Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1907-06-08
Great Throng Of Visitors in the
The Capital City.
PROGRAM OF EXERCISES.
Three Days Of Dr~nehinz Rain Drove
Many Out OF Town. But Other
Arrivals Took Their Places.


last day OF the Confederate Reunion
and tho unveiiing OF tho monument
20 President Davis
Despite the predictions OF pcsslrnIsfs
who had been cfsheartered BY the
rainy weather. which harrasscd the
oid soldiers during the first days OF H
the great gathering. the parade OF
Johnny Rebs" this morning was one
OF the most spectacular and thrilling
sights ever presented 20 the gaze OF +
the Richmond public
Indeed. - IS not too much 20 say
that Z VIII become an ineffaceabie
memory which the Old Dominion pco- .
pie viii discuss Tor decades 20 come. .
TO the minds OF many a seemed Ike
last rally call o. the old soldiers. .
FOR the Virginia capital never again +
viii see such an aggre CATION OF those
who fought for the Lost Cause
thousands OF the gray-cOated war
riors appeared IN the long column.
which required more than ar hour
20 pass given point and was perhaps
TWO miles 81 length.
After the piciess rains o. last week.
many predicted that the procession to- .
day would De but a feeble AFFAIR. with
only G. few % the very faithful 20 Gli
its ranks. but this prophecy nit wide
ot the marx. The parade was un-
Cuestionably much larger than that 81
Thursday. while in nearly all respects
u was more strikirg-morc calculated
tonderer emotions.
4 Compromise in Weather.
Although the day broke gray and
creary, and for some hours 90 seemed
10 be . question of doub; whether the
solar orb could push SIS way through
the uimbus clouds. a COMPROMISE of
the clements was finally reached. and
there was sunshine a plenty. though
- shed but genial warmth and was
al no time oppressive
e. - 49, af
cool and bracius. and this ozone diu
noble part towards lending
strength 60 the time Eraried men
who joined in the long march
20 the Davis memorial. Not FOR
minute were they uncomf nrtahiy
hot and not for O. minute did they
have 20 seek the shade
As a matter q fact. however. thcir
entire route. with the exception % a
block or TWO. was beneath "a canopy
OF leaves. for The trees % Grace and
Franklin We're iu fuu foliage and pa
dainty beautiful. especially when fhe
inte-mitteut sunshine filtered Through
them
And. as far as The eye could reach.
either east or west waved untold hum
crcls ot Confederate flags big ltt'C.
rretertious and uulretenriCus. These
combined with the gllt-ta s>elci coiors
~ the militia and The various camp
banners. lent richness ~ color 60 the
scene which is Well-ri Eh lndcscrlbahle.
\ Day of Sentiment.
But after an. u was fle -ertlr-r rr
OF the day which made 90 unspcakahly
beautiful lelclnu~ly inspiring ana
uuuttcrally pathetic for none could
fail 90 realize th1r the heroes % this
mornings march. FOR the most parr.
would never 1--we 90 parade again ll
Richmond.
The effects % time on the old SOLE
oilers were everywhere visible some
Few OF them-cSY ectaly the mounted
Orticers-locksl as soilicriy ard as
martial as in che DAYS ~ rhe six
ties. but the great majority ~ them
bent and trem BLEED under the weight
OF years agone. Scores even had O.
drop out az The line.
The occasion. however. was NOT one
Tor dismal forebodiugs and sad re-
NecuoLs' or the contrary everything
about % was Inspiring and cheering
Feeble as were the Veterans from
North Carolina. they danced and ca-
vorted along the entire route % the
procession. Tor it made their blood
Jingle 90 hear the cheers they got
And the old boys from other sections
were equally as frivolous and gay.
Never has there been procession
81 Richmond which surIa ssel thar o.
this morning in heart-touchiug incl
dents AID soul-mONing pictures T.
vas a mosaic - fascinating scenes.
Tor the entire affair was fraucht with
historic suggesriveness. which even
the most unsentimertal could not
overlook. To some u seemed like a
last glimpse Of the Confederacy-as
link in a chain % sweet memories
which must soon De broken
Fine Music BY the Bands
A good deal u this feeling un-
oOubtedly. was due 20 the music.
which far surpassed that OF Thurs
day. as several additional bands ar
rived yesterday and today. The mem
bers OF these organizations all ap-
peared handsomely uniformed ard
they set the crowds Wild with delight
when they played familiar Southern
airs Perhaps the musicians furnished
Dixie" twenty times before the huge
column halted at the monument
grounds. but never did Il fail 20 evoke
applause.
Many Wartime Flags.
The music OF the pageant, however.
was only one OF many things which
aroused sentiment Perhaps the sight
above all others which most gratified
the pOpulace. was the many wartime
Confederate flags borne by the various
Confederate Organizations.
Scores OF these precious ensigns.
row almost too tattered and frazziei
out 20 cling 10 their slaves. fluttered
above the procession in all their fad
ed but undying glory In some IN
stances, the crimson on the stars and
Bars" had faded 10 a duh brown. while
in others the once snowy touches were
yellow with age.
Not only Wee battieslags in evil
dence. but also the first banners used
by the SOuthrons. 10 say nothing OF
many old state flags. which once had
waved 20 the accompaniment OF whist
ling eullets and shrieking shells
Th< Maryland veterans conferred
the-honors Of nag bearing or g pretty
girl. attired all IN white. who march
ed with the grayheards beside an old