The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-07
GOVERNOR NOEL
 VISITS THE CAMP Columbus Is HOnored By Pres
 ence of Executive SPLENDID DRESS PARADE Great Preparations Have Been Made For Governors Day, Which Is To-
 day, and Big Review of the
 Troops Will Be Held.
SPLENDID DRESS PARADE

If there Is my one thing Mississippi mas i just cause to feel proud of, any one thing
 which reflects great credit upon the states
 progressiveness and any one thing which
 shows that Mississippi and the United 1 States appreciats good protection more
 than they do geodly outlay of coin, 1t
 can truthfully be said that this one thing
 will be found in the National Guard now i encaInped at Camp Noel.
 ' Governor Noel arrived at the camp which bears his name this morning at 10 l clock. At O clock the cavalry troop,
 under Captain Cavett and all members of General Keeslers staff, rode to the Stone
 hotel from the camp grounds to act as | the chief executives escort to the 1 grounds The hundred mounted soldiers passing through the streets made a | pageant sight and Governor Noel seemed greatly pleased with this his first for
 nal entry into the ranks of the guard | of which he is commander-in~chief. Ills office as governor makes him bear this
 title As the party rounded the hill at the top of the Eighteenth street hill the ! battery from Vicksburg commenced firing 1 the salute of 21 guns in honor or the commanders arrival Passing through the camp the party was saluted on every hand. As the Young Mems Christian as-
 sociation's tent was passed the Second regiment commenced the strains or | Dixie" Straight to general headquar- i ters the party proceeded, and after posing in front of the major generals tent for photographs, Governor Noel was then cs- f-fa
 At 12:3O the Twelfth cavalry band was at headquarters mess hall and played for an hour while the staff officers and a party of friends enjoyed dinner.
 This afternoon at 6 o'clock. the Second regiment, under command of Col. Sam McCants, had their first dress parade. Just before the parade the Seventeenth in- fantry regulars, accompanied by the regulars band, gave another exhibition drill on the ground. A crowd, num5er- ing even more than those who were pres ent yesterday afternoon, was on hand to witness the pretty sight of 1200 men marching on the field to the martial airs of patriotic music The regulars drill was, of course, perfect and under the leader ship of Captain McKane their per formances are the subject of much praise. The Second regiment of Mississppians is l larger than the Third regiment. Colonel | McCants is one of the best posted men l in the National Guard. His identity with the state troops has covered several years
 and he is largely responsible for the wholesome condition and general useful ness of the troops at the present time.
 Colonel McCants is the one, who In order that his officers should be better posted in their duties during this encampment, held the officers school at Camp Noel for five days before the army arrived. The Seconds officers show a marked inn provement for this training and, of course, what the officers know pertaining to mili- tary affairs the regiment as a whole inn
 proves in the same comparison. To have seen the precision with which the Second regiment went through their drill this aft
 ernoon there almost seems a doubt that the men in the guard have only enjoyed camp life and regular drilling practices l for only the few days they have. Their work was splendid and everyone is re- | ceiving congratulations upon the way the | officers of the regiment have conducted | their work and the splendid shape the guard enjoys.
 Tonight at the pavilion the Twelfth cavalry band was the attraction offered.
 The band proved itself just as good medium to inspire dancers as 1t has proven itself thoroughly capable of in- | spiring soldiers to march in perfect unison. The crowd at the pavilion Is enormous. One has hard time to get | to the dancing floor and the floor Is l simply so packed and jammed that such | a thing as real good, enjoyable dance, i which the young people seem to so much | enjoy, is next to impossible. The best of order prevails out there, however. Last | night Captain Stain was in charge of the l pavilion An arrangement has now been perfected whereby a charge of 25 cents | is charged for admission to the pavilion | porch and like charge made for those | who desire to dance. This fund, though small, from each person amounts to quite
 a sum when the enormity of the crowd is considered This statement should be l altered to the effect that the charge Is
 made for only officers and civilians. but
 the privates are admitted free. Even l then the money collected each night l amounts up considerably.
 The dancing pavilion has been beau- | tifully decorated with all sorts of em-
 blems representing the red, white and
 blue Several of the enterprising and |
 for two days on this undertaking and
 their work attests that great effort was
 expended to make the place attractive.
 They succeeded we'll and with the several
 hundred additional incandescent lights
 furnished by the street railway people
 the place is one of unusual beauty.
 Tomorrow is governors day and the
 big review of troops will take place on
 Main street. Special arrangements are
 being made to furnish lemonade to the
 entire host of soldiers just before they
 pass before the reviewing stand at the
 intersection of Main and Market streets
 The original intention was to have the
 governors ball on the night of governor s
 day, but the affair will have to be pre-
 ceeded by so many preparations and so | much will have to be done that the time
 of holding this event had to be postponed l until Wednesday night. Over 100 couples have already signfied their intention of attending. Every officer in both the Na-
 tional Guard and regular ranks has been invited and the affair promises to be the biggest and most stupendous social event ever held in Columbus. The newly re- modelled Hotel Gilmer will be the scene or gayeties and beauty, and the dining room will be stripped for dancing. The entire building will be decorated from top to bottom and the proprietor of the Gilmer is doing all in his power to add to the | pleasures which can ba gained from In0