Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-06-09
MEMPHIS READY FOR
WEARERS OF GRAY
Confederate Reunion Will Be-
gin Tusday With Large
Attendance.
GEN. MCDOWELL IN CHARGE
Buildings Decorated Show Visible
Signs Of Great Gatherings
Years Since Last Meet
ina In Memphis.
ina In Memphis.

Memphis, Tenn, June 7.-Ihe Srsat
Confederate reunion will begin here
Tuesday, eliminating day later
with imposing ceremonies at Vicks-
burg at the unveiling of the StepAen
=. Lee monument.
Outward and visible signs thai
great gathering is at han1 are abun-
dant in Memphis today Buildings
everywhere are decora ed with f1ass
and bunting and the streets and otner
public places arealiVe with COnfeder-
ate Veterans, Sons of Veterans, Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy, members of
memorial associations and other Wis
itors from every nook and corner of
the South.
The general committee has pre-
pared for 35 900 visitors and it is be-
lieved fully this number will be on
hand. The rush began in earnest to-
day, and all trains coming this way
are crowded with visitors. From
Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, the
Carolinas, Oklahoma and other states
the delegations are pouring in. AL
ready many of the scores of sponsors
and maids have arrived and the So
ciaI features of the reunion will be
notable.
The veterans are much more feeble
than when they were here eight years
ago. The number has been thinned by
death and age has dimmed their eyes,
bent their forms and given a snowy
appearance to the boards and hair,
Memphis is extending a hearty well
come to the veterans, their sons and
daughters and sightseers. Everywhere
are flags and bunting. The Confed
crate colors predominate, but the ma
.tional colors are everywhere inter
ftwined with the emblems of "the
sstorm-cradled nation that fell" One
sof the most conspicuous features of
1the decorations is a mammoth Con-
federate flag made from electric lights
and hung across Main street at the
intersection of Madison avenue. Main
street, from Poplar to Linde, has been
converted into a court of honor, with
strings of electric lights on each side
and handsome arches at some of the
most prominent street intersections.
The decorations are tasteful as we'll
as elaborate. Few people have re-
fused to heed the requst of the COM
mittee in charge to add bit of color
i'm honor of the occasion. The Bijou
Theatre, where the general sessions of
the reunion are to be held; the For
rest monument in Forrest Park; the
Auditorium, where the grand reunion
ball takes place, and the Tri-State
Fair Building and grounds, where sew
eraI of the features of outdoor enter
tainment will be held, have all been
elaborately decorated.
The reunion will be called to order
promptly at ten O'Clock tomorrow
morning by Maj.-Gen. ]. III. Mcdowell.
The remainder of the program for the
initial session is as follows: Address
of welcome by Governor Patterson. in
behalf of the state of Tennessee; ad-
dress of welcome by Mayor Malone,
i'll behalf of the city of Memphis; ad-
dress of welcome by Gen. George w.
Gordon, in behalf of the executive
committee and Memphis veterans, re-
ssponse by Gen. Clement A. Evans,
commander-in-chief of the United
= Confederate Veterans.
At two o'clock tomorrow afternoon
the veterans will reassemble in the
I. convention hall to listen to the an
( nual Grafton, which will be delivered
by Gen. Theodore S. Garrett, of Nor
folk. Va Another feature of the af-
ternoon will be the grand floral pa
rade.
Naturally the reunion will be the
occasion for numerous smaller reun-
IONS The largest will be that Of the
Sons of Veterans, which will continue
for three days. Other affairs will be
the meetings of the Southern Memo
rial Association, the Association o.
Medical Officers of the Army and Nav,
of the Oonfederacy, the United Confed
crate ChOirs of America, the Confed
crate Naval Veterans, the Forres
cavalry, the Wheeler corps and mum
erous other bodies.
The floral parade tomorrow and tn
general parade on Thursday are t
be most elaborate. While the rout
of march will be shorter, for obviou
reasons, than usual, every feature tha
will lend to the reality of the occa