The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-05
THE DAVIS FAMILY ATTACKED.
A Sarcastic Onslaught on Them Made by
an Alabama Paper.

an AlQDAu1H 1hpcE.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 4.-Someth!ng Oh
sensation has been created here by the
appearance in the editorial columns oil
the Birmingham Age Herald of savage
attack on Mrs. Jefferson Davis and Miss
Winnie Davis. The Age Herald is man
aged by II. w. Barrett, formerly Speaker
Crisp's Secretary, and the onslaught on
Mrs. ard Miss Davis Is written by Mrs.
Ball. who edits the woman's department
of the paper and conducts column of
comment and criticism on the editorial
mage. The article in question il as fol-
lows:
cit is stated that Mrs Jefferson Davis
and her daughter, Miss White Davis
(who will be remembered as having been
known several years ago as the Daughter
of the Confedrracy by loyal Suufherners),
have decided tn visit the Nnsl.vilte Cen
teunial during October. The al nnunce-
ment is mate that Mrs. and Miss Davis
will be the guests of Mrs. Van Leer Kirk
man ut her handsome home near Nash
vile. These ladies low resiCe ut New
York city in the winter and Narrnngsett
Pier or some other Northern resort in the
summer, and it may be well to state that
they will be recalled without much diff
Guilty by people be low Mason aud DiXon's
line as the wife and daughter of the Presi-
dent of the Southern CoDfederacy. They
so rarely visit the South or evince any in
terest in this section, which conferred
upon their husband and father the high
est honor within its gift, that it is re-
freshing TO learn of their contemplated
visit to Nashville. 1t is to be hoped that
neither distinguished woman will he
stricken with Sudden illness, like unto
the attacks of sick ness which have so fire.
quently interfered with their previous
visits to the South.
Civilizations to Confederate reunions
have been as productive of serious inca
pacitating illness to Mrs. Varina Jeffer
son Davis and her daughter, Miss Win
ME, as exposure to typhoid or malarial
germs is to the majority of people. Their
long, uninterrupted residence in the
coolor, calmer, more congenial atmos-
phere Of New York and New England
may have restored their depleted sys-
TENS, which Mt one time could not stand
many miles of travel through the hot,
dusty, but enthusiastic South. 1T will
not he necessary t. make any elaborate
plans TOT Mrs and Miss Davis entertain
emnJ until the New York newspapers an
noupce that they have condescended to
spend a few days at Nashville.'
1t is safe to say that this is the first
time such an attack on the Davis family
mas ever appeared IN u SOU nern neWSp.-
per and it is likely to start a controversy
which will rage from end to end OF this
section. While no expression has been
given to it before, the feeling Of resent
ment az the apparent aversion of the Da-
vises to visiting the South, and their
choice of the North rs their place of per
manent residence, has long been smoul-
dering in certain quarters. The Age
1Ierald's sarcastic onslaught will proba-
bly, be echoed TO some extent, but it is
likely also to arouse fierce Indignation
among the'Inore cXtreme- admirers of the
late President Of the Confederacy, in
whose eyes his widow and daughter are
sacred and their acts beyond criticism.