The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-02
FRED DOYLE WON THE MEDAL.
YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL WROTE
CLEVERLY ON JEFF DAVIS.

daughters OF the tOnfe0eF0cg Tor
the Best Essay on Jefferson Davis,
President of the Confederate
states" Was Presented ut the Vet
Grams HALL Last Night by Gen. W.
w. Gordon, Who Also Read an Adj
drcss-ConteSt Was Absolutely
Fair and Was Decided Fairly.
Young Doyle Read His Essay ON
the Conclusion of Gen. Gordon's
Address.
Frederick C. Doyle won the medal Of
fered by the Charter chapter of the
Daughters OF the Confederacy for the best
essay on Jefferson Davis President Of
the Confederate States" The boy is one
of the youngest members of the second
grade OF the High School, and among mis-
classmates is regarded as The best essay
list of the grade. If the victory he won
may be taken as a criterion, he has no
superior in the Savannah schools, for the
chapter laid the contest open to all.
Fred is a son Of Mr.. ana Mrs James A.
Doyle. lie has hong shown exceptional
ability fer one Of his years as a writer.
and the essay he submitted TO the COM
mttee of judges is Of such excellence for
one of his years that the five unsuccess-
full contestants may accept their defeat
without feeling that because they did not
win their papers were not good. When
1t is considered that the young man pre-
pared himself during the days preceding
the contest, reading carefully the life of
Davis, and went into the room where it
was held with no idea as 20 whether that
or some other of the four subjects given
out would be selected. il may be under
stood thai his achievement is such os
would do no discredit to a much older
head
No notes, books or aid OF any kind was
allowed those who wrote upon the subject
selected. A teacher was in the room all the
time The pupils were at work and their
essays were bur the results of their care
ful preparation. The papers were numbered
on being finished, ana the names of the
children were written on Sips that also
bore their numbers and We're sealed in a
box that was opened on presentation at the
Confederate Veterans nail for the first
time.
Capt. Ii. c. Cunningham was there for
the presentation of the medal. He was
chairman OF the committee of judges, the
ether two members being Mr. T. S. Lucas
had carefully examined all six papers.
which were submitted by the following
pupils Of the High School: Miss Caroline
Miller Miss Fannie Phillips, Masters
Gordon Hanes, Frederick Doyle, WaIter
Norton and Charlie Powers.
The chairman of the committee an
nounced the number Of the paper that had
won the contest. The box was opened and
il was found that No. / was Master Doyle
success. II is sad Miss Fannie Phillips
stood next one of the Judges having fixed
: upon he paper bearing her number as the
best Of the six.
Gen. W. W. Gordon had been invited by
the chapter to make an address and pre-
sent the medal. 1t was to hear him that
many of those who attended braved The
threatened rain and formed the fairly
large audience that enjoyed both the gen
erals address and the prize essay, which
was read by Master Doyle on Gen. Cor
don's conclusion.
The address was devoted to a careful
summary OF The events leading up to the
Civil War and an analysis of the life of
Davis on the subsistence of the applause
that followed. Master Doyle came for
ward. was received by Gen. Gordon, who
congratulated him upon his success,
wished him many future ones and said he
anticipated hearing his essay with great
pleasure, as he felt curiosity 20 see how
the boy had treated the subject from mem
DRY that he had written ON with authori-
ties at hand. He pinned the medal TO the
boys coat, and the author then read mis-
essay, which follows:
jefferson Davis, President of the Confed-
crate States of America, and the leading
spirit of lost, though one of the noblest
causes known TO history, was born June
3, 1903, in Christian county, Kentucky now
Todd county,. His father, Samuel Davis,
was a revolutionary patriot, serving first
as a mounted gunner and later at the
siege Of Savannah captain of infantry.
jefferson Davis was one of a family OF
ten children. He received a very good
education. After going through his coun-
~ academy, he went 20 Pennsylvania Un-
iversity, Kentucky There JEFF Davis
was known as steady and studous boy.
His fellow students said they never saw
him under the influence of liquor and that
he never gambled. Davis was more adj
vanced in his studies than most boys OF
his age, and at the age of 16 he graduated
from the university and went lowest Point.
There, also, she military bearing and high
character Of Davis was noticed and he
gained several lifelong friends. His class
contained no men who afterward became
very distinguished, except himself but AL
bert sydney johnson was Only few years
e. johnson, though his seniors I'm years
were his juniors at West Point. Through
some deficiencies in studies. he did not
graduate very high in his class. On grad
uating QS29 after the four years course
ne became according to the custom then
second lieutenant of infantry. He was
assigned TO regiment the Sixth Infan-
try, then on the frontier. Later he was
transferred to the First Infantry, and stiu
later on, regiment of Dragons being or
ganlzed, he was transferred TO It, Davis
had fallen in love with Miss Knox TAYLOR.
the daughter OF Col. Zachary Taylor. In
1888 he resigned from the army and mar
ried Miss Taylor. There has been some
unfavoTaole comment on this maria &c.
Ihe truth was that Col. Taylor told Davis
ne had nothing against him, but did not
desire his daughter to marry a soldier.
There is little chance of glory in Indian
warfare, and Davis was still then in OBJ
security. He then moved 10 Warren coun-
~, Mississippi, and became a cotton
planter. little later he had the mis-
~ - f-..I ri