The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-19
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
 EXPRESS APPRECIATION OF
 BIRMINGHAM'S HOSPITALITY
Consensus of Opinion That Reunion Was the Most Successful in History of the Confederate Veterans Association and Parade Most Magnificent-No Greater Conven
 tion City in the South is Statement

country. I am glad I came to the Con- federate reunion here, and I shall never forget the inspiring time l have had T never saw so many pretty girls in my life,V was the statement of Mrs. John C. Anderson wife of Chief Justice Anderson of the supreme court of Ala bama, and Mrs. Louis B. Farley, wife of a prominent banker of Montgomery, both of whom are in Birmingham for the
 reunion.
 Tt was marvellous" both of them said.
 The parade was inspiring from begin ming to end, and Birmingham deserves credit for the orderly manner in which
 it was conducted. "
 "What impressed us most, next to the
 old soldiers marching in line was the beautiful assembly of girls We are sure that never before have lovelier sponsors, maids of honor and matrons graced a Confederate reunion And we are also
 sure that never in the history of the or
 ganization have the ladies of the Confed-
 crate reunion had a better time" "A stupendous success" said Gen. Bax-
 ter D. Smith of Chattanooga, Tenn, com mander of Forests cavalry, in speaking g
 of the reunion.
 q have never witnessed g. greater re- union," he continued and l believe every old veteran here will voice this senti- ment. Birmingham could not have done more for our entertainment, and this is the last word, for no city in the south could have surpassed in finished detail the present reunion.
 Every old soldier here has been inn pressed with the uniform cordiality and courtesy of your citizens. Your news papers have given their pages to de- scription of our ceremonies and exercises and your great business houses have, vied with one another in showing favors to the reunion visitors.
 This reunion will go down in history as one of the greatest ever held.' In the opinion of Gen. E. T. Sykes of Columbus, Miss, no greater reunion has ever been held than the Birmingham con- vention.
 And it is not surprising he said. eBir- mingham has a greater future than any city in the south and in holding a Con- federate reunion upon a magnificent scale she is but manifesting the spirit of pro- gressiveness which has distinguished her people within the past few years As a trade center. Birmingham will grow bigger and bigger. Her wonderful industries soon will attract the attention of the entire world, and within a few years she will be known as one of the greatest industrial cities upon the hemi- sphere"
 How have I enjoyed the reunion ?'' asked Col. Leo Strassburger of Montgom- cry, member of Governor Henderson s staff. in reply to question from The Age-Herald reporter:
 ''I cannot tell you how much" he said Il never had better time in my life Birmingham surpassed herself The en- tertalnments have been upon a gorgeous scale, and the hospitality shown by Bir- m1ngham people has been magnificent. Every memb ber of the governors s staff feels as I do with reference to the en- tertainment accorded visitors to the re- union, and l shall ever cherish the mem- ory of the wonderful time I have had while in the Magic City,
 Gen. w. E. Haldeman of Louisville en- joyed his visit to Birming gham, he told The Age Herald reporter. why you have ! wonderful city, he said This reunion has been one of the greatest | ever at. tended. and l am sure that no future l conventions will surpass it. I am glad | came to the reunion, and should Bir- m1ngham ever hold another I hope I shal be able to come for the next" The exemplification of Virginia hos pitality in it's broadest sense" said E. P Rowe of Fredericksburg Va in speaking of the reunion.
 The old veterans have been entertained here upon scale that~has never been surpassed anywhere in the south, and l
 am proud of your great city. To me Bir-
 mingham combines both northern and southern elements-northern in it's spirit Of progressiveness, and southern in those
 me oid traits of cordiality and hospitality which have ever been distinguishing char acteristcs of the south
 The reunion was great That is the word that best describes it, and I do not think more successful one has ever vet
 or ever will be held''