The evening world., 1889-12-06

In the afternoon IL was thought Mr.. Davis
was better than he had been for several days
past, as no had been able to take nouriShment
Jefferson Davis's Career.
The Great Leader Of the Lost Cause has
parsed into the eternal keeping Of that History
where the Lost Cause " itself passed . quarter
OF century ago. To the one the end came
under the Glossoming apple trees at tAppomattox,
In April. 1895. and to the other. Jefferson
Davis. at l2. AS O'Clock this morning.
This event ia the postscript to the tragic story
Of the Civil War. As long as Mr.. Davis lived,
whatever he said and whatever he did became,
In MEASURE, part Of that story, but now the
volume 10 closed forever. The greatest actor in
the tremendous drama has left the stage, never
again to reappear. and the curtain goes down,
never again to rise. on the scenes OF that awful
tragedy. In q historical point of view, there
fore, even in this busy. rushing age of ours. the
death Of Jefferson Davis arrests the attention
not only Of his countrymen bnt Of all the
world within the circle OF civilization. He
lived to be over eighty-one years OF age, only
nineteen less than the entire life Of the Consti-
tuition. When he was born, in the Summer Of
1908. Thomas Jefferson was in the last year Of
his second administration and James Madison
was planning TO inherit tho succession and
preserve the Virginia ascendAncy In the Ma
tional Administration. The Federal Union
consisted Of only seventeen States, 30 that Mr..
Davis has seen twenty-five stars flash into the
blue Of the nag. He could easily remember the
close Of the second war with England, and ne
was youth Of twelve or thirteen when the first
efeks battle between the friends and opponents
OF slavery was closed with the Missouri Com
promise. Mississippi was still . Territory
when the father Of Mr.. Davis migrated 70 IL
from that part Of Christian now Todd. County,
Ky, where the future President Of the South
ofn Confederacy was born. II IL curious co-
Incidence that six months later the mArtyred
Lincoln was born in the same State. When
this change Of residence took place Mr.. Davis
was q mere child, but some years later he Was
sent back TO Kentucky 10 the TransvlveniS
University TO be educated. In 1924, when no
was only sixteen years old. he had made Gufn-
cient progress In his studies to be able to pSsS
the examination for admission to the Military
Academy at West Point as q cadet. PreSi 1ont
Monroe gave him the appointment. Four years
later in 1928, he was graduated. Among his
contemporaries at the Military Academy were
Robert Z. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston. Leon
idAs Polk. John B. MaGruder and others who
in later years won high military distinction.
WAR AND LOVE.
As q boy and . young man he was ambitious
and he believed that the path TO distinction
could best be carved out with the sword.
Andrew Jackson was then the idol of the ooun-
try. and 10 may be easily imagined that the hero
Of New Orleans had indirectly no small hhare in
determining Mr.. Davis's choice OF q profession.
The younE soldier was soon in active servics.
The Indians on all our frontiers were at thatday
very troublesome neighbors, and young Lieuten-
ant Of Infantry Daviss command found foomon
worthy Of them In the fierce ComAnches and the
terrible Pawnees. Davis was brave, daring and
impetuous. He was favorite with officers and
men, and q brilliant future was predicted for
him. At the end OF Ave years in the infantry
service he was promoted 70 the cavalry 80 First
Lieutenant OF Dragons. The transfer brought
enlarged opportunities which he was quick to
improve for gratifying his ambition Temper
ate, careful, model soldier and ofiieoT, In fact.
IL WAS only . question Of time and Of life when
no should attain to the highest army hOnoFs and
commands. Suddenly. however. to the aston
iShment OF his fellow-ofieers and friends. his
resignation from the army was sent 10 the War
Department. This was in 1885.
A letter which the fortunes Of war during the
rebellion threw into the hands Of an Illinois
soldier. and which was published BomO yearS
ago, shows that the young Lieutenant Of DrAr
Goons was at this period deeply In love with the
daughter Of Gen. Taylor, who subsequently, BE-
camo President Of the United States. ItVas
dated at Fort Gibson, Dec. l6, 1884. Gen.
Taylor opposed the marriage OF the young people
At first, but finally consented His obiechon was
that, being soldier himself, he knew the dangers
and peFils Of the profession, and wished his
daughter. IL she married Gt all, to wed in civil
life. Very many romantic stories have bOon
published in regard 10 this first marriage OF Mr.
Davis. but. however pretty they may read,
they must be set down m untrue. II 10 said
there was an slOpemsnt, and that during long
years Gen. Taylor never spoke or held oommu-
nication with his son-in-lhW; that after brill
liant acts Of heroism in the Mexican war.
old Rough and Ready" a. Taylor
was called by his soldiers, sent for
Col. Davis, asked his forgiveness and clasDod
him TO his bosom. The pretty story 10 pure hc-
tion. Mr.. DaViH himself disposed OF 1t some
yeArs ago in this way; ~ was one Of the two
officers selected from the First Infantry for pro-
motion in the new regiment OF dragons organ
iHed in March. 1888. which separated mo from
Col Taylors regiment In 1885 I went to
Kentucky, where Miss Taylor was with her
fathers sister, his son-in-law and daughter
CDr. and Mra Wood, with many others, mem
bers Of the Taylor family" The LoohilvAr
romance was. however, utterly destroyed In
despatch to TEE WOMB from Atlanta year agO
last BOptsmboF.
The story was tho invention Of personal and
..Iiki..l .n ,-ho akrava IN UaakA mnuAAR