The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-04-27
Col. Robert Howard, Aged
Veteran Of the War,
Very Impressive.
MEMORIAL EXERCISES AT r. E.
LEE SQUARE ATTENDED BY
HUNDREDS WHO WERE MUCH
PLEASED WITH PROGRAM
STREET PARADE PRECEDED
EXERCISES AT MONUMENT.

It will be long time before those
who heard it will forget the masterful
and eloquent address delivered yester-
day afternoon at r. E. Lee square by
Col. Robert A. Howard, a veteran
whose locks are as white as the driven
snow, whose voice was weakened only
because he had attained to nearly
four-score years of age. and who folded
lovingly and reverently to his bosom
the flag that he and his comrades had
followed four years through the most
disastrous of internecine wars. The
address was pronounced quite the
most impressive that has ever been
delivered to local audience.
The exercises yesterday were
changed a little from the proposed
and announced program. The first
open intimation that there was in
view the celebration of the day was at
$3.50 o'clock when a band headed the
small band of Confederate veterans
from the bivouac to the Government
street intersection. There the parade
was formed, and shortly thereafter
moved northward to the monument.
City officials in carriages, the speaker
and minister in automobiles, the city
fire department headed by the chief
made up the procession. AT Hotel Es-
eracy Joined the procession, and
thence moved forward to the monu-
ment. The granite shaft therein was
decorated with flowers and bunting,
small Confederate flags fiuttering from
the apex. Long streamers of bunting
were entertwined from top to bottom.
while rich and rare flowers banked
the base. The platform in the south-
west corner of the square was decoe
rated, and a number Of seats had been
provided for the ladies of the Mem
orial Association and Veterans. Im-s
mediately upon reaching the square.
the, exercises started, the speaker
being introduced by Hon Emmett VIII.
son after an invocation by Rev. G. NJ.
Royce, of Christ church. After the ad-
dress, which consumed about one
hour and thirty minutes of time, the
benediction was pronounced by Arch
deacon Allen, thus bringing to close
possibly one of the most interesting
afternoon exercises of like nature that
has ever been held in Pensacola.
Col. Robert Howard is nearly eighty
years of age, and when he had been
speaking but few moments, it was
seen and realized that he knew his
subject we'll and was in love with it.
He paid a tribute every once In
the valor of the southern soldier, and
at every reference he was greeted
with applause. The ladies, too, led in
this appreciation of his speech.
After the address was finished, the
band struck up Dixie" and as the
strains rang out as only Ed. Wyer's
band can render it, Col. Howard arose,
barred his gray head, struck an atti-
tude of respectful attention, then, at
the conclusion of the selection, gave
out a rebel yell, which was taken up
by other comrades on the ground be-
low Whenever Dixie is played and
don't YELL" exclaimed the aged speak
er, "just send for the doctor, for I am
sick" This was greeted with applause,
also.
His Eloquent Address.
On account of the wide interest in
the address, The Journal publishes il
almost verbatim, and it is as follows:
Ladies of the Memorial Association,
Ladies', Comrades and Gentlemen:
Words can but feebly express the
pride and pleasure with which I re-
ceiyed the cordial greeing of this mag
nificent audience. I accept it not as
personal to myself, but as tribute at
the shrine of sweet love to the men,
| ory of a cause we held nearer and
dearer than life itself-a cause for
which we freely sacrificed all, save
honor, true manhood and noble wo-
manhood. To you, dear ladies of the
| Memorial Association, / tender my
| true appreciation of the high honor
| you have conferred upon me on this
| casion and / trust you may have no
| cause of regret in your selection.
I shall speak to you Of a cause,
though lost. was, is and viii be forever