Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-01
A STORY.
The Reputed Daughter of Con-
federate General Who
Cannot Read.
Cor. Cincinnati enquirer.

Cor. Cincinnati Enquirer.l
New YORK, June24-Not long since
Mr.. Elbridge Gerry, the president of
the society for the prevention of cru
city to children, brought to the home
of the childrens' aid society a very
beautiful young girl of sixteen. Tall
and supple in figure, with an abunance
of rich brown hair, and large, dark
blue eyes, she had the regular delicate
features of an a~ristocrat, and present
ed so different an appearance to the
usual applicant for charity that the
curiosity OF the matron and inmates
was reused, though they were eau
toned to ask no questions, but to let
the young stranger be reticent or
laxative at will.
At first she kept very quiet, but her
manner wa lady-lke, her perception
OF the beautiful very keen, and she
listened with almost greedy attention
to any discussion on books or subjects
of interest she heard talked of, though
never volunteering an opinion herself.
Her quick intelligence and remarka-
BILE memory we're noted, but imagine
the establishment of her new friends
when an accident revealed that, not
withstanding her sixteen summers
and evident brightness of mind, she
COULD NEITHER READ NOR WRITE.
In that charming story, "The
Golden Butterfly" the heroine is
similarly deficient in those ordinary
branches of education; but the very
lack Of them is made to impart a sort
of piquant grace, because of the store
of information and accomplishments
she has acquired without them. But
to this heroine in real life no substi-
tute had been given, and consequently
she is in the most amazing and singu-
lar state Of barbaric Ignorance and
scrappy information, which. however,
her womanly penetration has made
her so conscious of that it is carefully
yelled under reticence.
Meantime the girl was not allowed
to go out, and it soon became evident
that through advertisements and the
police she was being sought for. Al
last she was taken quietly away and
lodged with a private family in the
suburbs. Then Mr.. Gerry was visited
and in answer to the questions of youl
correspondent said:
Zone day while sitting here in my
Office the young girl rushed in. | saw
at once that she was very beautiful
and In spite Of her agitation and bro.
ken utteranees of no common birth OF
grade Of intelligence. When she re
covered herself a little, she kept look.
ing behind her, as though fearful o.
being o~vertaken. | asked her to ex.
plain her trouble. She said her nam,
was Florence Mosby; that she was tn,
daughter Of
THE FAMOUS oONFEDERATE GENERAL
of that name, but that she had no
seen her father, who is now consul a
Hong Kong, since a little child. Tha
during the interval she had been un
der the guardianship of a Mrs. Cam
in whose home she had lived and sui
fered from such shameful treatmen
that, driven to desperation, she fed I
this society for protection. The gil
bore a severe ross-questioning so vel
and her state Of ignorance while bein
brought up by a wealthy woman wa
SO evident, that it alone proved some
thing wrong. So Mr.. Gerry procure
her protection until, at least, the maj
ter was thoroughly investigated.
Inquiries so far have resolved NJ.
Gerry to continue the protection an
bring the matter into court. Mr.