The Washington critic., 1890-04-16
BLUE AND GRAY UNITED
THE DAUGHTER OF THE coNFED-
ERACY" TO WE'D.

uonBm--A KomAntic Courtshtp-
No Date for the Marriage Set Yet.
New York, April 1G.--A special
IN to-day's Herald from Its Syracuse
correspondent says: verified report
OF very interesting nature which has
materialized into fact of great signif.
canoe, and cannot fail to attract the
widest attention in both Europe and
America. In word, II is the cro%ning
event of the great rebellion. 1t is
nothing more nor less than the an
nouncement made TO very intimate
friends here of the marriage of Miss
Winnie Davis, the eldest daughter of
Jefferson Davis, the late President of
the Southern Confederacy, to Mr.. AL.
fred Wilkinson of this city, the grand
son Of Samuel j. May, the great aboli-
tionist leader.
Dame rumor has for long time past
whispered of the possibility of such an
event coming to pass, but It was only
when Mr.. Wilkinson returned from
Europe few weeks ago that the rumor
began to assume tangible shape, and it
was only within day or two ago that
one of Mr.. Mays bosom friends was
npprised of the engagement.
The event is of more than ordinary
significance owing to its bearing on the
birth and fall of the rebellion. This
marriage, when accomplished, will
unite two families who have been here
tofore the most implacable political
foes, and to whose efforts the fierceness
and fervor of the rebellion are largely
due.
The life of Miss Davis is too well
known to be repeated here, but the
story of Mr.. Wilkinson's parentage is
comparatively unknown. lie is a son
Of John Wilkinson, very prominent
figure in local history, and the grand
son of Rev SamuelJ. May. The name
Of the Rev. Mr.. May is one of the
bright gems in the abolition sky, for he
was the pioneer, with Garrison, Emer-
son, Phillips and Longfellow, in the
great work for the abolition of slavery.
Not only in the United States, but In
Europe also, did he fight for the aboli-
tion cause. In Great Britain especially
Mr.. May lectured upon slavery to large
audiencies After his removal to SYRIA
cuse Mr.. May continued to be very
active and prominent in promoting the
anti-slavery reform. He soon became
known far and wide as fearless and
uncompromising abolitionist. Hun
dreds of men, women and children,
fleeing from bondage and bound for
Canada, came to him for protection
and help and they never came in vain.
He assisted many to escape. among
them being the celebrated Jerry Nc
Henry, whose liberation created such
sensation, the anniversary of which was
celebrated for several years.
AS the meetings of the abolitionists
shortly before the declaration of war
other cities, the Mayor of Syracuse
earnestly requested Mr.. May to prevent
the holding of meeting here lest IL
should provoke riot Twenty of the
most influential gentlemen of Syracuse,
nearly half of whom were his parish
toner's, addressed a letter to Mr.. May
telling him that they were creditably
informed that organized and forcible
efforts to prevent the holding of the
abolition convention would be made.
Probably this was one of the severest
tests to which Mr.. Nays loyalty to his
IL
Before the hour appointed for the con-
vention. rioters took possession of the
hall which Mr.. May had hired for the
convention, and he was roughly used.
the meeting being prevented, and Mr..
May was burned in effigy in Hanover
Square.
1t was not long afterward that the
firing upon Fort Sumter put an end to
such proceedings in the free States. 1t
Is this mans grandson who Is to wed
the Daughter of the Confederacy."
The story of the courtship Is most
romantic. Miss Winnie Davis came
North some four years ago to visit DR..
Thomas Emory, of the firm of d. Nc.
Carthy & Co. of this city. 1t was her
first visit to this old abolitionist strong
hold, and she was consequently quite
anxious to meet the society Of Syra-
cuse. At one of the receptions given
in her honor she was introduced to Mr.
Alfred Wilkinson. 1t will be remem-
bered that Miss Winnie received O very
cool reception in one or two houses here,
and this treatment of the Daughter of
the Confederacy'' is said to have
brought her and Mr.. Wilkinson in very
close relations. He resented the cool.
ness shown her and gallantly cham
pioned her cause. The friendship thus
engendered between them blossomed
into love in due time. Miss Winnie
later on went TO Europe with q cousin
of hers. and is still there.
Mr.. Wilkinson some two months ago
crossed the ocean to see Mi, 5 Davis and
spent several weeks with her sightsee-
ing on the Continent and pressing his
suit. When he returned they were be-
trothed. So
Mr.. Wilkinson is bright and prom
Using young lawyer here, about 90 years
Of age. His law partner Is Mr.. Albert
Hey, Their business is almost entirely
confined to patent cases. Their income
is quite fair, but Mr.. Wilkinson Is not
rich man. 1t is love match. The
young man, however, moves in the very
best society here and stands high in the
estimation of the community.
The actual time for the wedding has
not been set, but it is understood that
the date will be in the near future. II
Is vaguely limited that there is no very
remote connection between the Euro
pean trip and the wedding trousseau.
have been apprised of the coming we'd
ding is not known, but II is believed
that some of them at least are still In
blissful ignorance of the affair. Among
the few friends of Mr.. Wilkinson here
who know that the wedding is an as
Sured fact there is the greatest surprise
That the representative children of the
North and South should thus come to
gether is to them like the reputed lovC
of God Surprising all understand
ing"