The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-13
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
uER OPINION ON POLITICAL AND So
CIAL TOPICS OF THE DAY.
Hopeful Of the Future Of the Liberated
. sIaves-NO Aspirations In GOnHec-
tIOn with the LOST Cause.

boston Heraldl
yomr correspondent closed his account OF
IN interview with Mr.. Jefferson Davis, pub
,ished in the Herald last Sunday. with the
abatement that "Mr. Davis, with cordial
grasp OF the hand babe him good night. and
returned to the ladies' saloon, where his wife
awaited his coming" In few minutes Mr.
nayis returned and said: "Mr b., l have
been speaking with Mrs. Davis Of our inter-
view. and as you know many old friends OF
hers abe desires an introduction" According
" I walked with him to the ladies' cabin,
and was there introduced to the wife OF the ex-
President of the Confederate States. Ishouli
Judge that Mrs. D. is some years the junior
Of her husband, and that intellectually she Is
very superior woman. She was dressed IN
Main black. without any display OF jewelry,
and had a most prepossessDg, Inatronly ap-
pearance. After being introduced 10 neT, Mt
Davis retired aud your correspondent was
favored with an interview Of an hour ana
half duration, much of whlcn was occup,e d ~ ~
01laintances In the North, who where we'll
known to me. Mrs. Davis appears 10 be
woman of refinement, having many accom-
plishments and q correct literary taste, whicn
enables her to discuss with ease and nuency
all the scientific and bellies tettFe8 topics VI
the day, She seemed to have d thorough
knowledge of the French language and 20 be
quite familiar with French books and all-
thors, from Nine. De Stael to the last vol
ume Of Victor Hugo.
After indulging in some "reminiscences ol
her life In Washington prior to the repetition;
and rpviving pleasant memories OF hef ola
friends in the Northern States, VINO were WEI.
friends of mine Mrs. Davis discussed with
me the political aud social topics oil the tlme
Upon the negro question she had very decided
opinions. and spoke far more hopefully OF
ne present situation than did her HUSBAND
She cordially belives in he education OF the
black race, and thought she saw increased
signs of intelligence and self-reliance among
them as the result of what little schooling
they had obtained. She thought education
wac absolutely Indispensable to them, In Or
der to protect themselves from the imposition
of the Whites who We're now no longer as 10
times past, their natural protectors. but were
50 placed as to be constantly tempted to take
advantage OF their ignorance and credulity
She related In Illustration of her views several
anecdotes to show what apt scholars they had
become, even with the small advantages they
posse ssed, and among others the following:
Prefaeing the story with statement that
she herself was destitute of the mathematical
faculty, and never could learn the multiplied
ton table or do q sum in simple fractions, she
said 1t happened not long SINCE in the absence
Of her husband, that she had occasion to set
tie with negro Tor s rh wood which Mr..
ured on the presumption that there were
eight cords, bu 1t fell short Of that amount,
and she in vain attempted to find the value,
with pen and paper, Of the fractional part Of
q cord. She covered nearly sheet with
figures but was not satisfied with the
result At last the negro teamster. with great
humility, remarked, "Missus your figures
are not correct. Let me do dat sum for you. =
"But do YOU know how to cipher, Jimmy
Eyes. missus, Idoes, said Jimmy. She gave
him the pen and paper, aud Jimmy figured 1t
out In an instant, and at once received his
money. "Bnt where did you learn 70 cipher
said Mrs. Davis to him. 20, missus," said
Jimmy, Use graduate of the high school.
Mrs. Davis entertains the Oplhlohs " Isl nus'
band in regard to free iahor as being more
advantageous than the labor OF slaves: alo
said she would not like for any consideration y
return to the old system. Under tnat system
the house servants were a burden upon Tile
housekeeper, and the cost Of thelf malilIell
ance exceeded ia amount the wages pau q
present for a larger number were fequlieu
end the work was not done 80 well as now
lin her religious views and opinions, your cor
respondent believes that the wife Oh the OK
President of the Confederacy Is the most or
thodox woman that he has ever eonverseo
with.
She believes the Bible is the word OF Goo
and that there is not a line In the sacred Vol.
anne from Genesis to Revelations that II nor
literally true. She has been reader OF DaI.
win, TYNdaIl Huxley and other emlhens
scientists and scholars, but she sald noIhins
could shake her faith In every tact anu clI-
cumstanee related in the Bible: Sne never
entertained Ii do,Iht that tha world was mhQt