The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05
THE LATE WINNIE DAVIS.
Why the south Loved the ''Daughter
of the COnfcderacy."


of the Confederacy."
Washington Post
The history of the daughter OF the Con-
Iederacy Is the history of the new South.
The name of Winnie Davis was during her
lifetime, closely interviewer with every
movement TO preserve and sanctify the past,
TO make hopeful and arouse the future. The
personality OF young girl, frank. gener-
Gus. OF rare strength and sweetness, has
oeen craven on the hearts of the South, has
entered into the lives of the people. 1t is
Wonderful thing, rare in all history. 1t
Is as incomprekensible TO those who have
not seen her among her people, who have
not seen the great demonstrations of love,
reverence, worship. such genuine worship,
as it is wonderful and thrilling to those
Those three days of the Confederate re.
union held in Atlanta Ga, a few weeks ago.
July Il, Y, %, heraided as the largest and
South, bringing together for the last time,
for many. the old comrades Of the Confed-
daughter of the Confederacy
IT was in the morning out at the EXPOSE
City" 1t was dusty and hot: the buildings
looked tawdry and unattractive in the white
giare. Inc old soldiers, In SLOUGH hats and
long long gray boards, their worn. gray coats
tinged with the bright colors of badges and
glitter Of medals lounged in the shadows
with their comrades in the midst Of as great
a crowd as was ever gathered in a South
ern city. They were expectant
Miss Winnie's coming to-day"
as so they say. Well. can shake hands
Wbo comne eer M psIo Wnn INN d
her! She don't ever forget u.s.
She's the sweetest woman on Gods
EARTH And so the talk ran. To stranger
in the South. one who had heard of Miss
Davis as most Northern people hear of her,
little indefinitely. 1t must be confessed. the
all-prevailing sentiment, the extravagant
and universal praise. was surprising be-
widening What was she to be loved so?
The tiniest child by the peanut stand looked
N wit CrafW cd fon
Miss Winnie's comm to-day. lady" and
he smiled like cherub
True, she was the daughter of her father;
she typifed the lost cause; but that alone
dld not make her loved by the little chill
dren:
What makes you love Miss Winnie so?"
The child was dumfounded.
,rBeeause-ain,t you never seen Miss Win
ME- ME Never seen her, a, Why bes:cause-well.
Then came cry the Auditorium The
throng of old soldiers, men, women and
children sprged toward the, big building.
where several thousand people were al
ready concentrated Here the stars and bars
were floating with the stars and stripes.
Gray looking portraits of Stonewall jack
son. Robert e. Lee and Jefferson Davis hung
draped in flags above the platform. Ban
ners Of Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia.
the three great departments of the United
Stephen D. Lee, w s. Cabell and Wade
Hampton. waved among the soldiers: flags,
badges and insignias represented in
gorgeous colors every Confederate society,
league organization, chapter in the South
The infantry cavalry, artillery of the Con-
federacy that vast army, what was left OF
them, masSed in there, line line, Gordon
once again at the head 1t was an inspiring
background for the daughter of the Con-
federacy
open the way. Open the wayv' cried
some OF the veterans at length, Miss Win
MES coming" The words were uttered
with reverence.
Miss Winnie Davis, will be here in two
the door. Make room, please, for her to
pass to the platform"
"Oh. Miss Winnie's coming, Miss Winnie
Davis is coming" whispered hundreds of
people in the crowd jostling forward, stand
ing on benches and chairs
In another moment little. ,white-clad
figure stood under the big wooden frame
work of the gallery, a strong, well-built
little woman. with rather a masculine
shaped head and features full of strength
and character. certain charm and sweet
ness about them, too, which drew one In
stantly compelling trust, respect, affec-
Her eyes, which faced you fair and frank.
were shining as though full of tears, and
her smile was wonderfully bright and glad.
They met her as she met them. silently,
gladly, then cheers broke out. The band
Numbered some triumphal aria, but no
and she passed slowly toward the plat
form form through maze Of o1tstretched
of them with the fingers off or with dis
torted joints, all with the old gray sleeve
she took them ALL every one, in her
SIR how do you do?" she cried with such
a force of welcome in her tones that some
of the old soldiers broke down and cried
II am glad to see You, sir. Oh, yes, sir,
little Jeffs just coming along, you ought
to see him. he is so tall" And she would
let so their hands a moment when she
spoke of her sisters child and said 80
tall then others would press eagerly for
ward
I'm have to give you my left hand. sir;
it's nearest my heart, though, and so
she passed on, cheering every one with
good hand grasp and a genuine word or
| two of thoughtful inquiry; there was no
chawmed-to-see-you" air about her; she
| was natural, happy. honest. 1t was health
full. invigorating, just to stand quietly by
| and watch her
| Let me see Miss Winnie just once again
before die cried many and many an
old soldier, land 'Ill die happy"
jeff Davis's gal an our gal. tool cried
/ others, Three cheers for Miss WINNER
| She reached the platform where the lead
of the men were gathered-Gordon,
! Hooker, Lee Cabell and the rest, those
! brave Confederate gentlemen.
AS she stepped to the front the music
| grew louder more triumphant, the cheers
! rent the air, and old General Gordon
! stopped and gave her the kiss of welcome,
then he turned. our daughter" he said
|