Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-22
CONFEDERATE REuNIoNs.
y. CONVICTED Yrs. NHEEEToN

I would be the last person in the world to deny to
the aged veterans Of the Lost Cause the privilege
of assembling central point in the southern
states and of a two three days stay the Sc
lected place such reunion exercises But the vet
Grams must be aged now, for the closed in
April. 1861 years No man who enlisted in
1861, be younger than So 6s, and that would
that only Is years old when he entered
the Confederate army. We all know that the aver
age age was less than %. Add IS to AZ and you
have ~. Not in ten aye not one in 20 of such
men, aged 70, prepared stand long fatiguing
trip to Macon in the year 1912, Facts go to show
that numbers who have attended in years gone by
not only go again, but have made their
last trip to the graveyard.
When Gen. Irvine Walker declared las he did
that the veterans who will go to Macon should not
be subjected exhausting street parade because
these old not able to stand such strain.
he knew what he talking about. I have been
acquainted with General Walker number of years.
He impressed always a gentleman, Old-time
southern gentleman. Out of the regard he felt for
these old intended to protect their health as
well give them pleasure.
But his plan with a furious protest. How it
will end nobody tell until the Macon reunion is
done and with
These reunions have become great opportunities
for people who not only served day in the
army, but who WERE in many cases, born after hos
tilities We're ended They have great exploit
ing their opportunities Some willy politicians have
made ten-strikes at such times and have pressed
themselves to the front most astonishingly.
There balls arranged for, where the
younger people "trip light fantastic toe. 1t is
hardly supposabe that there is single dancer among
the remnant those who the gray. There
fore this part of the reunion leaves out the veteran
contingent. When 1 consider the money that is call
ed for and obliged to be paid in to entertain reun-
ion Of veterans threescore and ten it seems to
me to be stretching a point to fasten balls and
great street parades.
Those old the people to be entertained.
Whenever it is changed to great show for other
people to parade in don't call it Confederate reun-
ion. Give it name that belongs to it aud more
befitting.
never attended but two reunions like that one.
to be held in Macon those two in Nash
Vile and in Atlanta 1 saw in Nashville what dis
inclined these street parades, namely the dus-
ty weary and nearly exhausted old men, who felt
in duty bound to march in the procession, and who
had part in the gaeties which arranged for
other people 1t a time of free liquor in Ten
nessee, and great deal that not pleasant
, remember afterwards.
spent day in Atlanta at the time that
Miss Winnie Davis caught her death sickness from
being exposed to a storm during the parade in our
capital city. thought then, it sacrifice that
might have been omitted. have understood that
her mother afterwards expressed much indignation
and grieved for her daughter in a most outspoken
way.
prophecies descendant of prophets. but
L very clearly that these reunions be
reorganized for veterans only they are going to
be so burdensome that very few cities in the south
will rise and beg a