Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-18
OUR LEGISLATURE.
Richmond, Va, Jan.

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
A birds eye view of the personnel OF
the Virginia Legislature reveals the fact
that the Law making body OF Virginia is
made up mostly of young, ambitious and
eu:erprisipg men. Very few indeed are
the old regulars whose faces have for
many years occupied positions 10 the
Senate and House chambers. One still
CONSPICUOUS, however, is Mr.. ]. N.
Stubbs. OF Gloucester, who, bus for q
short interval, has been q member OF
the legislature for perhaps twenty-five
years. He, as ne sat in the First Bap.
list Church yesterday morning listening
10 Rev. Gee. W. Mcdaniel excoriats the
drunkard and the liquor traffic in general,
looked as vigorous aa he did twenty
years ago, when he was leader 10 the
tenn perauce forces of this state. Tonight
(Monday) Rev. Mr.. McAister will start
The state wide prohibition ball rolling
when he will address the Virginia legis.
la,ure a! the First Baptist Church This
is really the entering wedge OF fight
which will be made before the General
Assembly, although it is claimed that
the meeting will be nou.political. From
ell that can be cleaned oy the close oh.
server, 1t is hardly possible that any
movement toward state wide prohlbl-
ton will be successful, as 1t is gener.
ally considered that q contest at
this lime wcu,d be unwisc, but
ss the snti-saloon league meets in con.
ventlou "Wednesday OF this week in this
city, the leaders rnsy be forced to act.
II is ss!d that the present legislature
will be one for entreuchmept Ia the
expenses Of the state; it is also ssid that
THIS step is necessary owing to de.
p;eted treasury. In the contemplated
reduction ir the Ordinary expenses it is
earnestly hoped that the appropriation
for the Confederate soldier will rsmsin
az it is, if it is not increased. The legis
latars at its last session appropriated
$52, 900 cr ths soldiers and when one vis.
i!s Inc home here heswill become entrsnc-
cd a. the surroundings. Every com'or'
imaginable has been furnished the old
so!dieriin his declining years. You can see
them stroliing through the grounds, tos-
tsriog with age aud in6rmity, representing
every city aud county in the old com.
muuweal,b. Over 250 old veterans are
safely housed from winters SHOWS and
ice and summers tnrrid heat. In ad
di,ion to their temporal blessings their
spiritual welfare is being we'll cared for,
as divine services are held week.
ly aud semi-wsekl7 in hand
soma chapel. Well may the bard
think snd write these beautiful words;
Roll old James, proudly roll.
Adown thy rocky glen.
Above thse stands the home Of some
OF StoLewall Jackson's men
and Others who fought under the other
gsllsut leaders OF the Confederate forces.
IL is to be hoped that the hearts OF our
legislators will be touched when the
appropriation In the bill Is reached and
that instead of reducing they will In.
crease the amount. Alexandria city
and county Is represented in the home
ir the person of M;ss,s. W. W. Adam
aud Aleck Harrison, who are we'll pleas
ed with their surroundings snd speak
in highest praise of their treatment.
The ranks are getting thinner as the
years roll by and too much cannot be
done for the survivors, and as they are
taken out to the cemetery almos: weekly
and laid to rest it can be truly said:
The claspiug grass unfolds the gray.
The flowers unfold the blue.
With equrl love both fold today,
The dead Of gray and blue.
Audlso will it be till eternity daWns-
the memory of the gallant Confederate
soldier should be uppermost In the
minds of every true sousherner. Ii