The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17
BY MINNIE c. FOSTER
founded on Fact

creuuouSly upon MIN. ana an amazed
chorus greeted him; but the girl in
| gray said kindly:
Let me explain. You are from tho
north--or west, Is it?-while we are
Daughters OF the Confederacy, and this
Is the flag of the south-our battle
| f1ag-and we love IT."
And I honor your loyalty" he re-.
| turned gallantly. Until today / was
| ignorant of the fact that Their was
more than one flag in this country.
My visit to the south has enlightened
me already" and he thrust the little
pennant into the lapel of his coat.
Let us follow the crowd said Hugh
| Barry, a member of the local camp of
United Sons of the Confederate Vet
Grams, who had the group in charge.
and he led them through the crush to
the corner. where stood his handsome
| touring car.
Il am sure you did not expect to
land in the eneny's' camp and you
have my sympathy" smiled the vision
in gray with whom Forester found
himself tete-a -tete, as Mr.. Barry deft-
| ly steered the machine up Government
street.
| Thanks for your sympa thy-but am
l in need of it? Are we to be enemies
because our fathers fought each for.
the cause he thought to be right?"
yentured the stranger, rather in doubt
dc W the ground upon WHICH ne SIOOu.
My father knew his cause to be
right" she returned. kindly but firm
| ly, and Forester bowed in silence as
he gazed upon her with increasing in
terest.
! Just then the car was halted by the
crowd and the girl pointed to a statue
in bronze at her left
That was the south's great ad-
miral," she said, and the stranger
turned to look upon the figure of the
brave seaman now wreathed in Con-
federate colors. ,"Of course you know
of Raphael Semmes and his gallant ship
the Alabama"
With some embarrassment Mr.. For
roster admitted that his knowledge was
meager.
That cannon resting there is a relic
of the war and to the south of us lies
Mobile Bay. VIII ereon we lost a great
battle. o. you must see our beautiful
bay!"
The information was given not with
any show of superior wisdom, but, with
the simple idea of imparting war lore
to stranger This one had travelled
much, but never before in the south
and to him the old city seemed land
of memories.
The car was turned into Royal street,
where flags and bunting of the patriotic
colors arched the narrow thoroughfare
and f1uttered from every shop window !;
and with the descending twilight cleo
tricity flashed forth from numberless
colored globes, making the scene one
of still greater beauty.
AS they approached the government
building, Forester caught sight of Old
Glory floating aloft.
All. there is my flag" he exclaimed,
and aroused by the patriotism which
l surrounded him he loyalty raised his
hat and then laid 1t over his hear..
II begin tic feel at home"
His companions eyes followed him
20, the Stars and Stripes" she said,
with shade of-was 1t pity?-in the
eyes she turned toward him. Yes, the
flag OF the union--your nag. But this
flag" and she gazed lovingly at the
many banners that futtered in the mild
evening air.
Turning the corner, Mr.. Barry speo
the auto up st. Francis street and grad
ually came to stop at the side of
the square nearest the bandstand, from,
| which the plaintive notes of my Old
Kentucky Home" fioated out to them.
"A scene from fairy land" Mr.. For
roster calculated. as, with genuine ad-
miration, he gazed upon the crowded
park over which the beautiful live oaks
flung their branches, While beneath
them the good natured assemblage
moved slowly to and fro, the children
danced and sang on the greensward
and the fountain sparlsled in the wierd
light of electricity; and, as medley
of old-time south ern airs charmed the
listeners, the little gray maiden gave
to the stranger the history of the nam
ing of beautiful Bienville Square.
"A city historic from the beginning"
unused he.
Yes. and we have other memorial Is
of that by-gone period which you must
see later; but today we are honoring
the heroes of the Confederacy and all
minor ones must give place to Them
Forester smiled at her sincerity.
Just then carriage drawn by two
handsome white horses slowly ap-
preached. Within were four gentlemen
J-one courtly white haired man Of
modest mein and gentle bearing who,
In his younger days, was known as one
of the handsomest of men,
Mr.. Barry turned to the occupants
of his automobile, and, raising his hat
as the carriage drew nearer, he said !:
THE gentleman in black is Gen
stephen d; Lee. commander in chief CT
the United Confederate Veterans, who
Is the guest of the reunion" and all
In that vast throng raised their hats
In honor of hero, while the band
burst forth into the soul-stirring mu-
sic of "Dixie"-and then the popu-
| lace went wild.
"A land of heroes and hero wor-
ship declared Mr.. Forester replace
ing his hat. Travel broadens oneis
views of life. and / will never regret
having visited the south at this time
l-else should ever have remained in
Ignorance Of the most pathetic page
In my country's history--the homa ge
paid to valor, though vanquished-and
that by the survivors Of a cause lost
nigh to 40 years ago.
Perhaps we may make rebel of you
yet" suggested Hugh Barry
Il do not feel particularly rebellious at
present." declared the westerner look
ing down at the petite gray figure be-
side him. 1t had been one day out of his
life-but what a day!
Clarice Melvin was sponsor for local
camp of veterans, and at an entertain-
ment, given that evening In honor of her
maids and their escorts she included the
two strangers among her guests The
home was made bright with flowers and
banners of the patriotic colors, and above
q life-size picture OF Gen. Robert E. Lee,
Just opposite the front entrance, was
draped a large silken battlefag.
i The following morning marked, the for
NAL opening of the reunion. The busi-
i ness sessions were held In the Mobile
theatre and We're open to the public, and
the building was crowded with veterans,
visitors, citizens and the patriotic women
Of the city,. The stage boxes ware oc-
cupied by the sponsors and maids of the
many camps of veterans throughout the
state. 1nterested more than he would ,ac-
knowledge, Forester, with his friend,
was present all the day, cheering the adj
dresses of patriotism and applauding the
songs of the southland Throughout the