The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-10
JEFF DAVIS'S FAMILY ATTACKED.
Sarcastic Onslaught on them by Birming-
ham Ago-Herald.
[New York Tribune

New York Tribune.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 1.-Something
of sensation has been created here
by the appearance in the editorial
columns of the Birmingham Age
Herald of savage attack on Mrs.
Jefferson Davis and Miss Winnie
Davis. The Age Herald is managed
by e. w. Barrett, formerly Speaker
Crisp's secretary, and the on slaught
on Mrs. and Miss Davis is written by
Mrs. Ball, who edits the woman's de-
partment of the paper and conducts
q column of comment and criticism
on the editorial page. The article
in question is as follows:
"It is stated that Mrs. jefferson
Davis and her daughter, Miss win
ME Davis (who will be remembered
as having been known several years
ago as the Daughter of the Confed-
eracy by loyal southerners), have
decided to visit the Nashville Con-
tennial during October. The an
nouncement is made that Mrs. and
Miss Davis will be the guests of Mrs
| Van Leer Kirkman Mt her handsome
home near Nashville. These ladies
now reside at New York city in the
winter and Narragansett Pier or
some other northern resort in the
summer, and it may be we'll to state
that they will be recalled without
much difficulty by people below
Mason and Dixon's line as the wife
and daughter of the president of the
Southern Confederacy. They 80
rarely visit the south or evince any
interest in this section, which con-
ferred upon their husband and father
the highest honor within its gift,
that it is refreshing to learn of their
contemplated visit to Nashville. 1t
is to be hoped that neither distin-
guished woman will be stricken with
sudden illness, like unto the attacks
of sickness which have 80 frequently
interferod with their previous visits
to tho south.
"Invitations to Confederate re-
unions have been as productive of
serious, incapacitatlpg illness to Mrs.
Varina Jefferson Davis and her
daughter, Miss Winnie, exposure
to typhoid or malarial germs is to
the majority of people. Their long,
uninterrupted residence in the cooler,
calmer, moro congenial atmosphere
Of Now York and New England may
have restored their depleted Systems,
which at one time could not stand
many miles of travel through the
hot, dusty, but enthusiastic south.
1t will not be necessary to make any
elaborate plans for Mrs. and Miss
Davis entertainment until the New
York newspapers announce that they
have condescended to spend few
days at Nashville"
1t Is safe to say that this Is the
first time such an attack on the
Davis family has ever appeared in q
southern newspaper, and 1t is likely
to start controversy which will rage
from end to end of this section.
While no expression has been given
to it before, the feeling Of the resent
mont at the apparent aversion Of the
Davises to visiting the south and
their choice of tho north as their
place of permanent residence has
long boon smouldering in certain
quarters. The Age, Herald's sarcas-
tic onslaught will probably be echoed
to some extent, but it is likely also
to arouse ferce indignation among
tho moro extreme admirers Of the
late president Of tho Confederacy, in
whose eyes his widow and daughter
are sacred and their acts beyond
criticism.