The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-06-08
SOUTHERN MEN
HONOR DAVIS
ORATOR OF The OCCASION WAS
HON. GEORGE r. RuFFlN OF
MARSHALL, TEXAS.

/
The old Confederates assembled al
the auditorium of the high school yes
terday afternoon to commemorate JEFF
ferson Davis birthday. A goOdly
number Of the citizens of our city lent
| their presence to the occasion. A fine
musical program had been arranged
by Mrs. Ikard composed chiefly OF
the young ladies of the city; and they
all acquitted themselves creditably in
the rendition of their parts.
Hon. Geo. r. Ruffin of Marshall
Texas, delivered the oratiOn by invita-
tion of the Confederates. The speak
er in the outset said that it needed a
more eloquent tongue than his to just
ly delineate the character of the Con
federacy's great chief executive. and
he would confine his remarks to the
valorous achievements of the southern
soldiery under dire stress and some
of the thrilling incidents that occurred
during the time of the war between
the States. He was born and reared
on the soil of Virginia where most of
this bloody drama was enacted, had
just attained his fifteenth year and
was preparing to be an active partici-
MT in, na FOL
place in the future, when this grim
visaged war smoothed its wrinkled
front" but up to that time, of the
horrors and devastations that followed
in its wake, in his own home and
those of his neighbors he was fully ac-
Quainted, and he related in a graphic
and touching manner many of the sad
scenes that came under his own obser-
walton.
At the conclusion of his speech, Col
Suggs upon his accordion, with un-
equalled skill executed the stirring
strains of Dixie, which elected vocif-
erOus applause.
Mr.. Ruffin is a man of fine personal
presence. a fluent speaker, possessed
OF rich land varied stores of informa
ton, a genial and kindly nature, and
his speech was listened to with pro-
found attention.
Come again, Mr.. Ruffn, and gladden.
the hearts of the old soldiers.
The meeting of the Confederates
lasted for two and a-half hours 1t
was like a picnic under spreading
green trees. No one was tired, and
they reluctantly left the hall. The
meeting was begun by the singing of
Nearer My God to Thee" by the
audience, with Mrs. lizard at the pia-
no. While the crowd was standing,
Rev. w. r. Selvidge who was an Of
fcer in the Confederate army and
now a minister in the Baptist church,
prayed fervently for the veterans.
Captain Ed. Burnitt presided. He had
taken a special pride in the arrange
ment of the program and made an
ideal presiding officer His brief talk
was one rich in learning of both south
ern history and classic literature.
Mrs. Ikard played a march that al
ways pleases the soldiers and a poem
which George r. Ruffin had written
some years ago and dedicated to the
southern soldiers, was read by Miss
Ethel Ikard Misses Angie Phillips and
Lucille Butler sang, with Miss Mccoy
at the piano. Misses Maurine Eeasley
and Ivy Giddings sang, with Miss Mo
Coy at the piano Mrs. E. Z. Guillot
sang, with her little daughter at the
piano. Miss Moore and Miss Marjorie
Williams sang, with Miss Dorothy
Dickson at the piano.
w. T. Simmons announced that |
John H. Morgan camp would meet in |
annual session at the court house on |
he third Sunday in June.
The audience, with Mrs. Ikard at
he piano, sang "In the Sweet Bye and |
Bye" and Capt Burnitt dismissed tie
meeting with PRAYER.