Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-06-06
BACKED BY THOUSANDS.
Application Of Carrie K. Smith for
the Sewanee, Tenn, Postoffice.

tno beWanee, Ienn., foStOmCe'
Two months ago Postmaster-Gen-
eral Bissell, on opening his mail in
the Postal Department at Washington,
came across a modest sheet of linen
note paper bearing the simple sigua-
ture of Carrie Kirby Smith, and ask
ing to be appointed postmistress at
Sewanee, Tenn. The delicate missive,
couched in modest terms and written
by woman's weak and trembling
hand, bore the unmistakable impress
of outward culture and innate refine
ment. The petition modestly fore
bore to set forth the usually attendant
reasons for the applicants appoint
ment and was wholly devoid Of en-
dorsement, merely stating the request,
and as a measure of Identification,
stating that the signer was a daughter
of Gen, E. Kirby Smith, late Of Sewa-
nee, Tenn.
This particular document claimed
for one moment the attention of the
Postmaster General and then in the
rush of his multifarious duties as the
official head of a great department, it
was laid aside to find its way into an
obscure pigeonhole, there to remain,
without accidental Intervention, until
a new chief should order a general
out of accumulated corre-
spondence no longer of moment. But,
thanks to the ever watchful eye, in
Whose divine providence is noted the
sparrow's fall, that Intervention has
been brought about in the following
The fair applicant kept what she
h ad done secret for three weeks,
when, having grown accustomed to
her disappointment at receiving no re-
ply, she told some how she had dared
to ask to distribute the mail to the Co
vites about the mountain station and
to the students of the University of
the South, who call at Sewanee post
Office for their letters. Thus her Sc
cret became known, and now two
generations are watching for her ap-
pointment--that which made its rec
ord along with Kirby Smith, and an
other which has grown up with his
daughter on the Cumberland plateau.
When General Shoup, the Indiana
now occupying the
chair of applied mathematics at the
Sewanee University, heard that Kirby
Smiths "war baby" wanted an Office,
he swore by all the Union and Con-
federate soldiers at once that she
should have the place. "We'll put
her in If we have to call out regi-
ment Of war veterans to do it," he
said, and this has literally come to
pass. From the Confederate Surviv-
ors' Association at Nashville the hum
BILE application was made known
throughout the south and finally
reached the Grand Army Of the Re-
public posts in the north. The fact
that brave soldier and distinguished
general had died, leaving his family
poor, and that his daughter now came
forward seeking to aid in their sup
port, was all that was necessary to
elicit the enthusiasm Of both sides.
Letters poured in upon Mr.. Bissell un-
til that bit of scented paper became
the center of vast pile of documents
bearing the most famous names in the
country. With scarcely an exception
every Federal officer now living who
has fought against Kirby Smith has
made personal appeal for his daugh-
ter. Soldiers of Bull Run and Manas-
sas scrawl out letters of recommends
ton, while the Cove people in the
added their testimonials to
the worth Of Kirby Smiths daughter
in characteristic dialect, such as Is
found in Craddock's stories of the
hills. The students Of the institution
where the general had so long taught
sent their endorsement,
couched in elegant diction and sopho-
moric phrases.
Thus the simple prayer of woman
has become proud demand, and that
which was backed by the weak power
of woman's hand now has nations
strong support. Tho appointment, it
appears, belongs to the President, and
no one believes for an instant that
Grover Cleveland will ignore this well
nigh universal appeal. Hence the ap-
pointment Of Gen. Il. Kirby Smiths
daughter as postmistress at Sewanee,
Tenn, is almost an assured fact.