Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-03-19
The MEMOIR OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Cadet, FTontiersnsrn. Indian Fight.
en-. Legislation. Soldier. and States.
Vivid Pictures Of Southern
Life Before the Wdv.-Pmtrasts q
Great Men.-Me Great Struggle
from the Southern iStandpoint.-M.
DGuis's Character as Man aud q
Leader.
BEDFORD COMPANY. of New York,
have just issued jefferson Davis. Elk.
President of the Confederate States.
A Memoir, by His Wife," in two
large octave volumes of more than
1900 pages. literally illustrated.
For q considerable time Mr.. Davis
had meditated an photographed
work which should not only give TO
the world the salient facts of his per.
sonal history, but should also include
his public acts both under the FEEDER.
al Government and under the Con.
federacy, as well a. his correspon.
dence. documents, relations with the
celebrated personages of the country.
and the beliefs and principles which
guided him az the President of the
seeding States during the four years
struggle. After he had collected q
vast quantity Of memoranda and had
written many important sections, but
before he had arranged any portion
of his work as he intended, he was
suddenly cut off by death. His wife
had, however, during her many years
of close union with him. become so
thoroughly acquainted with bis whole
history, his ideas, and aims, and had
aided him so far in the projected work
that she was enabled to take up the
pen where her husband had dropped
it and continue the volumes TO COM
pletion.
This book is written with candor,
esrnestnsss and force; with = desire
to avoid offence. and yet with a rigid
insistsnce upon fact /; uneparing. and
yet without bias. tits. in reality, the
first authentic voice with which the
South has yet spoken-the voice of
its leader, claiming to be heard and
judged as be was. and for what he
did to receive the verdict of to-day
and'of posterity. Whatever opinion
may be held-upon the principles in.
volved, there can be no question of
the perfect fairness. and scrupulous
justice Of these remarkable volumes
"As to the plan of the work." says
Mrs. Davis. Vol. l., p. 2. 81 shall en-
deavor, as far as possible. to make the
book an autobiography-to tell the
story Of my husbands life in his own
words; to complete the task he left
unfinished"
Speaking of his birth and ancestry.
Mr.. Davis says. Vol. I. p. 5:
my parents lived near Augusta.
Ga, where they had q farm. on which
they resided until after the birth Of
several children. when they moved to
what was then known as the Green
River country in the southwestern
part of Kentucky. There my father
engaged in tobacco planting and rails
ing blooded horses, Of which he had
some Of the finest in the country"
The following anecdots of Senator
David R. Atchison is in Mr.. Davis
own words, Vol. l.. p 25:
"Among my college mates in Trans
sylvania was tall country boy, true.
hearted and honest, with many vir.
tues, but without grace or tact.
The sight Of him always seemed to
suggest to Mr.. Bishop the question Of
the Catechism. Who made ye, Dau.
vid z to which Atchisou always an.
swered. 'Gaud.' and Mr.. Bishop in.
variab.y responded. Quite right,
David; quite right ] left him in
the college when / went to West
Point, and afterward, when / met
him in the United States Senate, 10
which be was one of the Ser ators
from Missouri. my first greeting was,
who made ye, David 2"
The story of Mr.. Davis's career az
q soldier in the Indian wars Of the
period is full of interest. On one &C.
casion it was only his quickness and
fertility of resource that saved him.
self and party from torture and death
Vol. I. p. 60:
"They would have been captured
had not Lieutenant Davis thought Of
rigging up q sail with one Of their
blankets. Fortunately the wind wa,
in their favor, but it was very bois.
ferrous. As it was choice between
certain death by the hands of the In.
diane or possible death by drowning
they awaited themselves of the slen.
der chance left and escaped. Thu.
was one among many instances of Mr.
Davis's fertility of resources when q
sudden exigency arose.