The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-22
MISS TELFAIR's PORTRAIT.
The dwelling at Noon To-day Mt the
iRelfair Academy


The reception at the Telfair Academy
to-day at II o'clock, on the occasion of the
unwilling of the portrait of Miss Mary
Telfair, painted by Director Carl L.
Brandt, is looked forward to with great
interest by many who are interested in
the academy, and especially the older
citizens, who have some personal recol-
lections of Miss Telfair, her interest in
Savannah and her many charitable deeds.
The reception will be public one to
which Savannahians interested are invit-
ed, and an interesting address appropri-
ate to the occasion will be delivered by
Gen. Henry R. Jackson, president of the
Georgia Historical Society, which is trus-
tee under that portion of Miss Telfair S
will relating to the TelRir Academy OF
Arts and Sciences.
Miss Telfair, whom the occasion is to
honor survived her, two sisters, Mrs.
Lamar knew her intimately, not only here,
| where she visited her frequently, but at
Saratoga and other places north, where
they frequently met. Mrs. Lamar speaks
OF MISS Telfair as a remarkably intelli-
gent, well read and travelled wo-
man, who died leaving all her
property except few requests
Augusta and in Jefferson county, where
she owned a plantation, through which
she became endeared to that section She
did this because of her charitable lncli-
nations and her affection and regard for
ana her interest in the people in these sec
tons of Georgia.
Mrs. Lamar spoke Interestingly of the
contest made over her will by distant rel
atlVeS, who endeaVored to break it, on the
ground that she was of unsound mind
when she had it drawn. Gen. A. r. Law
ton was the attorney who drew il for
her. She was a woman of very alisto-
cratic bearing, yet kindly disposed toWa I'd
all, and IL was because they knew of her
remarkably strong character, that her
friends were very much incensed at this
charge that she was not of sound mind
Her old servant George Gibbons. who
was IN anti-bellum days a slave in the Tel
Ialr FAMILY, and who from ASSOCIATION as
such and observation had imbibed much
OF the same aristocratic bearing and dig
nity OF manner, was one of the witnesses
puI up by the caveators to the will. His
only reply was when questioned about
MISS Te4fairs actions, was:
My mistress was a lady and never
mace known her affairs to her servants. :
MISS Ielfalr lived a comparatively con-
tracted life, that is she was well known
only among circle of close and intimate
trends, and yet she left requests and left
n afrn IA sue sucn manner that they Will per-
ines too, which are often spoken of by
mos. nose who knew her. she was
color which appears to-day upon the Tel
IaIr Academy, because of her wish She
left bequest to the Independent Presby
terlan church, but with the distinct rln-
dtserstanIding that it should be forfeited if
me PuiPlt IN the church is ever lowered.
Mrs. Lamar considers Mr.. Rrandt's nj
ture a speaking likeness of Miss Telfair as
she appeared before old age began to tell
on her The lines of her face were
stronger, but they have been smootbed
over IN the picture, she says, making Miss
IeIIalr appear as she did about her 65th
year. She said she was delighted with
S me plcture, and had no doubt that all who
knew Miss Telfair in life wouId a11nr ~ ~
the same opinion. The occasion of the nn mn
yeiiiHg OF the portrait to-day will nm
douptedly be an interesting one.