The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-12
EYEWITNESS WRITES OF LAYING
OF CORNER STONE AT ARLINGTON


counties green mounds left there by
southern soldiers, I was reminded that
they, too, of this other side had suffered,
and that this man, this splendid soldier,
Corporal Tanner. with his body racked
by pain, was greater in his spirit of fer
giveness than he had ever been on the
/ field of battle. that in this moment his
action was indeed sublime. 1t was a
never to be forgotten moment, and when
| he ceased to speak countless flags were
waved. and with the wild cheers thot
| flooded the air, Dame smothered sobs, for
! even strong men wept-
Glorious Lesson of Life
And SO the most glorious lessons of life
were that day learned amid tears and
smiles, amid weeping and rejoicing. the
beautiful lesson of reconciliation was un-
Willingly laid in the cornerstone and ce-
mented with love and good will toward
man.
Among other beautiful things said by
CORPORAL Tanner which should be pre-
served was this To-day children pick
flowers where the shells of battle tore
the earth; cannon that once belched forth
death and destruction now rust on those
fields: the rose leaves twine about them
and the little birds in safety build their
nests in the cannons' mouth / thank God
L
1t was delightful to see and hear the
master of ceremonies, Colonel Herbert, on
this occasion. His happiness was su-
preme, true as steel to the cause for
which he fought, yet always yielding the
honors due another, he bore himself with
| a splendid dignity and southern chivalry
| which made every Alabama heart throh
with pride. Some were disappointed at
Col William j. Bryan's speech, but was
not of that number. True. I have heard
him when he was more free and nfirc
eloquent, but his was most difficult suo-
| ject, which he handled with taste and fine
iudgment-he read his speech and we are
accustomed to see hims even without
notes. This of course detracts even from
the most Schaste and beautiful English.
His speech reads we'll and that after all
is the true test.
Mr. Wallace Streater read list of the
articles placed in the cornerstone which
was varied and interesting. 1t is of in
terest to Alaba,nians that among these
was the resolution made by an Ala-
bamian at Norfolk convention and cham
pioned by her, which made this work
formerly begun Iy Confederate camps OF
Washington and offered to the United
Daughters of the Confederacy), the main
work of the general United Daughters of
the Confederacy: also a beautiful hand
| wrought flag of Alabama, made by the
mover OF tnlS reSOlQtlou. Slr muses. f.Lt-
kiel in Rome is working night and day
to have the monument ready to unyeil in
the last days of June, just before the re-
union of the Grand Army of the Republic
and the United Confederate Veterans on
July 1. Sir Moses VINO was a student at
the Virginia Military institute and one
of the cadets who fought bravely at the
battle of New Market. was knighted by
Queen Victoria and the King of Italy and
lives in romantic apartments in the tower
of Belsarius, a mart of the ancient walls
of Rome. His studios are frequented by
great men, the artists and literati. This
mis- latest work will surpass any of his
| works of art previously done, even the
Christ Entombed, erected in Paris,
France.
Alabama should feel very proud of the
part she has played in the building of
this monument. As president of the di-
vision / am particularly gratified at the
contribution given last year on Lees
birthday by the public school children of
Birmingham the Margaret Allen school,
and the public school of Eutaw. Much
money is yet TO he raised for it's compile
tsony although liberal donations were
promised at the convention. And just here
would remind all Alabama Daughters
of the Confederacy that it was decided
and urged that every chapter, United
Daughters of the Confederacy, make a
strong effort to have Confederate seals
or stamps placed On every letter that goes