The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-14

I surprising.
But greater pleasure than bein
In those foreign countries with hir
was accorded me when he visite
Texas,n the intimete friend OF tn
dead Confederate President said. .
will tell you about that joyful time,
he added. "From the day Mr.. Davi
was relieved from prison by the Unite'
States government the people of ~exa
were solicitious to have him pay then
d visit They We're not moved by idl
curiosity they were anxious to shoW
the love and respect they bore him
This kindly feeling and respect wa
reciprOcated by him. He knew then
as brave soldiers in the early settle
ment of the republic, he had witnessed
the United States and Mexico, ant
later in the war between the States
and thus drawn towards them he in
variably replied to their solicitations
that as soon as q favorable opportunity
offered he would visit the people he
had ever held In such high regard
Finally, In May, 1875, o committee o.
citizens invited him to visit the State
during the fair at Houston. The reply
received from him was charac
teristic one. He came on short notice
to the committee. He was received al
Galveston with marked respect and
attention, although he arrived on Sun
day and attended divine service during
the day Thenextmorningh he proceed
ed to Houston. The notice of his coming
was very short, but thousands thronged
the CITY to meet him, and never was
an arrival marked by stronger demon
strations of love and affection from q
people. His address at tho fair grounds
captured his hearers, old and young.
The association OF veterans of the
Texas Revolution we're present. He
spoke to them especially, and the old
men grew wild at his magnificent tri-
butte paid to them as he enumerated
the wonderful results they had achiev-
ed in giving to the country the great
State of exas. A very touching in
cident occurred while he was in that
city. The Survivors of the Davis
Guard, a accompany composed entirely
of Irishmen, desired to call on him in
a body. He accorded them an inter
view. was present with few other
citizens. 1t was q scene never to be
forgotten. He made them q short
speech in which he referred to their
brave conduct in defense of their
adopted State. That gallant band of
warm hearts and strong arms each
and every one, shook the hand of their
as they called him, and not
q dry eye was there among all those
sturdy men as they parted from him.
fhis company, my friends" Governor
Lubbock continued, "of forty-two men,
is mentioned in Davis Rise and Fall
of the Confederate States as having
performed one of the greatest fcats
during the entire war, resulting in
saving Texas from invasion and prob
ably devastation.
The people were sorry to part
with him, but he had to journey on.
In passing through the country to
Austin, at every town and station the
citizens assembled in great numbers,
and as he would appear upon the plat
form of the car in response to their
calls, great cheering and hearty
greeting cams from au admiring peo-
Pile. The train was behind time in
reaching here. 1t was raining, but
men, women and children stood where
they had been for hours. They had
torchlights and waited for
the train that they might obtain
glimpse of the grand man. He was
received by the military and escorted
to his quarters, where he was met by
the Governor of the State and others.
The next day thousan nds of men,
and children called to shake
his hand and tell him how they honored
and loved him. While here at the
capita! Of Texas he had every attention
hat could be shown him. His recep-
lion here will never be forgotten, even
by the little children that took part in
It. The people having heard of his
coming, his trip from Austin to Dallas
was like triumphal march. Never
before or since has such an outpouring
Of people been witnessed in our State.
Arriving at Dallas he vas received by
the military, the civic associations and
an immense cOncOurse of people, and
his stay while in that city was one con-
tinued ovation. Mr.. Davis found 1t
necessary from constant excitement
and fatigue to decline mum berless in
vitations to visit different sections of
Texas, and returned home from Dallas.
He was accorded the same attention as
he passed through the S cate returning
home. After he passed the borders of
the State he was quite exhausted from
his extended travel aud handshaking.
The trip made q lasting impression on
him. He loved to dwell on his visit to
the Lone Star State, and the welcome
he received while here. 1t was the
frat really grand ovation that had
been given him after the surrender of
the armies OF the Confederate States,
and he was treated rather as a victo-
riOus general passing through the
country On q triumphal march, after
winning great battles, than disfran-
chised citizen, the representative of q
lost cause, with no enoluments or
gifts to bcstow, nothing being left him
but his honor, his great brain and his
true and noble heart beating and
hoping for the prosperity and happi-
ness of his people. My heart beats
proudly when think, my friends, our
State should be the first to publicly
honor the man."
Thus spoke the man who, when the
announcement of Jefferson Davis's
death was made, standing In the grand
rotunda OF the Texas State capitol,
said: Jefferson Davis dead the en-
bodiment of patriotism, the true
soldier, the intelligent statesman, the
ripe scholar, the refined gentleman
and above all, the earnest follower OF
Christ. He Is not dead, though he be
laid In the tomb, for he lives In our
hearts, and he will ever live in the
hearts OF our children"
One of the most patriotic incidents
happened at the last ex-Confederate
reunion held at Houston. The daugh
ter OF the Confederacy, Miss Winnie
Davis, was present. Governor Lub
book, knowing her when an infant
repaired to the place where the now
charming and talented woman was
When he was ushered into her pre-
sence, breaking down, he wept fol
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