Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/15

 In Memory of Jefferson Davis. 3

kept the anniversary of Jefferson Davis' birth yesterday. The asso- ciation is pledged to the erection in this city of a monument to the first and only president of the Confederacy, and was among the first organized for that purpose after the death of Mr. Davis.

The foremost leader is Mrs. A. W. Roberts, a niece of Mr. Davis. She has gathered about her a band of earnest women, and through many months they have labored for the cause so dear to their hearts.

The celebration on the part of the Association took place at 1 1 A. M. in the banquet hall of the St. Charles Hotel. The hall was beau- tifully and patriotically decorated. The union flag and the Confed- erate flag entwined served as a drapery above the picture of Jefferson Davis, around whose memory the entire celebration revolved. A beautiful entourage of palms and ferns completed the tasteful deco- rations. Beneath the picture was the autograph of Jefferson Davis, taken from the last letter that he wrote to Mrs. Roberts, and above was a card with two Confederate flags entwined the army and navy, also given to Mrs. Roberts by Mr. Davis.

The hall was well filled with ladies, a delegation from the Soldiers' Home was present, members of the Ladies' Confederate Memorial Association, with Mrs. Wm. J. Behan, president, and members of the Daughters of the Confederacy.

The programme opened with a beautiful invocation by Dr. Pal- mer, and all heads were bowed as the venerable divine lifted his voice to the God of Hosts and prayed for the South, for the united coun- try, for the living and the dead.

Mrs. A. W. Roberts presided. As president of the association she read a short sketch of the organization, showing how it was or- ganized on April 18, 1896, by four ladies, Mrs. Jefferson Davis Weir, Mrs. S. J. Fowler, Mrs. M. A. Farwood and herself. The charter was drafted by Colonel L. P. Briant, Mrs. Weir having been appointed a committee of one to attend to that important detail. Mrs. Varina Jefferson Davis is an honorary member of the chapter.

The programme was very beautiful. Miss Florence Huberwald sang, as only Miss Huberwald could, that grand old Southern war song, " Maryland, My Maryland." The tears coursed silently down the eyes of many as her beautiful voice rose and fell in exquisite modulation of the patriotic melody.

The feature of the celebration was the eloquent address of Hon. E. Howard McCaleb. Mr. McCaleb said that he would not attempt, on this ninety-third anniversary of the birth of Mr. Davis, to give even a brief outline of a life and character which are so intimately