The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-08
Centennial dt Columbus, Miss.

"Breathes there man with soul so
 dead
 Who never to himself has said:
 This Is my own my native land" N 0EXT October, Columbus, Miss, UWl that beautiful and aristocratic c town Non the banks of the old Tombiebee, is going to have a party and unlike most girls she isn't ashamed to acknowledge her age, but is proud to announce that it is in celebration of her one hundredth birthday.
 Every Mississippian is interested in this great Centennial and Home Coming Week" and moreover, every Mississippian, whether his home was in Columbus, or Vicksburg, or West Point, or Natchez or Jackson, or Meridian, is invited to be present at the celebration of the one hundredth cooperate in making the celebration great historical event.
 Columbus-that beautiful city--the home of the Billupses and Sykeses the late Capt. Buck" Humphries, and my beloved father, Judge James M Arnold; the Morgans and the Fuckers the late Capt. Atwell Johnston and Harrison Johnston, pr. Brownrssg and Tam" Brownriggs, the Hardys and the Streets, the Weavers and Capt. Jim" Belrs family, the Richardses and the Bankses-and in- numerable other families whose scions have achieved success in the south's history whose sons and daughters are among the fairest flowers of southern manhood and womanhood.
 Mir R. E. Johnston, who has ac- cepted the chairmanship of the Cen tennial and Home Coming Week." though not native Mississippian being one of the Virginia Johnstons" is neverthelaSs an adopted son Of that fair state since he married one of the loveliest young women who ever called Columbus home" Bessie Billups, the daughter of Capt. Carle- ton Billups, one of the most influen, tial and substantial citizens Colum- bus has ever had.
 MT. Johnston has lived in Colum bus IS years and is prominently identi- fled with it's life both socially and commercially, being a member of the firm of Johnston x Caine, vestry- man in St. Pauls Episcopal church. and during the war "carrying on the splendid work of the four minute men, as chairman of that branch of the service.
 MT. Johnston is eminently fitted for the big task he Las undertaken as all of his civic and social activi- ties show, believing as he does, that If a man makes his living out of ,,ftr r,,tf tfxr L. all the service he can render which makes for the betterment of his fell lovmen.'
 have not the pleasure of MT. Johnston's acquaintance excep through correspondence - but I am looking forward with the greatest possible anticipation to meeting him during the centennial. and all l have to judge him by is a letter or two very charming and very human.
 In writing to Mir. Johnston as l did short time ago asking for n- formation regarding the centennial, l felt that the many Mississippi peo- pie who live in Birmingham would be tremendously interested in the plans for Homecoming Week." which is to be really a beg event.
 I have in addition to my corre- spondence with MT. Johnston heard from many mutual friends" of his ability and his splendid citizenship in Columbus, and his letter of recent date concerning the "centennial, says:
 Tn accepting the chairmanship of the executive committed for the cen tennial. l felt that the committee had to find some goat to saddle this big job on and though I fought it off for two weeks, they finally drafted me for it, and so I'm now on the job Fortunately, l have live and enthu-