Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-02-29
The Lee Celebration.

building on Friday afternoon,
Feb 23rd. Those who ia led to
attend this entertainment were
deprived Of a rare privilege and
one which the people OF any COM
munity can III afford to foseg0.
There are few more important
agencies in the training of the
country's future citizenship than
Of cultivating in minds of young
people 4 sentiment Of admiration
for the great men Who have
adorned is past history. At ths
head of the list ~ the South's
great patriots and citizens stands
the name Of Robert L. Lee. and
his illustriOus virtues should be
constantly held up before III
youth Of the country for their
emulation.
Especially important IS It that
Southern youth should be imbued
with reverence for the principles
for which General Lee stood in
the great struggle in which he
bore so prominent a part. No.
greater misfortune could betall
the young men and women Of
Mls>Iss Ppi aud the other South
ern states than that Of having b
enter upon their careers in life
handicapped with the thought
that the character Of their faith
ers and granGfathers was tainted
with dishonor. Readers OF Ben
Hur will recall VITA what intense
emotion he learned from his
mother that he was descended
from a n0ble ancestry. and how
the mother trembIed with the per-
ceptIOn that this was TO tar GOV
the supreme moment OF hi= l.e
and would profoundly cac-
future career.
Our boys and girls should be
impressed that the cause Tor which
their fathers fought and in which
50 many Of them fell was worthy
OF the sacrifice Of HE itseif ami
that to be descended from such
fathers Il better than royal birth
and - the ri hest heritage earth
can bestOw. No more effective
means Of doing this can be found
than by having them take part
IN such exercises a. that he'd in
the Graded School building last
Friday.
After an impressive Invocation
by DR.. Hed.es;on and A fitting
address Otwele0ns by Prof. Bal
thrOp the audience was entertain
ed by speeches, drills AMI patti
otto songs on thu part Of the pu-
pills OF the different grades u tho
school which reflected much
credit on their teachers Who had
trained them for their respective
parts II the program. The Ettle
glri in hOUespua carried many O.
is back 20 the days when ou'
sweethearts seemed never =
charming a. when cad in similar
sarb.
Deserving OF special neato-
vas the rendering of the Coo,
quered Banner oy grs. J. c
Johnson The writer has hearc
this immortal production render.
ed many times before but neyei
With suel force and effect Tas
apostrOphe to the flag as it va.
slowly furled by its bearer, {
veteran of Lees army. made i
fairly live before the audience
and the tender pathos of the
speaker touched the hearts of tn,
veterans who had battIed under
lis folds and left many eyes mois.
tened with ears. The divin,
gift OF eloqunece vas seen in it:
exercise upon a theme worthy OIL
lis best efforts.
'Tenting on the Old Camv
Ground vas feeiingly rendered
oy Mrs j. Z. Brown and was also
deeply affecting y the survivor,
of the Lost Cause.
We give cortial welcome to Mr.,
Brown and trust that we may
have from her many mors suct
delightful contributions 10 oul
social life.
Mrs. p. Fl. Wright, Sr., p-esi,
dent Of the U. d. G., happily g.
produced the spirit of va ds
oy rendering at the piano IL hai
own ininitable way, the chi
left Behind Me-" and the worlc
renowned Dixie"
The closing number on the pro-
gram which had been looked for
ward to with special interest anc
N which expectation was fully
net, was the address OF DR.. T. II
Somerviiie. 1t having been the
g Of fortune of the speaker Il
know Gen. Lee personally and tC
nave been a student in the insti-
,ution over which the great chief
tain presided, he was able to re-
late many incidents in his life
which illustrated his greatness oil
soul, and which will enshrine hin
forever in the hearts Of the South
ern people. The address abound
ed With personal "reminiscences
Of the most interesting kind and
vas listened to with unflaggins
attention from beginning to close.
All praise to the Daughters oil
ne Confederacy who planned
hese exercises and who are do
ng so much to perpetuate the
memory of the Lost Cause. The
-ervice of the women of the South
4 fw.-