Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-06-05
CHATTANOOGA.


Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week was
an interesting and happy event, and a
vast crowd of visitors enjoyed the hos
pitality of that splendid city and the many
pleasant incidents of the occasion. This
reunion of the gallant old boys who wore
the gray is full of human interest-tragedy,
comedy. melodrama, indeed, every phase
OF life.
The writer left Shepherdstown on the
morning train over the Norfolk q west
ern Railway and had delightful journey
through the famous and beautiful Shen-
andoah valley. The Norfolk q western
runs spleAdid trains-equipped with din
ers and Pullmans and with all that is neces-
sary tor comfort and convenience. The
valley is never more beautiful than in the
sweet days of May. The waving fields
of wheat now almost ready for the harvest;
the rich browns Of the cultivated corn
fields with the tender young plants lining
them with soft stripes OF lighter color |;
the wooded spots and meandering streams;
the bolder mountains and the rivers and
their brancheS-all these unite to make
scene as fair as the garden OF the Lord.
Although the journey TO the thriving
young city OF Roanoke requires eight
hours, il ends all too quickly TO one who
enjoys the changing panorama ofthe
most lovely valley on this continent.
After resting in Roanoke, the journey
was resumed southwark and westward.
The Norfolk & Westerns lines pass
through a number of historic Virginia
towns-Salem, Christiansburg, Radford,
Pulaski, Wythevi!le, Marion, Abingdon
and Understanding at Bristol, The town
lying partly in Virginia and partly in
Tennessee.
AT Bristol the Southern Railway takes
charge OF the train aRd runs it the PAP
miles to Chattanooga Among the thriv-
ing towns and cities along the line are
Johnson City, Greeneville, Morristown,
Jefferson City, Knoxville, Cleveland and
other places. The railroad runs through
rich and prosperous country, very much
like our own section-good, strong lime
stone land, showing excellent crops OF
wheat and growing corn. The farms are
perhaps not as well cultivated as ours,
the land being in larger tracts, with much
more woodland, and the farm buildings
are not as good or the Improvements as
marked II is pleasant trip across the
State, however, well worth the time and
cost 10 those who make it, but, neverthe-
less, call out for Chattanooga" was a
welcome sound to those who heard il at
the end OF the days trip.
Chattanooga had done everything pos
sible for the entertainment OF the 100000
strangers within her gates. Of course,
the hotels could not possibly take care OF
the crowds, so the people OF the city
opened their homes most Hospitality, and
no one need lack shelter and comfort.
Information bureaus were at almost every
corner, resting places were provided,
doors were wide open to all wel-diSpoS-
ed visitors, and the very atmosphere OF
the place savored OF courtesy and kind
ness. There were thousands OF old SOL
dierS gathered from every Southern State,
and other thousands OF pretty girls and
handsome women who were there as
sponsors or matronS or in other official or
private capacity. Grey uniforms abound
ed, and made pleasing foil to lovely
gowns worn by bright-eyed girls and
stately danes, while the beautiful decora-
tions of the city, where the stars and bars
and the stars and stripes were intermin-
g!ed and gay bunting swung from almost
every building, added to the briliance
and charm OF the scene. The weather
was perfect, everybody was in good
spirits and all things were enjoyable.
The business meetings of the United
Confederate Veterans were held in the
city auditorium and were quite interest
ing. The most notable living survivors
OF the Confederate army participated in
the Neutrality-suspicious. old fellows OF
character and personality in whom could
yet be noticed the spirit that had impelled
them to the heroic deeds OF 81 to '65.
Gallant General Bennett H. Young was
reelected commander-in- chief for the
ensuing year.
Besides the reunil of the Veterans,
the United Sons OF Confederate Veterans
held their annual meeting in Chattanooga,
and this added to the numbers and inter-
est of the gathering.
There were three parades during the
convention. On Tuesday, the sponsors
and matrons and their allies were in pro-
cession, and gaily decorated automobiles
carried them over the principal streets.
Wednesday the Sons of Veterans had
their parade, an interesting spectacle.
But the grand parade of the Veterans on
Thursday was the great event of the eel
ebration. The streets through which the
procession passed were simply iammed,
every seat on the big stands being taken,
while multitudes had to stand along the
line of march. We have never witnessed
a more impressive sight. Leading each
division were mounted officers wearing
the Confederate grey, and though all OF
them were old men now and must have
had stiftened joints, yet most OF them
rode like Centaurs and were graceful as
only Southern officers could be. AS the
leaders were recognized and applsuded,
hats were lifted from the grey heads or
swords were brought to formal salute.
Following came the old boys afoot,
marching unSteadily but calamity, and
keeping in line until some of them drop