Perhaps the people, and particularly the women, were unconsciously yearning for a country to love and were ready for a great wave of patriotism to carry them with it.

During the week following the declaration of war more national flags were displayed in the South than had been shown in the memory of the oldest resident, for except on public buildings the national flag has not been commonly displayed.

At this time houses which had never shown a flag were draped, and merchants were chided because they could not supply the demand.
Quite as a matter of course the president of the Daughters of the Confederacy became president of the Red Cross Auxiliary which was organized at once.

Women were eager to receive instruction in folding bandages, and knitting became the order of the day.

Women threw themselves with all their energy into various activities.