The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-28
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
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 After 50 years the men in gray are found ready to fight to save the union.
 This was not only the keynote of hun dreds Of memorial day speeches through out the south. but was the hearts desire Of the men who followed Lee and Jack son and Johnston.
 It is a strange coincidence that the shot fired by America to make the world free fell on the same day of the month and of the year of the shot that was fired to make America free. April 19 stands out as one of the greatest days in the history of liberty.
 4 April 26 is Dixie's day of hallowed memories. It's a cold-hearted southerner whose blood does not kindle on Memorial Day at the thought of what Confederate Veterans underwent to be true to south ern ideals.
 Truly America is a marvellous land. A half-century has only strengthened the ties that bind the north and the south into an indissoluble bond of fraternal love. All bitterness has been wiped out.
 And it's fitting that the Confederate reunion should, at this national crisis, Wilson, the south's greatest offering to reunited country, can review the men who fought to establish the Confeder- acy, now ready to fight side by side with the north to check the insolence of a foreign foe.
 The south is loyal to the core, and will furnish it's full quota of men, irrespective of whether the army is to be volun- teer or drafted one. Southerners are ready to go on the firing line at the call of the President.
 The sons of the men in gray who laid down their arms at Appomattox are ready to take them up to maintain what their forefathers won at Yorktown. No where in this country is liberty more dear than it is in the southland.
 
 we gather to eulogize Lee, the Christian soldier and the other great men who gave their lives to a cause that while in a certain sense was lost, yet in another will survive as long as men hold dear heroic deeds,
 So without apology but with true sim cerity the south now offers to Uncle Sam it's men, it's money, and it's reputa- ton for courage, and he is going to ac- cept the offer.
 Today Old Glory floats over a united nation. The south loves every star that glitters in the star-spangled banner, and now sings America with as much fer vor and loyalty as she ever sang Dixie" for Dixie's best will go forth to fight under the Stars and Stripes.
 It seems unnecessary to say all this after the showing made by the south in the Spanish-American war and particu- larly after Roosevelt's preference for southern men if allowed to form a regi- ment to go to France. Did he not single
 
 out my good friend Jim Shelley, as one that real fighter wants to have around when valiant and daring men are needed.
 I'm writing this on the train on my way back to Birmingham from Dadeville, where I spoke on Memorial Day under the auspices of the Daughters of the Con- federacy to packed audience at the County High School building
 To see Memorial Day at its best one must go to town like Dadevile. It's gala day as well as day of sweet memories. Old, middle aged and young come together in sweet communion. It's day of glorious fellowship.
 About 50 veterans were on hand to be terderly' cared for by the loving daugh7 ters who served them a hearty meal at the schoolhouse and in many other ways showed their love and honor for the men who wore so proudly their Con- federate crosses.
 6The grammar school came marching through the streets with waving flags to join the high school lads and lassies. have always loved to speak to boys and to watch their eager, expressive faces.
 
 It was saddening, however, to look into o -x them had passed threescore years and ten and were living on borrowed time How easily the tears came to their eyes al the mention of their loved commanders Some of them had arrived at second childhood and it was pathetic to note how wistfully they cling to the old wal l stories.
 There were a number of patriotic read | ings, recitations and songs. The girl: and boys made fine showing. Int choir was well trained, the solos good and the congregational singing of ths national airs hearty.
 | I felt like a schoolgirl graduate. fol after my talk four beautiful bouquets were brought to the platform and handed 1 to me. I never saw more beautiful O mere perfect roses. They grew out in th' open Dadeville is famous for it's roses They thrive in the red clay soil.
 
 The march to the cemetery and tn placing of roses honeysuckle, wisteri' and peonies on the graves of the dea'