The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-17
NOTHING FOR MRS. DAVIS
VET Mr.. DAVIS MEMOIRS HAVE
EARNED $4,000.

to Add to the Greatly Needed
Earcily Income-HVen More Trouble
with Her Pub ishers Than Ward
McAIlister Fad With His
From the NetU York World.
When it became known that Mrs. Jeffer-
son Davis contemplated the preparation
and publication of her husbands memoirs
s1e was besieged by publishers. 1t was evil
dan+ that such a work would find wide
sale. especially in the south, which had
done Mr.. Davis so much honor in life. Her
nurpose was commented upon by the news
,onsrs. Those in the south were unstinted
in praise of the project and predicted phe-
nou1enal sale of the book. The north also
was interested. Its politicians and men Of
affairs expressed a desire to read the
memoirs of one who had been the center Of
such tremendous agitation. Seldom had
hook been given wider publicity before its
literal inception. So great financial results
from its sale seemed to be assured.
From ex-Gov. Hoadley, Mrs. Davis
counsel in this city, it is learned that Mrs.
Davis had conferred with numbers of those
whose political and personal relationship
with Mr.. Davis made their comments valu-
able There were offers of materials and
suggestions valuable for book OF such
Dersonal nature. There were interesting
additions to the great mass of matter which
the confederate ex-president had left. Liv-
ing TO a ripe old age, in a measure OF re-
tiremeIt. Mr. Davis had done vast amount
of literary work. Besides the extea-
sive research and compilation Of his history
of the late civil conflict the aged statesman
looked ahead and carefully gathered mate
rial Of a more or less personal nature which
pertained to his long and active political
life. This,was selected and annotated with
care and wisdom, 80 that its uss when the
time came should be pertinent and valuable.
In all this Mrs. Davis was constant adviser
and Inspiration.
The collaboration was but another evil
dence of the unity of purpose and tastes
which had married. the long and prominent
career of this husband and wife. Mrs.
Davis, by natural aptitude and culture, was
Especially fitted for the work. She kept
herself thoroughly informed Of the course
of her husbands labors. When he died,
nearly two years ago, there was as little
Earring in the continuity of literary effort
as there could have been. Jefferson Davis
other SELF took up his fallen pom.
Struggling under the financial universities
which had been Mr.. Davis lot since his
became intensified, Mrs. Davis bent TO her
toll. Besides the personal interest in the
political sentiments that formed the back
ground Of these memoirs, there was the
added inspiration of marital devotion to
make them perfect and worthy of their GEN.
Davis death, the wife was dill
This old southern manor house, pre-
sented to the ex-president OF the contedsr-
Rcy by a Mississippi woman of means, is
close by the shores of the Gulf OF Mexico
and the quiet little town OF Beauvoir.
Tropical waters wash the shores OF the
Davis grounds. With the old family serv-
auts Mrs. Davis and Miss Winnie Davis,
tae Daughter of the Confederacy," spent
the winter months prior to March, 1890.
Wien she had her material and plans we'll
in hand she came to New York
Flettering offers had been made to her
unsolicited, and the generous response Of
people and press when her Intentions were
made known gave Mrs. Davis much en-
couregement Means of support in comport
with her former life and standing seemed
assured. Already Mrs. Davis had COM
municated with the late James Redpath,
upon whose literary advice and experienced
assistance she depended for final assistance
in the work. Prof. Redpath had, as a
trained writer, assisted Mrs. Davis.
MIb. D6Vls anu Miss ObVlS IlduS buelT
home at the New York hotel. Mrs. Davis
conferred With q number of leading pub
lishers regarding terms and planL Among
the most urgent for the profitable employ
ment was Robert Belford, at that time
president of the Belford company and sup
posed to be connected with Belford Clarke
d Co., of Chicago. Mr. Belford was assur
Ing In his predictions OF success for the pro-
posed book. Edward LANCE was then a
EtOnk HOLIDAY nd Y1rOnaincnt diraCfnr in tho
Beltord company. He is now con-
nected with the Trow Printing Com
paGy. He urged Mrs. Davis to make a
contract with Mr. Belford, Offering as an
lnducement to guarantee her $40, 900 hqui-
dated damages for its ful6llment. This
was supplemented by glittering promises of
workmanship. Especially, Mrs. Davis says,
did he urge the publishers ability and in
tsntions to make thorough canvass Of the
southern states, where it was expected to
sell the bulk Of the books. Accordingly
Mrs. Davis signed a contract with Mr.. Bel
ford March 4, 1890. 1t is short and clear in
It's conditions
This contract provided that Robert Bel
ford should undertake the publication of
Two volumes, aggreRating 800 pages. TO be
entitled jefferson Davis, ex-Presldent OF
the Confederate States; Memoir by His
Wife" Mr.. Bedford ngreed to pay all the
expenses of printing, engraving, binding
and distributing the work, including such
sums to Mr.. Redpath and associates as
should be agreed upon. Mrs. Davis was
relieved of every expense incidental to the
publication. She was TO furnish the
matter and approve Of all illustra-
tions and preparation. 1t was agreed
that The volumes, variouSly bound,
should be sold as follows Cloth. IS;
half Russian, IS; half Morocco, $3.50; full
Morocco, SD. A royalty of 1919 per cent.
upon this selling urice was agreed to be
paid to Mrs, Verina jefferson Davis, who
shonld own the copyright OF the work.
every three months accounts were to be
made up, statements furnished and pay
ments made" 20 Mrs Davis The contract
was TO terminate in six years. IL was wit
messed by Charles Lotin Hidreth and H. d.
Alexander. Edward Lang guaranteed the
contract agreeing 10 pay $4,000 liQuidated
damages
From her meager resources Mrs. Davis
mad been living modestly in the wear pre-
cedlng March 4, 1891, when the publication
was announced. It had been 3 year of con-
slant toll but little of the time having been
spent away from her desk and her publish
ers. Ihe memoirs were as warmly received
as Mrs Davis had been led to expect. In the
hrSt hush that was natural. Her publishers
assured Mrs. Davis that they were pushing
the DOCK to its utmost, admitting that the
most merltorlous works need energetic
handling. Mrs. Davis expectations of
large financial return was kept buoyant
sntii the date of the first settlement, June 4,
approached. Mr.. Bedford had assigned his
sfra e. 4. IL - u.