The sun., 1891-03-15

10 the minor detaiis-or In diotadnR letters to
his constituents: and many were the jests and
anecdotes he interpreted for my amusement
throughout this otherwise dull work" This 10
ono Of many rsminiscsncss which enable us
TO understand the rare qualifications exhibited
by Mrs. Davis for the composition OF this me-
molr. ThrouRhout her married llfo she was
her husbands insspsrable companion.
II is we'll known that. upon the assumption
OF the Presidency BY Franklin Pierce. the ofiics
Of Secretary Of War was offered to Mr.. Davis
and accepted. 1t Is an Interesting fact that
not single change took place In Mr.. Pierce's
Cabinet during the four years Of his Adminis-
tration. Among the services rendered by Mr..
Davis in the War once the following particu-
larly deserve to be recalled: Ho revised the
system Of tactics. and eent an accomplished
soldier. aftsiward Gen. Hardee OF tho Confed-
crate service. to Paris. that he might study the
best mode OF doing so He lent his powerful
Aid to tho perfectin0 OF q signal corps: liked
four years as the time for the frontier service
OF officers. thus making rotation the rule and
leaving them independent OF ofiiclal favor ut
headauarters. He sold the military resarva-
tions not needed for the uses OF tho United
States, and thus rendered great service to the
States In which they were eitnated. besides
turning much money into the Federal Treas
uryn We should add that Mr.. Davis. foresee-
ing frequent interruptions By Ice and snow to
railway trains running to tho Pacific coast
on the contemplated northern route. sketched
out and had surveyed . southern route very
nearly coincident with that subsequently
adopted. Finally. he gave euch valuable sug-
restions to the workmen at Colts Armory that
they m sde him . pistol on,the silver brooch OF
which they engraved the words. To brother
inventor"
Mrs. Davis devotes delightful chapter to
the social relations Of Mr.. Plerce's Cabinet.
We reproduce some OF her recollections OF peo-
ple interesting In themselves or By reason OF
their public careers. She notes. for instance.
that Mr.. and Mrs Charles King OF Columbia
College spent winter In Washington. and
Mrs. King remains an ideal old lady to me. her
accomplishments were so varied. and her judg-
mont. breeding. and temper were 30 perfect"
Mr.. Edward Everett. she tells us. also spent
winter there. o man whom to know was to ad-
mirs, for his social graces were in excess even
of his oratory." For another Massachusetts
statesman she had less admiration: "One Of
tho men OF mark at this time was Mr.. Charles
Sumner. He was . handsome. unpleasinR
man. and an athlete whose phS Ssique proclaim
cd physical strength. His conversation was
studied. but brilliant; his manner doferential
only - matter Of social policy: consequently
he never inspired the women to whom he was
attentive with the pleasant consciousness OF
possessing his regard or esteem. He was. un-
I'll the fracas with Mr.. Brooks. fond OF talking
to Southern women, and prepared himself with
great care for these conversational pyrotech-
MICS ip,which. as well as remember. thore was
much Greek fire. and tho set pieces were nu.
merouA"
We have followed this memoir to the point at
which secession was impending. In final
notice We shall indicate the position assumed
by Mr.. Davis in the closing years Of Buohan-
ans Administration. and review briefly the cul.
mination OF his political career in the post OF
President Of the Confederate States.
M, W, II.