need Of a private 'oaln, we fitted
up our own roonh in the heart OF
the city, where our private be-
longings are kept and where our
chapter meetings are held twice
a month. We have done good
work during the past year; have
paid all taxes and responded to
each and every call made upon
US, having paid $4,000 toward
the entertainment Of the Nation
al Convention at Gulfport last
November. Early in the year,
just after the close of the State
meeting at Biloxi, there occurred
a gala day in the history of the
Tupelo chapter, when our beau
tiful So, 900 monument was un-
yelled with imposing ceremonies.
A lovely reception was given by
the Daughters at 10 a. m. on that
day in honor of the Veterans and
distinguished guests, and badges
adorned with a cut of the mon
ument were bestowed as souv-
enirs of the occasion. Quite the
feature of the day, however, was
to have been the parade which
was interfered with somewhat
on account of the rain. The pro-
cession formed at court house,
headed by a band from the A. &
M. College, then followed the
Veterans and behind them came
two floats drawn by white horses,
containing 100 school children,
dressed in white with red sashes
and caps. Then came the hon
ored guests and the U.D.C's. in
beautifully decorated vehicles.
This procession marched through
the principal streets and then
surrounded the monument where
the unveiling ceremonies were
opened by the singing of Dixie
and other Southern melodies by
the school children. If the ele-
ments had not conspired against
us, ne7er in the history of the
town would there have beer
seen a cavalcade so magnificent.
Since the organization of oul
chapter each and every occasion
for the bestowal of crosses ol
honor has been observed. Suit
able programs for these DAYS
have been rendered and bountl-
ful dinners served. Prominent
among these occasions, however
and one deserving special men
ton was the celebration Of the
Tooth birthday of Robt. E. Lee
Rev N.G.Augustus delivered ar
address on the life and char
acter of our matchless leader,
good dinner was served and Il
crosses of honor were bestowed
making in all a bestowal of 6:
crosses of honor since the organ
ization of our chapter two years
ago.
Our hearts are strangely anc
deeply moved upon these occa
sions when we look upon the
whitening locks and timeworr
faces of those who wore the gray
| during those four long and ter
rible years when war laid its de-
vastating hand upon the stately
homes and proud people of the
Southland. | repeat that oul
hearts are strangely and deeply
moved upon these occasion; fol
from the great depths of oul
hearts do we honor the Confed
crate soldiery, and it is with ear.
nest and reverent feelings thai
we enter upon the exercises OF
such days, for we realize thai
not many years hence, there viii
be no days for the bestowal o1
crosses of honor, and that the
keeping of the Sacred Cause viii
be trusted entirely to the Sons
and Daughters of the Confeder'
acy.
! Now, trust it will not be amiss
for us to pause just here to cast
a spray Of fragrant flowers, as il
were, upon the last resting place
of those of our number who,
since the organization Of oul
chapter, have suddenly pitched
their tents on the other side ano
transferred their names to the
roll up yonder-
| Sad indeed did we miss, upon
the occasion of the unvelling OF
the Confederate monument, the
presence of one, who from the
very incipiency of the monument
work was one of the most ardent
supporters of the cause, one too,
who from the organization of the
Tupelo Chapter, was so intimate.
" associated with us, that We
were sadly, SO sadly, bereaved in
i - L IA