The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-11-18

. E
Albeit cause was lost more than
four decades ago. albeit hands that
once raised q sabre or leveled a mus
ket or drew taut a lanyard in defiance
OF O. northern foe and In. defense of
principled held right and holy. now
clasp In brotherhood and common
countryhoods across an imaginary line.
the lost cause is enshrined In the holy
of HOLES OF southern hearts.
:. The initial meeting of the annual
reunion Of Confederate Veterans of
Alabama held In the auditorium In the
city building Wednesday morning bore
evidence OF this.
II Is doubtful that greater enthusi-
assn. greater sincerity or evidence of
greater deviation TO any section of the
broad land all call home has ever been
shown than that by. the gray-haired
warriors. who more than forty years
ago marched In answer to the call of
the southern states to bloody battle
annual gathering. So & =
For weeks the veterans OF Alabama
have been planning for the reunion
which has opened. Arrangements
have been made long In advance for
big attendance of the survivors OF
the thin gray line from all sections
of the state and these with their fami-
4t0b ana LTt6MuG nave Il0EkGQ 10 I1M0nt~
gomery to make the present event the
most notable In the history OF the or
ganization they prize.
That these plans have met a goodly
xruition was shown by the packed
auditorium Wednesday morning when
Colonel Harvey q. Jones, Adjntant OF
the Veterans, called the gathering to
order. ,g5s5s
For an hour or more before the
-.
start the veterans. visitors and some
curious folk began securing places in
the auditorium where the proceedings
could be Viewed and heard to the best
advantage. At the hour for the for
NAL opening of the reunion, seating
room was 1t a premium and many
/ were standing In the corridors about
the rear OF the room.
The Empty Sleeve.
The scene presented before the exer-
cises began had its pathetic siie.
Veterans with empty sleeves. mute
evidence of a sacrifice on some battle
field; veterans leaning heavily on a
stout cane and others picking their
ways carefully and with some hesita-
tion by aid of crutches brought for
chilly to mind the fact that war has
Its tragic side and that heroes, ac-
claimed as such. have done something
TO merit the honors done them.
The entrance Of the veterans was
made quietly enough and with the
: exception Of exchanges of greetings
there was little demonstration. But
that was to come.
/, 1t came with the entrance OF band
which slipped unobseryed to a place
at one side of the platform In the for
ward portion of the big room The
veterans and visitors had settled
themselves in their places to give close
attention to the speeches and addresses
scheduIed and were prepared comfort
ably to enjoy them. But they had not
: counted on the band.
At the climax OF a particularly still
interval, burst of melody filled the
/; big hall and the strains of Dixie"
crashed on the expectant air
That was in the nature Of an cleo
trio signal. Immediately the vast.
9 composed assemblage broke into
mass of cheering. almost hysterical.
cheer and sounds like the Rebel Yell"
that of old struck terror to the north
ern heart doomed through the audi
torium and echoed in the halls and
passage ways without 1t.
/ Hats were torn from heads, hand
kerchiefs were brought Into play and
the veterans OF a memorable struggle
:, 1oTROe tDS luItEUltttS OF age, FORGOT
the lingering pains of battle wounds,
forgot their dependence on slaves and
/, crutches and danced. literally danced,
as they must have done when in the
!, interval from 81 TO IS word came to
them that Southern arms had prevail
ed and a Southern host had rolled back
an invading army.
= For ten minutes, perhaps longer. the
din was Overwhelming. Confederate
flags. hitherto held close to fond gray
clad breasts. were losed and fold raced
fold through the mellow light of the
perfect morning.
But one playing of pixie" was not
enouEh---not nearly. Encores. calls
and insistent demands were made and
again and again the tilt of the melody
that will ever move Southern hearts.
delighted Southern ears was played.
Following the demonstration. things
gradually worked back to their origi-
nal placidity. Seats were resumed
and. although wry faces told OF some
late regrets over unwonted and
\ den1onstrative enthusiasm. the owners
OF the faces realized they had done a
good thing and were satisfied.
Exercises Begin.
Formal opening of the exercises was
made when General Harrison entered
the auditorium accompanied by mem
hers Of his stan, They escorted Cow
ernor Conner. who was with them, TO
the platform