The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-11-22
United Daughters of
The COnfederaCy.

IedeTate Monument in the Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery by the United Daugh-
tiers of the Confederacy call renewed
attention 10 this organizations of South
ern women, and the work they are do
ing 10 perpeluate the memory of the
men who were prominent in the strug-
gle and TO preserve an accurate history
of the Lost Cause. Therefore il is ap-
propriate that our people should have a
clearer knowledge of the history, work
and aims of this noble band, of women.
To this end The News publishes the
following from the pen of Frederick j.
HaSkin:
The United Daughters of the Confed.
eracy had its origin in Nashville, Tenn,
where it was the outgrowth of an effort
OF the women of that city TO secure
greater interest in preserving the spirit
and historic achievements of the South.
lis objects as originally stated are me.
mortal, historical, benevolent, educa
tional and social, TO honor the memory
of those who served and those who fell
in the service of the Confederate States
10 record the part taken by the Confed-
crate women in patient endurance and
patriotic devotion during the struggle,
construction which followed; TO collect
and preserve the material for true his
tory of the war between the North and
the South; 10 preserve historic places of
the Confederacy; to fulfill the sacred
duties of charity to the survivors OF that
war and their dependents; to help edu-
cate the needy descendants of worthy
ConfederateS, and 10 cherish the bonds
of friendship among the members OF the
society.
One OF the most important works of
the organization has been in connection
with the establishment of the Confeder-
ate Museum in Richmond, Va, in the
house which was occudied by Jefferson
Davis while president of the Confeder-
ate States. In this building are collect
ed all kinds OF relics connected with
the history of the southern states before
and during the war, and its value is be-
ing continually enhanced. Contribu.
tons come from all sources. One of
the most interesting was sent TO a mem
Der of the District of Columbia division
by Union soldier This was the chair
in which Jefferson Davis sat during his
confinement at Fortress Monroe. The
museum contains portraits of all OF the
men prominent in the Confederacy, a
collection of all the different uniforms
worn in the different ranks of the Con
federate army, the most complete collec
lion OF Confederate money in existence
and numerous other treasures. In con-
nection with the museum is a Confed-
crate, Literary Society which has for its
special aim the preservation OF all litera
ture relating TO the Confederacy.
An interesting work accomplished by
the organization is the distribution of
the Southern Cross of Honor. This is
medal awarded TO every soldier and
sailor in the Confederate Army and
Navy who served throughout the war,
or was awarded honorable discharge.
1t is made of metal from cannon cap
tured by the Union forces during the
war and which were turned over to the
Daughters of the Confederacy by one of
the secretaries of war. The cross is also
granted TO the oldest lineal descendant
of a deceased soldier or sailor upon
proper credentials being presented.
There have been many interesting cere-
monies connected with the beStowing
of these crosses, which have usually
taken place upon the Memorial day Sc
iected by the state, or upon the birth
days OF Jefferson Davis or Robert f.
Lee. The cross may not be worn by
any person other than the one upon
which it is bestowed, not even a widow
or a son. The distribution of crosses is
now practically concluded, since ii is
felt that all those entitled to them have
been supplied.
In hn of w
rial and data for the history of the Strug.
gle between the two sections, the
Daughters have done much by erecting
markers and monuments on the lessor
fields of the great struggle, as well as by
identifying for future generations the
scenes of particular incidents of bravery
and heroiSm, The writing OF essays on
Confederate history by the school chill
dren, with especial reference TO neigh
borhood incidents has been recon-
mended as means of securing the in
tereSt of the children, as well as of re-
cording the impressions of survivors.
In the matter of benevolenCe TO those
who were especially entitled to their aid
the Daughters have always been most
liberal. In fact, ii was the women who
composed the auxiliary connected with
the Confederate Soldiers Home in
Tennessee who first conceived the idea
of national organization of Southern
women, and there never has been any
diminution of the generosity with
which all of the wants of these old vet.
Grams have been supplied.
Gifts for the Veterans.
Some of the chapters regularly send
boxes of gifts TO these homes, and fire.
quently the old men are invited to state
the things they most desire and they are
promptly forthcoming. The order has
special maintenance fund for the pur-
pose OF giving speedy relief 10 Confed. |
crate soldiers who are not provided for |
in the homes.
There have been numberleSS monu-
mentS and memorials erected to com
memorate some especial event or person |
connected with some location in the |
South. Sometimes they take the place
OF public drinking fountains and thus
serve a two-fold good. Recently the |
deSirability of naming public school
buildings after Southern heroes has be-
come popular and the Robert +. Lee
High School in Fayetteville, Tenn,
owes much of its equipment TO the
Daughters, who wished continually 10
keep in the minds of the students the
splendid qualities OF this great leader.
The Daughters of the Confederacy
have also secured number of scholar
ships which they award to pupils who
desire a higher education. Miss Ruth
of Gainesville, Ga, lately has
been sent to NaSsar College under the
auspices of the Georgia division of the
Daughters of the Confederacy, and the
Louisville division maintains a scholar
ship at Loyola University. A number
of well known schools and colleges
have donated whole or partial scholar