Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-30
Winnie Davis, "Tbe Daughter OF the
Confederacy."

To the Editor or the DISPATCH
The title. The Daughter Of the con-
federacy," was bestowed upon Miss Davis
in 1886, when her father made his FAMOUS
trip throughout the South. Exhausted py
the long and exacting DEMANDS HhauS
upon him during this tour, ne louhu
himself unable 10 appear TO answer a can
by the crowd at one Of the way stations,
when General Gordon, In whose ShaIso
Mr.. Davis was travelling, presented MN
self on the rear platform Oh the S"l al,
closely followed by Miss Winnie ana Oh
making his apology for Mr.. DAVIS III
ability to appear in person to greet MS
friends the General drew MISS Jaws W
him, and throwing his arms alouhu neI'
said that "in the absence Oh the Ia. ~
he begged to present the daughleIL lhc
Daughter of the Confederacy anu from
that hour as such she was hho"h "HN
Welcomed everywhere. A.,
Southern born and southern bred, the
daughter of a distinguished tatncr tmh ,,in
all the world acknowledged as one VI th0
most brilliant sons of American pIOuuC
ton. whose genius courage, and honest
convictions led him to the leadership Vi o"e
of the longest, fiercest, and most Imposing
civil wars of modern times), TINS lauy
emerged from the resultant havoc Oh m
ternecine strife, with all its conspicuous
glories rendered to the native sphere
and exultant victory perching upon the
banners of the conquerors, ana IrSey
mingled amongst the people OF AHleiIGa'
not alone as self-appolnted coIhinis
sioner Of universal peace, Dut as d lho '''.,
and lovely exemplar OF perfect woman,
hood freeing herself from ali sectional
environments and creating for herselI
the exalted reputation OF true type oi
the American woman. IL mattetSu n1'
where she appeared, Whethsr III 'ne ",
scure wilds of our extended lahI' " ~
lis gay and crowded salons, where beauty
and refinement shone Respondent OF III
the staid and cultured homes OF Tue Eaat,
the luxurious ranches of the gold klrss
of the far West, the gfdhu PalaNe S
of the North or the palm-shduomSu
homes of her native South-from the ruuS
hints of the negro quarters TO the pillared
rose-trimmed mansions OF the planters
all all bowed to and adored TINS loVely
woman with the palm leaf IN her manu-.
Peace and good will to all men was
spiriting watchword Of her beau
tifui life. SO unobtrusive was
she in her quiet manner, and YET so s"Sct-
ly convincing in all she sai1 ana oid, that
women cheerfully yielded TO ner WondnIy
touch and stalwart men felt blessed anu
honored in her presence. She never I'M
pressed those she met in either secuon
of our great land as the daughter OF
conquered man. but only perfectly re-
dected the purity and noDlllty Oh tne
careful training, resulting in the lottlest
chara cteristlcs embodied in the perfect
woman From the first hour OF her ma
turity, when she was ushered INTO 50
ciety. her irresistible influences In molll-
flying sectional differences began W
be felt She had nothing TO excuse In her
exalted sires life-there was nothing 10
excuse She loved and honored him, ana
his memory became sacred altar 10 hei,
before which she Frustrated herselt WIN
all a fond daughters devotion! but she
found a new and broad mission opened
M 10 her-a mission to heal old wounds
vet fostering; the bringing together es-
ranged hearts of American men anu
women in one universal and harmonious
blending. No woman Of her DAY was 50
Thoroughly fitted as herself TO do TINS
noble work. Was she not the daughter OF
the leader Of the civil war? Therefore,
| who so fit as she to throw the oil OF
| ouiet and calm over the disturbed ele-
| ments? Who could wave the owe Drahch
so convincingly as she-announcihg II ~
the Inhabitants of all sections OF the
| country. to be the emblem forever OF a
| reunited nation? She administered her
! peaceful mission patiently ana gently No
| rude, repellant word ever escaped hef
| lips. Even those most stuboornly preJu-
| diced. who came within her gentle pres
| ence. were forced to ask themselves whal
| the father and mother must be who had
| reared so perfect a child. And so. by hel
! sweet and pacific influence, the marc
| scales that had blinded the eyes OF 50
many-only because of sectional preJu
| dices-began TO melt away, ana sentl-
ments of regret that the people of our
nation had ever been at war with one
another grew rapidly In the hearts Oh
those who had sullenly held aloof until
this daughter of a dead cause beheld the
rich fruit of her holy mission fully ripen.
ed and gratefully devoured by united
and forever indissolubly cemented nation
Her mission is ended, but the wholesome
ond irnperishable impressions of her work
can never die, so long as there beats a
| true American heart to feel the healing
| balm she has left as our precious lnheri-
! lance.
OF all the children Of our land not one
can take her place. There can be no
other Daughter of the Confederacy! That
title lived and died with her. Rest, rest,
sweet and lovely daughter of our south
ern land, forever lestl
FRANK c. BANGS.
September 90 1895