The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-12
AT THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Rev. ]. e. L. Holmes "reminiscences
of the Dead Statesman.

| WAS
heavily draped, and the center festoons were
caught up by three white roses. The altar
was also draPed heavily. The baptismal
font in front Of the railing had an ivy cross
decoration on base of Spanish moss and
the cross was hecked with white roses.
On the stage were Rev. Dr. W. s.. Bow
man, pastor of the church, Rev. DIR. ]. s.
K. Arson, pastor emeritus of the independ-
ent Presbyterian church; Rev. K. O. Way,
of the Anderson street Presbyterian church:
Rev. J. E. L. Holmes, of the First Baptist
church; Rev. w. S. Royal, of the Duffy
street Baptist church; Rev. j. W. Gilmore.
of the Seamen's bethel, and Rev. Richard
Webb.
The exercises began with a dirge by
quartette of choir voices, which was fol-
lowed by the reading of the funeral service
by Rev. DR.. Bowman, after which the
Psalm xxx. was read responsibility. The
choir sang, Come ye Disconsolate, Where'er
ye Languish," after which Rev. Mr.. WAY
read the Ephesians xvi. Rev. Mr. Webb
led in prayer, especially invoking God to
comfort and protect the family of the dead
| statesman
Rev. Mr.. Royal gave out the 432d hymn,
| How blest the righteous when they die"
After it had been sung by the choir, Rev.
j. Il. Il. Holmes delivered brief and re-
mlnlScent address, touching the traits and
1
DR.. HOLMES "REMINISCENCES.
What shall say" he began, will be
| mainly in the way of "reminiscences. The
last two years of the war, l was a clerk in
the war department at Richmond, and had
| frequent opportunity to see Mr.. Davis. To
| those OF us in the department he did not
seem the cold, reserved man some have
pictured him. recall his uniform kind
ness and courtesy even to the humblest. l
think that most of the soldiers who came in
contact with him felt the charm of his
| personal magnetism.
| II remember once being at Camp Lee
when the exchanged confederate soldiers
awaited transportation, when Mr.. Davis
visited them. He made a short address. 1t
was full of sympathy; grateful words for
| the brave deeds, tender words for those at
| home who were sharing the privations of
| the soldiers. So tenderly did he speak of
che pride mother, and wife, and friend
| would take in the brave men now
returned to them for a brief interval
| when he told them to go home and
rest and return; when exchanged to do their
| whole duty, and the brave, noble soldiers
they had proved themselves, what hearty
response there was. AS the great crowd
of soldiers came surging about him. his
horse, a spirited animal, which he sat
superbly, became frightened, and for a
moment there was danger of an accident,
when one OF the old veterans stepped to the
| front and called out loud enough to be
| heard above the confusion: Stand back.
boysl | would not have one hair Of his
head hurt for million dollars
A oNE-sIDED HISTORY.
II have noticed in that very one-sided
history published in the Century Maouzine
| frequent adverse criticism, claiming that if
Mr.. Davis had been humane man he
| would have put an end to the war when he
| found the cause hopeless. An incident
| given me by the Hon. John Goode, one of
| the representatives i'll the confederate con-
gress from Virginia, win show how I'M
reasonable is such criticism. Mr..
! Goode was sent for by Mr.. Davis
| to confer on some matter of
| general interest in December preceding the
| surrender. When Mr.. Goode arrived. Mr..
Davis was closeted with Gen. Lee, and he
was about to withdraw when Mr.. Davis
heard him aud begged him to come in at
once, saying that he might very properly
| hear what they were discussing. They were
| discussing the future of the confederacy.
| and Mr.. Davis was saying: How can put
| an end to the war? | was NOT put here TO
surrender. All cur people do not know. as
we 90, the great straits to which we are
reduced If were to give an
| order commanding the generals to disba nd
their armies. and the soldiers to Law down
their arms, that would not end the war. but
this would follow: should be handed down
tc the last generation as the veriest traitor
this world had ever produced We can only
do our duty. and wait patiently the result,
while endeavoring to secure the best terms
we cam And in this opinion Gen. Lee con-
CURED. II any one will reflect a moment
he will see how reasonable their view was.
THE NEWS OF THE SURRENDER,
when after the eventful Sd of April.
1865, the confederate government was trans.
ferred to Danville, Va, gentleman. whom
atterward knew intimately, had charge
of line of couriers between the confeder-
ate headquarters at Danville and Gen. Lees
headquarters. This gentleman told me of
the way IN which Mr.. Davis received the
announcement of the surrender When he
called on Mr.. Davis to convey this informa-
ton, he was at dinner-a scanty, simple
meal it was. AS the orderly was reluctant to
disturb the President, Capt. Graves indicated
that the news was of pressing Importance.
Mr.. Davis Immediately appeared and re-
ceived the news in silence, and without Wis
lble embarrassment, save that there was the
quivering OF the lips and the chin A mo-
ment afterward he said in the kindliest
way possible, Captain, you have been riding
a long way and must be tired and hungry:
come in and take dinner with u.s. Declin-
President, if there is anything in the world |
that can do am entirely at your service.
For little while the President seemed
deeply affected, aud then conscious of the
change which had come over his life. he |
said, Thank you, captain, I fear that there |
are very few who would say as much as |
that now |
GREAT MAN TO ALL.
ut has been often said that greatness re-
cedes as we draw near to it, and that no |
man is a hero to his valet. But know that |
these Of us nearest to him thought him very |
great. He had convictions and the courage |
of his convictions, but who can be called |
great without these? He YVES placed in a |
position Of greatest responsibility, but he |
did not seek it. And he did not shrink from |
any duty, however arduous. The critic |
may sit. now far removed from those davs |
of unequaled excitement and terrific strup |
gle, and note weaknesses and find faults. but |
the critic makes sorry spectacle, He is a |
small soul.
Il am persuaded that for purity of pri. |
vate life, for uprightness in public life. for |
unselfish devotion to the land OF his birth. |
and to the people who had honored him
Continued on Seventh Pooe.