Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/360

 3f>4 Southern Historical Society Papers.

THE SOUTH'S MUSEUM.

The Davis Mansion Formally Thrown Open for the Reception of Relics.

THE BATTLE-ABBEY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

An Institution to Preserve the Record of the Deeds of Our Soldiers.

THE ORATION OF GENERAL BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.

He is Eloquently Introduced by Governor O'Ferrall Dr. Hoge's

Earnest Prayer His Invocation a Beautiful Tribute to the

Southern Women The Historic Structure Thronged

Both Afternoon and Evening.

The dawn of February 22, 1896, was auspicious assuredly, in the historic city of Richmond.

The chill or damp of preceding days was superseded by an exhil- erating atmosphere, which was as balmy spring in contrast. Old Sol rose in all the vaunted splendor of Italy's skies. All nature was calm and serene. Who will say that it was not the approving smile of the Lord of hosts upon the truly reverential efforts of our most excellent women in the perpetuation of the truth the treasur- ing of evidence and of memorials of the righteousness of the grandest struggle for constitutional right which has ever impressed the page of history ?

A representative building of the period of Richmond, the most happy probably in the exemplification of intellectual worth, of social grace and substantial comfort, was the residence of the Chief Mag- istrate of the Confederate States, whilst they blazed into undying glory.

This memorable edifice, the patient, devoted women of Richmond undertook to restore enduringly to its original conditions of form, with th^ sacred purpose of dedicating it to the preservation of the materials of history and hallowed memorials of Southern heroism and sacrifice.

The natal day of George Washington was happily chosen for the