The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-05-24
Clarence Coleman.
Continuation OF Article On His
Southern Trip.
Continued From Last Issue.

But will consume all my space be-
fore get to the reunion. Reached
beautiful Mobile, on the Gulf, at $50
p. m. Sunday, and after securing a
room on the fifth floor Of the Blenville
Hotel, we fastened to a lunch-room
and to do" the town. Old sleepy Mo-
bile seems to have awakened and TAX
en- on a new lease on life Until few
years ago. with a population Of less
than 10000. Mobile was the largest
city and commercial metropolis Of Ala
bama. The city now has a population
of about 1000 and a foreign export
trade second only to New Orleans.
Steamers and freighters ply regularly
between Mobile and South and Central
American and Mexican ports and Euro
pean as well; in fact with all the world.
Cotton and lumber are her chief ex-
ports. Mobile is the largest importer
of bananas Mind you. | didn't secure
this information in New Orleans, but
these are facts.
Capt. Raphael Semmes. the hero of
the Confederate navy and the gallant
commander of the Alabama. was a ma
tive born, and died citizen of Mobile.
A large equestrian statue in bronze of
the old hero graces a grassy plot on
Government street. saw many Of his
old war relics. which included his sword,
sash. field glasses, etc.; also the log
book of ike Alabama.
The Twentieth Annual Reunion of
the Confederate Veterans was held in
Mobile on April 1928. The Sons of U.
C. V. and Daughters of the Confeder-
acy also held forth on the same dates.
The reunion was success in all that
the word implies. We have not heard
OF a single death or a serious accident
attending the reunion and festivities.
Some 20 600 old gray, war-scarred vet
Grams of the Lost Cause were in at
tendsnce. Tens of thousands Of sons,
daughters and friends supplemented the
vast throng Of visitors to the gulf city. |
Fully loo, 900 people witnessed the par
ade on the last day. while some Of the
more enthusiastic estimate the number
as high as 100000. Anyhow. Mobile
was 'swamped" with humanity.
Kentucky was well represented at
the reunion. something like 700 veter-
ans registering from this state. OF
course hundred Of veterans always fail
to register or to visit their state head
quarters. The Thin gray line" grows
DINNER with each passing year, and as
the number decreases. the enthusiasm
increases. The Confederacy is now
but a memory; IT will soon be mere his
tory. However. the bravery and gal
lantry of the Confederate soldier on
half a thousand battle-felds will ever
be afresh in the minds of Southern peo-
pie. The writer has attended several
of these reunions of the wearers OF the
gray. and the last reunion is always the
best. The old heroes have met twice
| in Louisville and 1905. The lat
ter was probably the most successful
reunion ever held and brought more
people to the city of Louisville than any
event in the history Of the city. Next
years reunion will be held at Little
Rock, and I'll be there. provided. of
course, can scrape up the necessary
spondulix.
was too close to New Orleans to
leave the Louisiana city out of my itin-
erary, and we secured fine rate, the
railroads giving less than one-way rates
for the round-trip to the principal near
by cities. A run of nearly 100 miles
landed US in gay old New Orleans anC
the city is gay sure enough. With Z
population Of nearly 400. 900. new Or
leans is the largest city south of..Masor
and Dixon's line. i won't say that she
is the metropolis of the South. for oul
own dear Louisville has been claiming
that honor since time immemorial. anc
shall not dispute it. New Orleans IL
probably the most cosmopolitan city IN
America. have been in New York
Chicago and San Francisco, each claim
ing this honor. but they each can. il
my opinion. doff their hats to the Gre
, ole town. New Orleans since its ineor
poration has lived under five flags, viz
French, Spanish. British. the Stars anC
Bars and the Stars and Stripes.
Many Of the old landmarks Of IN,
French and Spanish regimes are still
standing. saw the old Spanish post
office, Spanish barracks, old Spanisl
arsenal and armory. the later used b!
!. Gen. Jackson; old French church AM
+ scores Of other historic buildings. New
fcont;nuad an Saeond paual