The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-19
SOLDIERS OF HE
 OLD SOUTH FINISH
 ONE MORE MARCH
Crowds Flock the Streets of Little Rock to See
 the Parade
RANKS OF VETERANS
 ARE THINNING FAST
The Dominant Spirit of New South Ran Through the Reunion and Mingled With Rich Vein
 of Pathos


 Little Rock. May 1s.-while bands played wartime airs, the. soldiers of the old south today marched through the streets of this city in their twenty first annual parade. Their commander in-chief, Gen George W. Gordon of Memphis, Tenn, was confined to his room by the order of physicians. As the line Of march passed the hotel the veterans saluted. The reviewing stand that had been intended for officials was given over to aged and infirm vet erans. although many were in line who had lost leg, an arm or were lanled from wounds received al war. Governor Donaghey of Arkansas with his orderly and private secretary occupied a car- riage in the parade.
 During the day several persons were prostrated from heat and exhaustion but ambulances had been distributed along the line of march and they were promptly cared for. No case proved fatal.
 | The last event of this years re- union was the Confederate ball. which was given tonight at the auditorium. Camp Shaver. where a large number of veterans have been lodged and pro- visiond by the city, will be deserted tomorrow. At breakfast lunch baskets with rations to last until he reaches home will be given to each veterans to- morrow morning.
 In connection with the events of this week in Little Rock it became known tonight that the United States army re- cruiting office here received from Mon- day to Thursday noon about 50 appli cants for enlistment in the service. A dozen young men were accepted Thurs day alone, according to a report made from the recruiting office. A number of these were re-enlistments.
 A Great Crowd Earlier than on other days of their | reunions, the SNreets were thronged | with crowds seeking vantage points from which to view the parade. The multitudes overcrowded the sidewalks and the overflow invaded the streets. | An hour before the time fixed upon Tor the movement traffic was prac- ticalIy suspended. Street cars ceased running. No one was permitted to drive through the main streets from inter secting streets. Regular physicians wers at the side of each policeman to ren- der first aid to the victims of heat prostratons but few cases were re- ported.
 The grand marshal of the parade was Gen. James Smith of Little Rock, conn manding the Arkansas division, United Confederate veterans. When his aides passed word through the streets of the line of march the reunion guards had noticea bly small trouble in clearing com fortable passageway The parade itsef was prompt to move The various Hi- visions were marked by banners and be- tween them came bands and drum and fife corps, automobiles carrying the spon- sor and their maids of honor with es- corts floats with children representing various states. one carrying bevy or young women of Little Rock signifying in It's decoration "The City of Roses
 In the line Of march talyhos carried sons and daughters of veterans one with ten girls composing brass band; car rages bore such guests Mrs w. c. Behan. president of the Confederate Southern Memorial association. Tn the place of General Gordon. Gen. K. Nj. Vanzandt of Fort Worth and Adjt William r. Micke of New Orleans led the procession.
 Covering a distance of nearly two miles. from starting point to when the turn for the countermarch was made, the pa rade required about two hours to pass A given point. The largest division In line was that of Arkansas, with Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama close competitors. A dozen veterans marched behind the banner brought from St. Louis A carriage conveyed the mem pers present from the Pacific coast.
 Roses Distributed
 Roses were distributed to those taking part in the parade not only to the vet erans but also to the musicians, drum-s mers and all members of organizations al- lied to that of the veterans
 Following the parade. the most of the visitors left Little Rock Those who re- mained did either because of failure to secure places in the crowded trains or for the reasons that they wished to re- main for the Confederate ball. the last event of the reunion.
 To the thousands of survivors of the memorable conflict of the sixties, the last honors have been paid, the remaining are few hundreds and the fast thinning ranks of the gray clad. grizzled veterans of many a battle field speak the silent appealing language of history.
 Many voices which at last years re- union joined in giving the rebel yelr' are now stilled. Those who are left joined in the. famed war cry this year with feel Ing DetOEln2 tnelT hnoWtcuhc lHot thfS may be for them the last earthly gather ing of the soldiers of the old south
 Under the surface of this 1911 reunion. and often outcropping ran this rich vein of pathos. but today while the files or former fighters passed through the city's streets there was evident the dominant spirit of new south. While the de- scendants, relatives and admirers repre- senting political conditions vied with each other in doing honor to the mem- ory of cause lost by the fortunes of armed contention and surrendered at Ap- pomattox. the reunion spirit typihed In the parade voiced by speakers and shown throughout the proceedings of the con vention now ended was probably best heard in one stanza of a song rendered by the Confederate choirs to the tune of lrOld Time Religion" closing with the words:
 Yes our country is united. Its good enough for me.