Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-10
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
AlOut those PaGticoats and ether
Disguises.
Historic Prec eSsest, EsF Female
Disguise.

delphia Bulletin, q story to the effect
that in rummaging box in the treasury
Department, discovery had been made OF
the articles of feminine apparel taken
from the person of Jefferson Davis at
the time of his capture; and that the
wife Of a well-knoWn ecclesiastical func
tionary had asked for the clothes for the
purpose Of exhibiting them at fair,
held il Philadelphia, to raise money for
a monument TO Mr.. Lincoln; upon which
monument place is to be consecrated to
the statute Ct the ecclesiastical function
ary aforesaid and husband Of the woman
Who wanted to borrow the old clothes, to
be used for The benefit Of his reputation.
We have waited patiently for a con
tradiction Of this story, but have seen
none. We infer, therefore, that SO much
Of it is true as relates to the professed
discovery and the elsmosynary applica
ton by the devoted wife who seems to
minister to her husbands glory with
delieacy and cleverness paralleled only
in Borrow's GypseY stories Of the de7o-
ton of Romis to their Roes.
As to the finding Of female apparel in
chests seat from the South, we do not
doubt it for moment. We have IN
bounded readiness to believe in any dis
coveries Of things portable that may be
said 10 be found in reeeptacles Of South
ern plunder. The educated mind Of
New England exhibited u disciplined
skill in burglary and trained cleyerness
in larceny, which could not have been
excelled by the Highlanders who strip
ped Mr.. Andrew Fairseryiee, had their
natural turn for robbery been perfected
BY long term in Newgate. Some times
driven from the obvious world by its in
tolerable rascality, we take refuge fer
little rest. in those realms Of fancy where
we can do justice on the Anakim, whose
strength and multitude defy US here.
We will not tell how We have erected
there a steam-cowhide Of a cavalry regi-
ment morse power, and what satisfactory
hagellation we preside over, in that
fancied place of retribution. But some
times we have pictured to ourselves what
would appear in some rich New England
town, should a guardian angel Of the op-
pressed lose his patience ana suddenly
endow every article stolen from the South
with consciousness and locOmotion.
From yonder mansion Of the wealthy
fish dealing deacon, we would see a grand
piano edge itself through the door and
crawl away southward while its delighted
keys would rattle, Away down in
Dixie" From that snug trim cottage Of
virgin patience and spinster economy, a
sofa would essay to escape on It's three
1 legs. (the fourth stuck on with Spaul
dings glue refusing to leave the corner
where it is propped, ) and breaking dOwr
in the attempt, cry piteously, Garry
me home to old Virginn.' Out of the
parsons library would rush a con1useS
crowd Of books, cla.noring in various
tongues, " We are on eur journey home.
Most grievous and satisfactory Of all
we should see the rings hy from delicat'
fingers and tear away from dishones
ears. and heavy silk unwind It's fold.
from the carefully prepared person o
worshipping deyotees, and all go glancins
and dancing and rustling down the aisl,
to the tune of "The girl left behin'
me" What an apocalypse Of rogueFy
what grand panorama Of petty larceny
what a peeling of hypocrisy it woul,
be Then the exodus-what a miscel
laneous demonstration Of the height am
deptb and length and breadth of Ney
Encland's desires for other people
goods
! No. we DO not doubt that some cas-
off female garments were found in tn
treasury chest. The educated mind
concluded that the rebellion must be pu
down per tas ant aefds, which was free
| lv rendered into New English, by croo
or bv hook. Leaving the jas or erookiu
to be done in Washington, the army di
the hooking. to absolute perfection an
the habit and lesson of it are yet splen
didly illustrated in the Treasury depart
ment. where it seems some one Of tn
more conscientious rogues purloining
bundle Of printed rags belonging to th
Government. substituted q bundle Of vi
printed ones belonging to some plur
dered woman, who grieves for her gowl
gone beyond hope of replevin, to met
the exigencies of the best governmeI
the world ever saw.
? Lest our readers should think that v
are getting again into the history Of II
Jews. we leave the old clothes, with tt
, simple denial that they were ever WoE
, By Mr. Davis. But why should an a
! tempt to escape in female attire be d
: gradingy Though Mrs. Davis did L
cover her husband with her mantle al
protect him from the blOod-hounds wi
/ she believed would take his life, if 81
had done so, and succeeded, she wou
!, have won place in the chronicles of Il
! noble deeds Of women. In all histO
: there is no heroic story more tOuehif
than the escape Of Charles Edward, Il
J. pretender, from the islands of Seotlan
: The name of Flora Mcdonald IS ney
3 snoken but with reverence and love; al
d surely it was never considered to detra
e from the honor of the high spirited Al
daring prince that he wore woman
IS dress. However, we may be amused
!. the account of his awkward handling
, the pettieoats whether holding them
Y high as to exhibit too much of his
II delicate ankles, or dropping them so Il
Q as to draggle them in the brook, nobo'
if SCOTS at the disguise. The heart IN
IT too much pathos in the overthrow
e high hopes and the fruitlessness Of b
N role yalor, too much sweetness and invi
ss oratiou in the cordial of fidelity and d
I votion, to feel aught but respect for t
n chief actor in the story. The scorn a
/" curse of the world has all gone over
ID the Cumberland brute whose militia
ir strength gained victory which he d
ID graced by vulgar and cruel triumph oV
an incomparably better man than himse
J. Then. there is La TaleHe. Fifty yes
a. ago the world rang with the tale Of
o. escape in the dress of his wife; yet
as never heard or read of any detriment
as his reputation by her noble cleverne
or There is the grand story of the Count
st of Nithsdale, who carried off her h
as band from the tower the night before
he was TO be executed, clothing him in
nv male apparel. Her account of it is