The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-15
MIR. DAVIS GRAVE.

L
Richmond as the place Of final sepulture OF
the remains of her distinguished husband, the
question Of most interest TO the public mind
is where shall the final resting-place be
locatedf" Soon after the death of the ex-
| President OF the Confederacy the ladies OFT
| Hollywood Memorial Association OK this
city held meeting and resolved
to ask Mrs. Davis to give to them the
care of the sacred dust Of her husband. At
that time il was suggested by them that II she
| consented, the body be inferred within the
building occupied by Mr. Davis while he was
| President of tho Confederate States, and that
over it an appropriate mausoleum be erected.
A letter containing this suggestion was sent
TO Mrs. Davis. but it is thought 1t must
have miscarried, rs no answer to it was re-
ceived. After Mrs Davis went TO New York.
however, it was again suggested that CON-
mittee of ladies be appointed to visit her per-
sonally and converse with her on this subject.
but it was afterwards decided that it was best
that this should not be done but that instead. a
friend in New York be written to with the re.
quest that she breach the subject to Mrs.
Davis. This was accordingly done and Mrs.
Davis at once said that during the life Of her
husband he had always expressed the great
est aversion to being buried in any
building He had, on one occasion,
when visiting st. Paul's Cathedral. said that
he thought that in depositing the body OF the
Duke of Wellington there great mistake had
been made. and that as for himself he wished
to be laid TO rest under the blue sky" 1t
was then suggested, in accordance with let
ter subsequently written TO this lady by the
ladies of the Memorial Association. that
the grave of Thorwaldsen was in the
yard in the rear of his dwelling house in
Copenhagen. and that it might meet Mrs
Davis approval If the grounds in rear of the
Davis Mansion be selected as the burial place
Of her husband. This seemed greatly to
please Mrs Davis. mainly for the reason that
when she died she could be laid to rest beside
her honored dead
When the committee Of citizens recently
appointed by the meeting held at the Cham
Der of Commerce visited Mrs. Davis for the
purpose of urging her TO consent that her
husbands remains be brought to Richmond.
she expressed pretty much the same views.
She remembered that few months before
Mr. Davis was attacked by his last illness, a
delegation Of Missssippians called on him at
Beauvoir, and told him that he was
aware that in his advanced age he could not
live many years longer, and they wished to
get his own consent before he died to being |
buried in the State House at Jackson He re-
piled that it was a matter of perfect indiIer- |
ence to him where he was buried. but that |
he had the greatest objection ever to be
placed in crypt within an ediice. He did not |
care for the spot in which he was laid to rest if
it was only under the blue canopy of heaven
She then said that if the grounds in the rear
of The old house in Richmond were selected,
they would be acceptable to her as they
would also provide fitting place of inter
ment for herself after she had passed away.
From these expressions Of Mrs. Davis to
the ladies of the Hollywood Memorial Asso-
ation-who, with their usual forethought
and tenderness Of heart, were the first to
suggest Richmond as the place most suitable
for the final sepulture of the dust Of the dis
iinguished Southern leader-and afterwards
to the citizens committee, it is very
evident that interment in the grounds in
rear of the mansion on Clay street would be
more agreeable to her than any other arrange
ment which could be made, and there is
where Mr.. Davis remains will almost GER
tanly be deposited. There they can forever
rest, not only, as he desired. under the blue
sky. but under the shadow of the
historic mansion which was the scene Of
.he most notable event of his life. and
where he spent 50 many hours of happiness
and so very many of bitter grief happiness
when the arms Of the South were crowned
with victory, and the cause in which his
whole being was so devotedly engrossed
ooked bright and prosperous. and sorrow
when the South, overwhelmed by the horde Of
enemies marshalled against her. was forced
o trail her flag. Here is the spot of all spots
most fitting that Jefferson Davis should lie
Until the last trump shall sound and he who
leeps in death shall rise to an immortal and
Jlissful resurrection.