The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-02-19
SOUTHERN WOMEN
The Builders of Monuments ID the
Heroic Dead


Heroic Dead
The article following appeared ii the
New Orleans Picayune at the time the
pedestal Of The monument was being
laid, but its reproduction is deemed APP
propriate and may be perused with in
terest.
The. ultirilg and devoted work of a
noble band Of our Southern women, led
BY Mrs. General Behan, to secure and
erect in this city a worthy monument to
Jefferson Davis, first and only president
of the Confederate States, is at last
crowned with a splendid success.
The monumental pedestal of massive
but handsomely wrought granite is be-
ing completed at the extensive Weiblin
marble and granite works near the City
Park, and will in few days be ready
for erection at the intersection Of Canal
street with Davis, formerly Hagan ave
nue, its name having been changed and
the site improved ready for dedication
to the cherished and almost sacred
memories of the nation which was born
fuil-gfown, in a paroxysm of patriotic
fervor. lived through four years Of
splendid endeavor, often crowned with
the fairest llurels Of victory, and fell on
the battle field, borne down by enor-
nous odds of the enemy, and died with
face 10 the foe, covered with glory.
The statue, which is Of bronze, mod
Ie1ed by Valentine Of Richmond, one Of
the most distinguished American scuip-
tors. a native Southerner. who gained
great fame by his two statues of Gem
erai Robert Z. Lee, one Of which is in
the National Hall Of Statues IN the Cap
ito1 at Washington, Is already here, hav-
ling been delivered at the Weiblin works
whore ii Is being fitted to its pedestal.
II shows the President Of tile Confed-
crate State in The act 81 pouring forth
lis iinpassioned oratory, as when, on the
eve Of leaving his place ii the Senate
of the Old Republic for bis home and
place III the New, ii burning words he
upheld the Southern cause and offered
pathetic farewells 10 the senators and
scenes, among whom he had borne his
part in some Of the most eventful pass
ages Of the Nations history. With right
arm extended and every muscle tense,
the bronze figure seems 70 thrill with
energy and patriotic passion.
Thus ii is that the devoted and noble
ladies' who have wrought so long and
faithfully to build this monument, while
assisting to provide and set UP many
other Confederate memorials. here and
elsewhere. have seen their labors finally
brought to a full fruition.
They realized long ago that montt-
ments to that cause which they held SO
dear, and for which the best blood of
the South was shed, must be built by
the generation that knew and loved and
suffered with It's heroes. They fully i'm
derstood that the younger generation
that shall come after them will be but
little attracted to the cause that was,
however glorious and the nation that
died with it. when the Nation that IS
full Of life and power, going forth to
conquer and to reign, claims their honl-
:. 80 s,,d 4l.as, ea+t,s@a
These noble ladies, with prophetic in
SEPARATION, knew that the precious and
pathetic memories Of that sad but glo-
rious past must be eiiiblanied in monu
lnents, the building of which they must
be foremost in urging and superintend
ing, and grandly and faithfully have
they done their work, Their names and
deeds should live forever in the annals
of wonlen's love, tenderness, devotion
and fidelity They were women who
we're the last to weep at the cross of the
crueihed Saviour They were women
who were first at the sepuicher of their
risen Lord to see that the angels had
rolled away the stone and the empty
.omb was filled with light and glory.
The Southern women III mourning
heir dead and glorifying with bronze
md marble their graves have been up to
he mark Of the worlds best and truest
Il