The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-06-24
PEOPLE OF COUNTY LAVISH
WITH THEIR HOSPITALITY.
FEATURES OF BIG GATHER
ING. MEET IN DUBLIN NEXT.

The Georgia Confederate veterans
have come and gone. Dawson never
enjoyed entertaining gathering of
any kind more than it did these old
heroes, and they say it was the best
reunion they ever attended.
Decorators had the city in holiday
attire when the veterans began to
arrive. The stars and bars, mingled
with the national colors, waved q
welcome from every street. The
stores and public buildings were elab-
orately decorated and many of the
residences displayed flags in honor OF
the visitors. On the arrival Of the
first trains Tuesday decorated cars
were lined up at the station, the re-
ception committee and Boy Scouts
being on the alert to extend the
greetings of the county and take
the visitors to their homes. Six hun
dred and forty-eight veterans and
twenty-four official lady visitors were
we'll provided for in the homes. The
emergency cots were not used, as the
hospitality of the citizens kept broad
ening and increasing until all needs
were easily met.
Reunion Opens.
The reunion opened at 9 o'clock
Wednesday morning in the school
auditorium, General J. A. Thomas,
commander, presiding. DR.. Lansing
Burrows, of Americas, the chaplain,
was unavoidably absent and another
veteran delivered the invocation.
Hon. H. A. Wilkinson welcomed the
guests in behalf of the city, and
Judge M. C. Edwards extended a
welcome for the county. Welcome
in behalf of the Daughters of the
Confederacy was given by Mrs. W..
H. Gurr. Mrs. H. NJ Franklin, pres
ident, brought greetings from the
Georgia division of U. D. C. General
J. A. Thomas responded in behalf
of the veterans.
The picnic dinner served at 1
o'clock was the most elaborate
spread ever seen in Dawson, and
when the large assembly had Toasted
to their full satisfaction there was
enough left to feed almost as many
more.
After a short business session in
the afternoon the veterans were Ia
ken for an automobile ride over the
fine farming sections of the county
Parade a Feature.
Thursday mornings business ses-
sion was opened at an early hour
that matters might be cleared away
promptly in readiness for the parade,
which was one of the most striking
features of the reunion. Hon. R. R..
Jones was master Of ceremonies, and
brought everything in line in short
order, more than a mile of decorated
automobiles taking part in the splen-
did pageant. The Boy Scouts and
returned soldiers led the procession,
followed by the Ocilla w. o. W.
band, the inspiring music being an
important part.
Conspicuous was "Uncle" Steve
Eberhart, of Rome, an aged negro
who has attended every reunion. The
old darkey, mounted on a mule, wore
a tall silk hat bedecked with ribbons
and plumes. A broad sash of red was
wound about his waist, while two
Confederate flags were worn as
epaulettes. Live chickens looking as
if they had just been pulled off the
roost were carried in a crocus sack.
Every few yards the old darkey
would send out hallelujah yell, CIV
erybody come here" The invitation
was a little belated, however, as 1t
really seemed from the throng lining
the streets and sidewalks that "ev-
erybody and his brother" had already
arrived.
The barbecue dinner served at the
school campus at the close of the
parade was all that could be desired