Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-11

homes. devastated fields, and fastened
| the chains of slavery.
II is difficult TO read the history OF our
| owns times, q generation ago, without De-
| ing impressed with the danger OF history
| repeating itself; so, In our great war Tor
| Independence we failed: We are the chill
| dren OF the heroes OF q generation ago;
! IN that stupendous effort our fathers
| failed. The distinguished leader. the be-
| loved jefferson Davis. bore his part with
unoXalnpled herOism. In July year
ago, the grand Confederate reunion took
place in our city. Winnie Davis was then
the honored guest. IL was the last re-
Union that the daughter Of the South
great chieftain ever attended. Winnie
Davis, The charm Of this name The
Daughters Of the COnfederacy' me
magic of these words,' There are many
Daughters Of the Confederacy. God bless
them: / believe their headquarters are
in Heaven. but forget not that Winnie
Davis was the only "The Daughter or
the Confederacy" and there can be
never another. What a namel What
womani
She was born as we knew, In Richmond,
Va. on the James river, in the mousse
that has been made historical IN that IL
was the first home of the only executive
head Of our Lost Cause, and her infant
were spent amidst the stirring events OF
the Confederacy. She knew little Of the
stormy times which ushered her into the
world: she grew UP inhaling the soft
breeze of her southland. inspiring her
with devotion TO her country and love for
its people. imbiblng the heroic spirit OF
her distinguished father and his gallant
people. for whom he suffered.
She learned the lesson Of great people
struggling for their constitutional rights;
she reyered the land where ruins were
spread. that land blest by the dust Of the
men who wore the gray. Sprung from
the crushed liberties and misfortunes or
her own people. and by one unanimous
acclaim, she was crowned 1.-THE Daughter
Of the Confederacy," and there is not
man who wore the gray though hoary
with age who would not have shed his
blood TO protect her. She was crowned
because of the love for the "Lost Cause"
as embodied in her devotion to The
Southern Cross, that glorious starry ban
ner that went down I'm defeat. but with
honor, at Appomattox. and was emble-
no lie Of all the southern people held most
dear.
There she stood. no titled lady, no royal
Jewels bedecking her queenly brow, but
with the love of millions. baptized with
the tears Of those who followed the
conquered banner" "The Daughter Of
the Confederacy," she stood in the eyes
Of those who had worn the gray as the
ideal rose Of all the lovely flowers that
have adorned the Confederate bower, as
the blossom on the ruined wal. hiding
the thorn that stings, yet smiling on the
shadows Of sadness that are cast over
all. save honor. she was unique: Stone
wall Jackson was phenomenal in his gen
eralshp, but less than a century ago Ma
IOleon stirred the world with his bril-
liam career. Robert f. Lee, with all his |
brilliant achievement, has not Obliterated |
the name Of Wellington and Marlborough; |
we may have a poet that may reach the |
zenith OF poetic art. but Shakespeare and /
Byron have lived before; Michael Angelo |
and Mozart can never have more than a /
second; but Winnie Davis stands alone, |
planted on the highest pinnacle. by the |
voluntary love and devotion of a people |
whose herOism. proves, gallantry. and |
have never been equalled, whose |
desperate valor has added lustre to man
kind, and whose achievements taught |
the world to respect them.
She loved to clasp the hand and look |
into the eye Of an old Confederate; and |
she was all attention as he told her of |
the Sword Of Robert Lee" or "Stonewall !
Jackson's Way" she loved the soldiers. |
who came to her in grief and she was |
never happier than when she could throw |
a little sunshine into the clouds which |
enshrouded others.
Her grace Of manner, her musical voice, |
her intellectual face. her queenly figure. |
and withal her entire forgetfuness Of |
self, pointed 10 her as the central figure |
in the galaxy of the many remarkable |
southern women. Quick at repartee, she |
never gave offence though possessing in |
a marked degree her fathers wonderful |
wit; bright and sparkling in conversation. |
she never gave way TO great levity. Her |
reserved manner never went beyond the |
dignity OF 81 southern woman, and she |
made all feel at ease in her presence: |
never given TO too much merriment or hi |
larty. and yet her elegance and polish of |
manner dspelled any idea Of arrogance |
or haughtiness.
Thus was Winnie Davis. THE Daughter |
of the Confederacy," prominent beyond |
the reach OF those whose calumnies would |
have consigned her distinguished father |
TO felon's cell; yea, who would have |
taken his life had they dared do what |
their craven hearts suggested
She was fitted by birth and education |
for the highest social and intellectual |
station. But refusing marriage. she de- |
voted herself 8s an ideal daughter to her |
widowed mother, and was her solace and |
joy, and also TO her intellectual pursuits. |
in which she attained much success. The |
brightest flower must fade and die. and /
so less than year ago we heard voice |
from a better world saying:
"And had another sister
With cheeks all bright with bloom: |
Ana another morn l missed her,
She had gone TO wreathe a tomb"
And Winnie Davis, the beloved. the
Daughter OF the Confederacy, was no
more Placed on a pedestal, not as an |
IDOL TO be adored, not as a princess TO
whom we must "crook the pregnant
hinges of the knee" but as the ombodi-
ment Of lovely woman nobly planned"
endeared to all by ties that can make
memories sacred or homes happy.
IT is now the sweet mission of this
broad southland to honor her memory
and the Georgia Daughters Of the Con-
fsderacy will build as a memorial to her
an annex TO the Industrial School. This |
is TO be used for little children. n lasting
monument TO the simplicity and purity of |
the life of Winnie Davis. Her place can
not be filled. She gloriOusly won her