Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-14
Tribute from a Lady.

Although the sunshine is 80 brgd;, ard
the air holds loviag warmth 10 its embrace,
this. the I1th OF d :ce u Der 1889, is a mourn'
fu, CAY to the southern people. Our beat
tifui city of seven bills is clad in mourning,
fags at half.mast bells toiling solemn
dirges penlng from the churches, people
hurrying through the sweet, pure air, cid
faces looking cad, young faces questioning,
our bCys' schools are closed and 10 the ques-
tiou, Mama, Wig is it; who is this Jefiet-
sen Davis who is dead? comes the answer
from older lips, "a miehty man is fallen"
Long wears ago, when Richmond was ren
dtzvous for hurrying soidiery, when the
tented field stretched far away, and drum
and fife aad martial cal: filled the soft
epriug air, there came 10 live in ouf midst
a quiet, dignifed gentleman, around whom
the people clustered and called ''our Pfesi
deut." 1t was his habit day by jey through
the four eventful years OF war, TO walk
calmly and slowly down 12h street. from
his lovely home to bis office. to attend so
faithfully to the affairs Of the young nation,
which go suddenly spraug into existence
amid such tIouh!ous timer. ln the Gays to
come history will record iruth!uiy OF how
his brave, s,rong heart beat in unison
and sympathy for hia suffering peo-
pie; how he suffered in their defeat,
and patiently anguisbed behind the priscn
bars OF an unjust foe. For gears be had
!ivod in his beautiful southern home, the
Gol Of his dear South. To-day, through all
our sunny land, the peoples Thoughts
custer around still, cold, maciated form,
which is now being slowly !ne to his si-
len; tomb. Our President OF he long ago,
our President OF to-day, Jefferson Davis
Is no more, and iia,ening Thousands picture
hitn as be is borne silently away under the
beuding magnolia and cypress, aud cur
oearss are with him as they gently 10y bim
down, with the singing bic,.s above and tae
springing flowers about him; and tc-night
the Stars will she'd their soft radiance above
the new grave where sleeps our dead hero,
our king Farewell, dear, kind, coed olG
man whose dark hair Graw white for US,
ho bore so much for us, and who grew 10
be an old man through care and sorrow fer
u: farewell, farewell Sieep awoetly while
q nations sadly tolling belle sound areqai-
I'm for you So many memories cluster
around him, SO many thoughts cling 10
him. AZ il tho the past ne was such
familiar figure on our streets We went to
gather him here to rest in our beautiful
Hollywood, WneTe, uduSI tuo e'ui '!o 30
many of our mustered troops who 80 !onG
ago obeyed the roll call from on high Oar
In, stately, quiet, gentle President. Re
!ieion, pure end undefled, can be written Of
bis life, but so undemcnstra,ive that only
the eye of the searcher of hearts knew mis-
childlke faith. His lie was eentle, though
strong, his death passing into the "rest
that remGiceth for the people ofGod." May
it be the privilege of the Richmond people
to gather sweet mementces fOs his tomb and
see his beautiful home OF one Of our streets
devoted TO art or literature; something that
would be the pride of the South-his writ
ings ard his stature for all the world 10 see.
Tear down the Davis mausion? Perish the
thought. Rather let il cease TO be school,
and let sweet. res!ful quiet repose as in
the days when his gentle presence went in
and out SOUTHERN WOMAN.
Richmond, Va, Dec. IL.