The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-26
MOBILE READY TO
RECEIVE VETERANS
Weather Strikes Only Discord-
ant Note in Welcome
REUNION OPENS TODAY
Sonss of Veterans Held Opening Meet
Ing Last Night-Consuls From
France, Spain and Eng
land Present
REUNION OPENS TODAY

Mobile April 25.-With the ancient city
of Mobile en- fete for the reception of the
United Confederate Veterans, with her
streets and public buildings n&ss of
gaily colored bunting and glimmering
lights; with the tented city erected and
ready for occupancy, and with the work
of the various city committees completed,
it remained for the weather to strike the
one dscordant note in the welcome ex-
tended to the old boys who marched and
fought under the Stars and Bars.
After delightful summer weather for
month or more, the weather wizard de-
veloped a crouch yesterday and he stirred
up a climatic mess that has the most ar
dent Mobilean cussing. Why, the real ma
tives will tell you it's the first blizzard
Mobile has had in years. But 1t is not
that bad. The mercury did drop to 80
above. but the sun is out today, although
a veritable gale of wind is sweeping in
from the bay, cracking the flags and
bunting with sharp reports, like whips,
and threatening the flowing festoons of
red, white and blue which swing from
house to house across the street.
But If the weather be cold, the hearns
of Mobileans are warm, and If the vet
eran or guest misses anything 1t his own
fault.
Not only are the Veterans and Sons OF
Veterans, the pretty maids, charming
sponsors and stately matrons of honor
registered, but the chance guests, the
tourists and sightseers were duly enrolled
and badged. For the visitors unoniclal
are big white badges marked guest
and the possessor of one becomes an ln-
dividual of note. People smile and bow
and shake hands, ask II there Is nothing
that can be done to make him happy. and
conclude with the time-honored auery'
what do you think of Mobile?'
While the real opening of the reunion
does not take place until tonight, when
the Sons have their first session, Inn
urcmptu reunions of old comrades take
place every moment. 1t is nothing I'M
usual to see two white whiskered Old
chaps in the dingy butternut gray of the
so S stare curiously at one another for
moment, then give q yell that in ordinary
times would call for police interference
rush at one another embrace with tear
dimmed eyes and wander off, arm in arm,
to discuss mutual comrades and recall
old experiences.
Trains are arriving every half hour,
and by night the city will be jammed TO
the gates with old veterans and their
friends.
A special guard of honor made up
of commissioned officers met the Con-
federate choir, 100 strong when that
bevy of beautiful southern girls, at
tired in trim gray uniforms, arrived
at o'clock this morning from Rich
mond At their head marched Mrs.
]. Gr'f Edwards, commander In chief
of the choir, the insignia of a major
general glistening on the collar of her
severely masculine military coat. Mrs.
Edwards is famous for her beauty and
her rendition of Dixie" AS the slen-
der girlish chief of the choir marshaled
her feminine command in line one old
veteran whispered to another: You
have never heard Dixie sung until
you hear that girl sing it." The first
business session of the reunion was
that of the Ladies' Memorial associa-
ton this afternoon in the Battle House
auditorium. 1t was presided over by
Mrs. Electra Semmes Colston, and be-
sides a lot of mere men, who babe the
ladies' welcome, was addressed by Pres
-
f. McSherry, president of the Daugh
tiers of the Confederacy, and Mrs. j. c.
Long. The Confederate choir and a
womans orchestra furnished the mu-
sic.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
held their opening session tonight. 1t
was in the nature of a social session
in which half a dozen addresses oil
welcome were made by local men. TIL ere
was music, instrumental and vocal, and
then the consuls of France, Spain and
England were introduced.
The only official business transacted
was the naming of the committee on
credentials, which will report tomor-
row. Then Gov. J. Y. Sanders of Louis
lana presented to the sons the spon-
sors, maids and matrons who are at
tached to the different divisions.
Trains have been debouching gray
clad veterans all day and some are
still side-tracked outside the town,
waiting tn cir turn 70 enter the sta
lions. The tented city on the bay was
gay place tonight, thousands of yell
low government tents, each holding
three veterans, were in service. Camp
fires spluttered and roared in grateful
warmth in company streets. War songs
and sacred hymns were heard above
the din, while now and then the tinkle
of banjoes and the high pitched coon
song told of the efforts of dusky en-
tertainers to amuse the citys guests.
The weather is still cold, but an appeal
to citizens to lend blankets met with
a ready and generous response and
no one Slept cold in the tented city
tonight.