The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-21
THE JEFF DAVIS MONUMENT.
sAVANNAHIANs CONTRIBUTED FOR
BUILDING 1T.

The Monument Association Has Not
Forfeited Its Charter as Reported
Gossip From the Saskatchewan
Sailors Call to See Their Fellow
COuntryman, Jacob Franck, the
Misunderstanding Scene in the
Prisoners Cell.
1.-The report from Richmond to the eff
feet that the Jefferson Davis Monument
Association had forfeited its charter seems
TO have some motive behind it," said
prominent confederate veteran of Savan-
nah yesterday.
IT don't know where the report could
have originated he added, 'but the cause
of the forfeiture as named in the newspa-
per dispatches was of itself enough to
show that something was up, as it was sim
ply stated that the association had for
feited its charter by not having held an
annual meeting and elected officers. This
is veriest nonsense. The Jefferson Davis
Monument Association is an organization
which has always been unwieldly for the
reason that its interests lie in every state
from Virginia to Texas. 1t was organ
lied for the purpose of raising funds to
build monument to the chieftain of the
confederacy and thousands of dollars have
already been raised for this purpose and
the design of the monument was accepted
at the annual meeting of the confederate
veterans in their reunion at Richmond a
year ago. Since that time the work has
gone steadily on in all the states, raising
money for the completion of the fund.
IF
is in hand, but 1 know that a considerable
amount was turned over to the association
from the state Of Georgia, and that Savan
nah people contributed to the fund.
Il know that the association has not
forfeited its charter by reason of any
failure to meet, for the interests of the
organization have been kept steadily alive
and the work is going to be completed.
whether this association gives up its char
ter or not.
The monument to jefferson Davis will
be built to certainty. Confederate vet
Grams everywhere will see to that We
have handsome shaft to Robert E. Lee
on one of the towering hills of Richmond
and we are going TO have one to Davis.
That is one thing that can be nut down
as certain and sure. Much of the money
is already in hand, and the veterans, sup
ported by their friends will raise the
rest that is needed"
The unfortunate predicament into which
tAo park and tree commission has been
plunged presents an issue as much alive
as the grass, which is growing knee-high
all over the green swards of the city, and
surely this is saying much for the grass
under the environment of fresh rain wa,
ter and warm weather is very much alive
Inc excellent crop of hay the gentle
n he Aaplr oga1
through no fault of their own, growing in
the city Is the envy Of every farmers
eye. as he drives in from the country. and
II the growth continues much longer the
luXuriant verdure will present a scene so
enchanting that Titania will no doubt.
transfer her abode from the jungling lily
fields of fairyland and will come and
abide right here in Savannah, bringing
with her all the rest of the little fairies
for there is room for them ALL and a blade
OF grass for every little wood-nymph to
sit upon and sip dew-drops throughout the
night.
One solution of the grass problem might
be for the city council to allow every
owner of a horse or cow to turn them
loose for Craze. Keeping a horse would
be so cheap then, however, that the bicy-
Gle business might suffer, and this would
bring on more talk. The problem, really.
is growing serious.
The closing paragraph in the article on
the park and tree commission in yester-
days Morning News, in which it was stated
that mayor Meidrim seemed to enjoy the
discontinue of the park and tree COM
mission" may have given the impression
that Mayor Meldrim did not feel kindly
towards the commission. So far from being
the case Mayor Meldrim spoke very pleas
antly of the commission and the tone of
his conversation was favorable rather than
otherwise. He did not commit himself,
however, but changed the subject with
some humorous comment upon the plight
in which such respectable body of gentle
men had gotten themselves.
Jacob Franck, the lunatic, stood In his
cell at the county JAIL a tall, slender,
bright-faced fellow, with an abundance
of dark hair and large kind blue eyes
He was in one of his peaceful moods
which come to him sometimes. In these
moods he ceases raving and is as harmless
and as quiet as an infant. He stood there
looking out upon his visitors
who were sailors from a German vessel
now in port in Savannah, who had read
in the Morning News of the sad case of
their fellow countryman and fellow sailor
and had gone to see him. One of them
thought that If ne would speak to him in
their mother tongue and talk about the
sea 1t might open up a field of thought
that would be divertng to the mad man.
Don't you want to go homer" he asked
''No. don't care to leave my good old
father here" said the lunatic, pointing to
the keeper Of the ward in the jail.
but. don't you want to go back to
Germany, your real home, AGAIN." asked
his compatriot.
There was a moments silence. Franck
looked down for a while as if In deep
thought. Then his face frightened, as he
looked up, and there was a sad, sweet
smile on his face. But he said nothing.
They are raising money to send you
back to Germany" continued the sailor
from their native land; come, tell me,
don't you want 20 leave this placer"
Franck looked about him, and the ex-
preston of desperation and sorrow once
more clouded his brow. and staggering
back, he muttered: Me go back home
me2 All, my friend. / have no home"
The words from the lunatcs lips were
too true. He has been confined in Ameri-
can prisons and asylums now for a long
time an object OF charity, while his own
government repeatedly refused 20 repatri-
ate him. He came here as sailor aboard