The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-06-16
DAWSON'S FIRST CHAUTAUQUA
COMES TO SUCCESSFUL CLOSE

ding the usual Saturday rush
Would that the pitiful cry of God's
boys and Gods girls could ring, not
only throughout Terrell county, but
in every corner of our great state till
every heart should be aroused to the
importance of enacting legislation to
wipe out forever the shame and dis
grace of sacrificing helpless children
on the altar of Unsuitable greed.
The Campfire Girls and the Boy
Scouts were lined up and put through
physical culture exercises and given
| wholesome instructions in habits of
life that they will not soon forget,
and which were of great benefit to
! the audience as well.
Despite the threatening storm and
! the falling rain on Saturday after
noon the tent began filling promptly
and a good audience enjoyed the pre-
ludes by the Ernest Gamble Concert
Co. of Pittsburg.
Miss Verna Page, violinist, in her
rendering of classical selections, was
well nigh perfect, but as much as
the music was enjoyed there was
something indefnable in the charm
of her manner and the sweetness of
her touch. The strains of ave Ma
ria" from her skillful handling of
the bow foated out like a benedic-
ton that follows after prayer"
OF special local interest was the
presentation of the gold medal Of
fered by Mary Brantly Chapter, U. D.
c., to the pupil of the county writing
the best essay on THE Confederate
Cause" Miss Nedius Allenn of the
Holmot school, the fortunate winner
was called to the platform and in
behalf of the Daughters of the Con-
federacy Mr., Hunt Cook in well cho-
sen words of commentator congrat-
ulated the young lady and expressed
the pleasure he felt in having even
a small part in placing the medal in
her hands. This pleasant incident of
the afternoon fitted in well with the
program arranged. No one who had
eyes to see could fail to be impressed
by the artistic and appropriate deco
rations which made just the right
stage setting for the appearance of
Mrs. LaSalle COrbell Pickett, wife of
the famous Confederate general.
Confederate flags in numbers min
gled with the Stars and Stripes
against a background tropical iii the
rich green of palms and ferns. To
put into words what is in our hearts
to say of Mrs. Pickett would seem
like fullsome praise and even then
little idea could be conveyed of the
pleasure experienced in having
among us this fine type of the gentle
woman of the old south. Mrs. Pickett
is just recovering from the effects of
a severe attack of pneumonia, but
in giving her lecture 1.-The Battle of
Gettysburg she showed no sign of
weakness and although peals of thun-
der stirred the heavens and rain pat
tered on the tent, her voice carried
we'll the thrilling message to waiting
hearts. The artillery of the skies let
loose just at this hour brought feel
ing of awe and the mutterings of the
thunder seemed but an echo of the
din of shot and shell on that fateful
day when Pickett's men marched into
the jaws of death. Who can de-
scribe the word painting of the
speaker as in impassioned flights Of
eIoquence she brought before her au-
dience the thrilling scenes? Strik-
ingly handsome, with the air of dig
nifty which always distinguishes the
high born well bred southern wom-
an, she walked a queen among us"
not crowned with perishable gems,
but with the love of loyal hearts who
cling to the traditions of a glorious
past that will never die. You may
break, you may shatter the vase, if
you will, but the scent of the roses
will hang round it still. If a criti-
cism may be ventured the reference
to what was termed Lees mistake in
directing his officers that day was
discordant note. Although all are
fully aware that other historian
have made the same statement, in
many minds it is still question, and
might we'll be left out of this lecture,
which in every other respect is a
perfect gem.
The concert in the evening by the
Ernest Gamble concert ompany was
a continued flow of divine harmOnies
which fell~soothingly on music loving
souls. This is a company of which
one does not soon tire and it was
matter of congratulation that they
remained in Dawson through Sunday.