Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-04
VIE IN PAYING
THEIR HOMAGE
Military Pageant Closes
Twenty-Fifth Reunion
Of Veterans
REBEL YELLS IN AIR
Governor of Connecticut and Foot
Guards of That State Salute Me-
MORALS TO SOutherners.

Richmond, June 4-Men who hat
fought for their country and boy:
who bore wooden guns paid theil
homage yesterday afternoon as the!
passed the statue of general Rober
E.. Lee in the twenty-ffth annual
parade of the United Confederate
Veterans.
In the line that passed from the
Capitol Square to Monument Avenue
where Lees Statue stands was 4
Northern command-the Governors
Foot Guard of Connecticut.
1t was significant that ii was not
merely reunion Of Confederate vet
Grams; it was as we'll reunion of
those who had once been the bitterest
foes.
The procession was the real finale
of the reunion. The morning had been
dark and drear with the threat OF
rain, and the parade was posted from
IL o'clock until l. Even then the
threat remained, but the parade was
done and the last salute had been
fired before the rain began.
Two hours it required for the pro-
cession to pass the reviewing stand
where sat Governor Stuart, of Vlr-
ginia; Governor McCreary, Of Ken
tucky; Governor-Elect NaN l.. Harris
of Georgia; Governor Manning, of
S. c., Mayor Preston, of Bal
timore, and Governor Marcus H. Hol-
comb, of Connecticut, the first Gov
ernor of a Northern State ever to
watch a Confederate march in times
of peace. For him there were as many
cheers as for those Southern Cover
nors who had passed through wars
bitter travail and still remembered
the succeeding days.
From Capitol Square, which had
been thronged all day, up Grace ST.,
to Fifth and from Fifth to Franklin
and out to Lee Circle, in Monument
Avenue, the streets were lined with
more than 100000 people. There were
solid aisles, standing upon curb and
paving, on porch and in window and
in door. When the first bomb fired
by the Signal Corps starting. the
parade was sounded the cheering be-
gan, and, the rebel cry loosed in Capt.
tol Square was taken up until 1t
reached the stand at Lee Circle
where the children's human flag was
formed.
Here around the statue to Lee anr
rs far east as the monument to Stuar'
every stand was filled. More thar
10000 men, women and children were
gathered on seats and in the park
ed spaces. So large were the throng:
that the police. assisted by the 30!
Scouts, had difficulty in keeping then
behind the ropes.
Lee Circle was surrounded by stands
bleachers and seats improvised III
the preenway. Southwest Of the monu
ment was constructed the stand TO
the human flag, composed OF 6oU
children, so arranged as to form
| perfect resemblance, of the Stars ant
Bars. From II O'Clock in the morn
ing until the parade was ended thes
children remained in their seats am
sang Southern songs. On the Sout
side of the monument, inside tn
circle was reared the reviewing stan
Other stands encircled the monumen
! Seats were given to the veterans al
ter the long parade, so that the,
could view in comfort the passing o
their sons.
| Two military balls last nigh
!! brought the social side of the reunio
to a close. An interesting closln
event was the reproduction of tn
Battle of the Orator." an elaborat
fireworks display in which companie
of the Virginia Grays participated
reproducing with realistic effect tn
battle at Petersburg June 80. 1864.