The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-16
A SKETCH OF WINNIE DAVIS.
Read at the Rome Meeting of the
Daughters of the Confederncy.

Hcnu at the Rome Meeting OF the
Daughters of the Confederacy.
Rome Ga, Oct 15.-The Georgia Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy held most in
terestng session here during the last
three days of this week One of the
features of the memorial service in honor
Of Miss Winnie Davis was the paper read
by Mrs. James Lester Sexton Of savan
nah, as follows:
On The 18th of September, 1898, there
spread throughout our Southland a mes
sage which brought sorrow 20 every loyal
heart, that God had called to His own
the child of the Confederacy"
Il has truly been said The idol of
her people has passed away, but she VIII
live on in their hearts as long as the
race OF true and noble men and women of
Dixie shall last"
Varlna Anne, dear 10 the people of the
South as Winnie Davis, was born at the
White House June q, 1864, "in the death
throes of the Confederacy, amid the thun-
der Of the guns that heralded the fall of
Richmond" She was the unconscious
sharer of her fathers retreat to Geor-
STA, and even at that early age showed
that she was worthy to be a soldiers
daughter. Throughout the long and weari-
some journey across the Carolinas, she
never seemed to mind the jolting Of the
ambulance. Her litue cheeks might flush
with pain, but she choked back the baby
tears ana bore the hardships of the way
with the same brave spirit that charao-
terized her in later life.
After year spent in waiting and fruit
less effort 10 join her husband Mrs. Davis
and little Winnie were permitted to be
with him at Fortress Monroe. Who can
realize what this must have been to Mr..
Davis after the months of suffering and
loneliness. The little one was like a ray
Of sunlight in the prison. She would play
about his cell all day long, refusing the
petting of the officers happy only to be
with him she loved best of all. She real
ly seemOi to be trying in her baby way
to bring back the brightness into his life.
What solace from heaven she must have
seemed TO that broken heartl His beloved
cause lost; his people in chains. After her
fathers release the next five years of her
life were passed with her parents in Eng
land Then they returned to Memphis,
Tenn.
She showed a an early age a taste for
reading and study and it was her fathers
delight to develop the mind whose strength
and clearness at maturity became his chief
pride.
The climate OF the South did not agree
with her and she was sent to Karlsruhe,
Germany. The education she received there
Paris, and she returned home at IS, a
woman of matured mind and brilliant at
talnments
In the quiet seclusion of Beauvoir she
manifested to Mr.. Davis those qualities Vt
mind which made her the joy of his ola
age. She was her fathers constant com
panion and the closest friendship existed
between the two. She read to him. wrote
for him, and was, he said, his eyes and
his hands
BY birth and by training she was the
fit companion of the proudest, but she
was always the most unaffected and nat
ural of children. The lovellness of her
disposition, generosity of mind her cor
diality and sweet charm of manner win
never be forgotten by those who knew
her. THE legacies of some men," it has
been said, ARE riches of some fame, of
some patriotism; jefferson Davis legacy
was his child and the South took her
reverently and tenderly to its heart, and
when a child the banner of that South
cast its saddencd glories over her pillow
The influences and environments of her
early life could not fail but make her
what she was THE Daughter of the
Confederacy."
Mrs. Davis has sent me a little sketch
of Miss Winntes life. I feel sure the
Daughters will be interested in the incl
dents of her child life, told as only a
iAiohitSt NdA DuL MIS-. DaNfS paper cannot
be published until have her permission.
Mrs. Sexton was a member of the men,
oriat service committee on resolutions
which presented the following adopted by
a rising vote:
Whereas, God in HIS providence has
removed from our midst Miss Winnie Da-
Wis, the idolized Daughter of the Confed-
eracy, one in whom centered ali those at
tributes that make true womanhood; about
whom cluster memories of her beautiful
filial devotion, to whom all Southern hearts
turn with pride as a faithful representa-
tive of cause TO which she verify gave
her life. therefore,
BE ID resolved, That we, the Georgia
Daughters of the Confede~acy now in
convention, have suffered a personal loss
and feel personal grief.
BE it resolved further, That we ten
der our sympathy to the bereaved mother
and sister and assure them of our faith
full love.
BE il further resolved, That we, as a
body, beg the privilege of serving the
heartbroken mother as daughters not
word, but indeed in the years that are to
come"
Mrs Mildred Rutherford, Athens. chair
man; Mrs. ]. L. Sexton, Savannah, Mrs.
Helen Plane, Atlanta and Mrs, Ida Evans
Eve, Augusta, committee
-s-a-e
SHAFTER's DAY OF DESPAIR.