The Sons Entertain the Veterans--
Feasting The Old Year Out and The New In.
 

As has been the custom here for several years, on the last night of the year the Sons of the Confederacy gave a banquet to the Veterans of the civil war, mainly to the Ex-Confederates, but inviting also those who wore the blue.

The banquet was spread in Stennett's dining room, and two long tables seated about one hundred persons, the Sons, of course being largely in the majority; in fact there were about fifteen Veterans of the war, and near eighty of the Sons.

Judge G. B. Robertson acted as toastmaster and well he did it. The Judge began with a beautiful story of the earth's formation centuries ago, and the discovery by scientists of coal in the bowels of the earth and under that coal tar, and in that aged substance they found the trees and plants of many centuries before, and even the perfumes and colors of the flowers, and, yea, the brilliant plumage and songs of the birds--the moral of which was that nothing was wasted. This he applied to the war which was sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Lost Cause," and said that the contest had not been in vain, that lessons came from it which were valuable, and he sought to bring out additional thoughts along that line, during the enjoyment of the sumptuous repast spread before them. He proposed a toast, "The Spirit of the Confederacy Lives Today," and called on Dr. Batt Smith to respond. The veteran surgeon of Forrest's cavalry rose and began to speak, but, suffering with his throat, asked to be excused, and said he would try to talk later. Judge Robertson then called on Capt. J. F. Lewis to respond to the toast, "The Spirit which Prompted the Action of the Men of the Confederacy Inspires the Sons of Today," which the Captain did entertainingly. The toasts were many and interesting, enjoyed by both the Veterans and the Sons, including reminiscences, sentiment and humor from quite a number of speakers, breathing respect, love and veneration for the Confederate soldier, of whom we recall the following; Capt. Jones, Commandant of the Veterans, Capt. Carrington, Commandant of the Sons, Mr. Coston, Dr. C. H. Williams, Will Davant, T. M. Castleton, Charlie Jones, W. H. Vaughn, W. F. McLean, Louis Huebner, Geo. T. Southwell, C. E. Gilbert, R. W. Jeter, J. D. Moore and J. M. Miller of the G.A.R.

Judge Robertson in closing the exercises made another pretty speech in which he said the old soldier now stands at parade rest waiting for the long roll which calls him to fall in line for a march to that bourn from which no traveler returns, and with many of them taps are beginning to sound and one by one the lights are going out; but bye and bye the reveille will sound calling them once more to stand together in the brighter realm above.

The following veterans were in attendance: Dr. C. H. Williams of Gainesmore; Chris Zipprian of Matagorda; W. F. McLean, of Markham ; Judge A. Currie, of Caney; and Dr. H. L. Rugeley, J. F. Lewis, Capt. J. A. Jones, Frank Rugeley, T. C. Dodd, J. P. Mason, Dr. Batt Smith, D. A. Coston and Capt. Pressley, of Bay City .

The Matagorda County News and Midcoast Farmer, January 4, 1915

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