The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-05
THE SCHOOL DAYS OF DAVIS.
HON. j. n. sAUssY's TALK TO THE
CHILDREN OF THE CONFEDERACY.

states 10 show That in His Case
the Boy Was Father to the Man.
The Chapter Presented with "a
GaveI of Historic Interest-COn-
fcderate Veterans Association
Give Thanks to the Daughters of
the Confederacy and Especially
to Miss Addie Barnard for the
Organization of the Chapter.
The meeting Of the Winnie Davis Chap
ter of Children of the Confeder-
acy at Confederate Hall yesterday
afternoon, was one of the most interest
ing in the short history of the chapter.
The leading feature was an address by
Hon. ]. r. Saussy upon the early life of
Jefferson Davis.
Mr. Saussy began his remarks with the
statement that 1t was a source of pride
and pleasure to him and to the other
veterans of the city that the chapter of
Children of the Confederacy had been or
ganized and that it was achieving the
high measure of prosperity and success
that the large attendance at the meet
ing indicated. This prosperity was an ev-
idence that the sweet memories of the
heroism of Confederate soldiers and of
the virtues and sacrifices of the women
of tha South shall never fade.
Ii would be possible, said Mr.. Saussy,
for him to tell the children but very lit
tie of the life of jefferson Davis, whose
birthday the meeting in part commence
rated. 1t would not be possible to say
much of the great things that Jefferson
Davis did nor 10 relate many of the wise
things he had said in the course of
great and busy life. But it was profita-
Bile for young people to realize that the
great men of the country had once been
boys like some Of themselves, so that
they might make the great and good
their examplars and inspiration.
Mr.. Saussy followed the early life of
President Davis from the time of his birth
until the time he left West Point. Illus
trating, by apt anecdotes, the lads pos
session of those traits of character that
afterwards, strengthened and developed
by years of eelf-diseipline study and ex-
perience, distinguished him as a man.
The first school experience of the after
wards president of the Confederacy was
had in a log cabin school, two miles from
his fathers home, in Kentucky. The boy
was the youngest of a family of ten chill
dren and to the little School in the woods
After some years of instruction there,
JEFF was sent with Maj. Hines, veteran
of the war of 1872, and his family, to a
school near Springfield, the instructors of
which were Catholic monks. The mentor
whom the elder Davis had selected as his
sons travelling companion had commanded
a battalion of brave Mississippians at the
battle of New Orleans and the love. adj
miration and respect he still cherished for
his old commander led him 10 stop at
THE Hermitage"
Mr.. Saussy commented on the deep i'm
preston that this first meeting with "Old
Hickory" made on the youthful Davis.
Gen. Jackson's reputation as a hard and
stern man had been spread abroad over
the country, but the boy, who was his
guest for TWO weeks, found him the incar-
nation of old-fashioned courtesy and kind
ness. The profanity for which he had
been celebrated found no expression while
jefferson was about, and it was his prac-
tice to give thanks at every meal for the
blessings he and his then received.
AT the school maintained at the Catholic
monastery young Davis spent several
years. From his own "reminiscences they
seem to have been happy ones and profit
able ones. On one occasion a number of
the boys of the school united in a stale
vegetable attack upon one of the attaches
OF the institution, who had excited their
youthful indignation. The noise that was
thus created was something horrible so
tradition has it, and one of the preceptors
hurried TO the dormitory in which the boys
slept and whence the noise had proceed
ed. 1t was night when the attack upon
the object of this school boyish wrath had
occurred.
When the preceptor arrived young Da-
Wis was the only one of the party in the
room who gave any indication OF being
awake. The others were either enjoying
the sleep of the just or giving such a re-
markably good imitation of 1t that 1t was
impossible for the aged and perhaps near
sighted Instructor to distinguish IL from
the genuine
Being awake, young Davis was singled
out at once and commanded 10 tell what
he knew about the disturbance He re-
fused Exhortations, commands, pray
ers and threats alike awaited nothing to
change his announced determination and
the next morning the meditation through
which he must have passed had left him
OF the same opinion STILL The lad was
carried to an upper room of the school
building and tied to a bed. Then the ex-
hortaiions were renewed and accompa-
MED by promises of immunity If he would
tell what he knew.
We'll" said Jefferson at length. IT
can tell you the name Of the boy who
blew out the lights"
Tell me-" said the preceptor of youth
''and you shall not be punished"
Il did said the pupil. In this man
ner he escaped punishment, and al the
same time kept faith with his fellows
Faithfulness and courage were attributes
that marked every act Of Jefferson Davis
life. said Mr. Saussy, and they exhibited
themselves even in the early days when
he was boy al school.
The speaker followed the life of Jeffer-
son Davis until his departure from West
Point. While he was there occurred The
boyish escapade In which he nearly lost
his life. With some of his companions
he had been visiting point out of bounds
and prohibited OF the powers that were.
Detected and endeavoring 20 escape pur-
suit the cadets started on a run and
Davis fell over precipce sixty feet IN
height. tree stopped and saved him
from what otherwise would have been
certain death
Il have iold you these little stories" said
Mr.. Saussy that you may unders
that the President of the Confederacy
was boy like some of you with boyish
traits and boyish faults. BuaI have tried
10 show that even with the boyish faults
were boyish excellencies Of characi e. that
0pVpl6faDI xarts