The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-02-28
The dwelling Of the Confederate
Monument in Franklin.

On Friday, February 20, the monu
ment erected by our citizens to tn.
memory of the Confederate soldier!
from st. Mary Parish, who fought fol
the honor of their State in the war o.
1861-'65, on the court house square If
Franklin, was unveiled.
The weather was cool and the clouds
were threatening, but thousands O.
people gathered there, including visi.
tors from other parishes; many old
grsy.headed Veterans who had come
from . distance to join with It. Mary &
citizens in doing homage to the mem
DRY of st. Mary's Confederate SOL
diers.
Tho pupils of the st. Mary Central
High School, seven hundred in number,
led BY Prof. Chas. Colt, its princi.
pal, marched in q body upon thu
grounds, each carrying Confederate
Gag, and with graceful movements and
almost military precision, formed a
solid living square of youth and
beauty. As they halted they waved
their flags towards the monument,
while their yonng, sweet voices, led
BY Miss Le0ta Jones, their musical
director, made the welkin ring with
the dear old songs, 1.-THE Bonnie
Blue Flag'' and "Maryland. My
Maryland" The scene was an inspi-
ration Of beauty and tender memories.
Tho picture Of loving reference they
made and the sweet songs they sang
brought JOY to the hearts of the old
Veterans who had heard their mothers
and grand-mothers sing those dear
old melodies when the Confederacy
vas young. The crowd assembled
there was immense, stretching in a
dense mass of human beings over the
court house square to the street be-
yond. The speakers stand was beau
titully decorated with evergreens and
With the Stars and Stripes. On the
front Of the speakera' stand was un.
furled silk Confederate flag, old and
tattered, which was the battle flag OF
Vinson's Scouts, of st. Mary Parish,
commanded by B. P. L. Vinson. a
brilliant soldier Of dash and unrivaled
bravery.
Prominent among the visiting Vete-
rams were Gen. T. ]. Shaffer, Com
mAnder Of the Louisiana Division of
TIE United Confederate Veterans, Col.
Chas. Santana. his Adjutant General,
Major Thos. Higgins and Major
John Comahan, Of New Orleans,
Mr.. FL. Richardson, who was a gallant
member Of the famous st. Mary Vol
sunteers, AAjOr Paul DeCloutte and
Mr.. VIM Clegg, who fought from the
beginning 10 the end under Gen. Lee,
in. Virginia, both of Lafayette; Gen.
John McGrath ard Gen. A. B. Booth,
heorAtors Of the day.
The meeting was called to order by
Judge'A. G. Allen, chairman, at 81
.. n. Rev. A. f. Vaughan, pastor
Of he NJ E. Church at this place, Of
Tered The invocation In tender and elO-
Quept words Of fervent and devout
prayer. -
The chairman then addressed the
meetin& and gave. the history of the
monument: He said that although
hfty-three yesrs had come and gone
Slnoo ne commencement of the war
between the Northern and Southern
States, still the people of our parish
nsver fsltered in the fervent hope of
doing suitable honor to our dead and
living Confederate soldiers. The ac-
cideuts OF misfortune retarded them
for years. but the persistency of their
desire has led to success at last,
Five years ego the project took def
mite shape when the local Chapter of
the DeughterA of the COnfederacy. of
which. Mrs. r. j. Shaffer was presi-
dent, Mrs. A. c. Allen, vice-president,
Miss Emma Ship, secretary, and Miss
0racie Allen. treasurer, started the
louQab1e movement. They succeeded
By their. unsided efforts in raising
sevstal hundred dollar. for thai pu :
pose. L One year ago Hon Willur II.
Kramer proposed to the loc. Con-
!ederete Veterans to join with =, m ia
devising ways and means OF I'D dug
DunSeteutIy to the funds OF the u ugh
lers - to make the erection he
monument certain. With hir they
formed an association which INN e.
dialeIy made q contract wi the
McNeel Marble Co., OF Marriott Ca,
Tor the erection Of the monun & ia
less than one year. They reli, 1 forl
he faithful performance of their con-
|rset upon the patriotism and gene
rostty OF the citizens of the Parish of
st. Mary. Their reliance thus far
has n0t been In vain. The monument
. completed and the statue of Con-
Iederate soldier looks proudly down
upon 40 from Its lofty shaft as We
rsloice to-day. Judge Allen in closing
his remarks upon the history vi the
monument said that the old Cunfed-
rate vs1erans have grateful ac-
Enowledged that the credit of its COM
pletton 10 due 70 the fair Daughters
u the Confederacy, who started the
md for tts erection, Hon. Wilbur Fl.
Kramer, whose unselfish zeal and un-
firing energy made Il certainty, to
= Postce Jnry, 70 the Town council
\ kraoklto, md to many Individual
1e1leuss NO AAvs 20 generously res
|oe4ed 70 = lA1Fio1ie duty.