The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-10

she wanted to. Indeed, it was charming, informal, unanimous. 1 sometimes won der if the old ways are not the happiest ways. The most spirited and interesting discussion was brought out by Mrs. Jo- seph F. Johnston's query: What shall we work for and how?' Now at the for nation of the Cradle of the Confederacy Chapter, it was suggested by Mrs. Mary Phelan Watt through her daughter, Mrs Robt. GoldthWait, that the home occu- pied by President Davis and family, dur ing the formation of the Confederate Gov ernment should be preserved by that chapter a place of historic interest Mrs. J. D. Beale suggested to the con vention that this work espoused by her chapter betallen as Alabama Division work. Mrs Johnston suggested that the daughters should try to secure the Rouss battle-abbey for Alabama. Both sug
 gestions received enthusiastic. indorse- ment. At the second days session the minutes record: "The next matter ta- ken up was the most important before the convention-the preservation of the Jefferson Davis home. The universal opinion was that it must be secured and utilized as museum and library"
 Education of Confederate descendants was inaugurated through d letter from Mrs. Tarrant, principal of the b. & c. Institute of Montgomery, offering schol- arships for two needy children of Vete- rans, giving board for one and tuition for both free. Of deep interest and historic value were the reports of the chapters, showing the different works already be- gun and accomplished. These reports brought out the historic fact that to the chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is due the credit of awaken ing historic interest in Confederate relics and that Alabama chapters of the U. D. c. were the original movers for the pres- eryation of Confederate relics in Alabama and the making of it's historic places.
 This is recorded history of which we should be proud, yet many of us seem careless of guarding and perpetuating this as the truth of history. l have been surprised that some of our daughters and many citizens of Alabama are un- der the impression that this honor be- longs to the department of archives and history of Alabama and that they as a parent body have endeavored to interest the daughters in such movements. This is an error which every daughter proud of her order should correct. One of the acts of the charter chapter, Camden, formed in February, 1S96 was ito collect the names and records of brave patriots of Wilcox county who poured out their patriot blood and sacrificed their heroic lives in defense of Southern homes." Au- burns flrSt report was W0rk1ng to nave d chapter room for preservation of Con federate relics. The two Montgomery chapters began this work immediately on organization. On the 22d of December, 1896, an application was made to the leg isature for room in the capitol for relics of the Confederacy by the Sophia Bibb chapter. There being no vacant room. they were given the rotunda in which to place these relics. The ladies of the Cradle of Confederacy chapter, who hold as a valuable relic the book case of our war governor, Thomas H Watts, in which were many valuable Confederate collections, applied to some of the state officers for space for this cabinet but were refused on plea of no room. MT. Chappell Cory, private sec retary to Governor Johnson, however, came to the rescue of these ladies and made room for their cabinet in the ex- ecutive office, himself keeping in custody their precious key" At this time also Sophia Bibb chapter had plans on foot for placing the star at the capitol where President Davis stood when inaugurated
 All this was in 1896, three years before hte reorganization of the Alabama His torical Commission. which was organ ized June 19 1899, and which recommend ed the formation of tho department of archives and history of Alabama.
 Entertainment had not reached the present proportions. but the one recep-