The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-28

zzuz HE two greatest historical events
In the second half of the last
century were unquestionably the
stupendous contest between the northern
and southern states for the preservation
of the union, and the short but terrible
war between Germany and France, which
ended in the overthrow of the Third
Napoleon, the final establishment OF the
French republic and the creation of the
German empire. BY curious coincidence
which may be said to be without a
parallel in human annals, 1t fell to the
lot of three women to outlive the CEN
fury that saw these momentous convul-
sions, wherein their husbands were the
foremost actors, the victor and the van
quished. One of them was laid at rest a
about a week ago-Mrs. Ulysses s..
Grant-so that only two survive, Mrs. JEFF
ferson Davis and the aged, feeble ex-Em-
press Eugene, recluse and an exile from
the nation in which she ruled.
Mrs Grant did not live to a remarkably
old age and yet, one by one, she saw pre-
cede her to the other shore all the most
distinguished generals and admirals that
fought in the Civil war, and almost all
the eminent public men that took part In
the government while her illustrious hus-
band filled the char of the Presidency.
Sherman and Sheridan and Thomas and
Meade and Hancock, Farragut and Por-
ter and scores of others whose fame Is
imperishable, statues and pictures OF
whom now rise in the squares of our
cities, and adorn the walls of public edi-
fees. all of whom she knew, she saw laid
Oralv Onp survivor of all
her husbands cabinet officers remains,
while the men in congress who heard
read the annual messages between 1S69-76,
may be counted on the fingers of both
hands. Sumner, Trumbull, Cameron,
Conkling Blaine, Garfield, Morton, Thur
man, Hendricks and long roll, equally
potent to their age, have long belonged to
history of the major1generals who COM
manded armies only one remains, General
o. o. Howard.
General Grant and jefferson Davis never
met unless perchance, they accidentally
did so during the Mexican War, but If 1T
occurred. neither of them remembered
it, Between Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Davis,
however, a warm friendship existed dur
ing many years, so that ,hese two repre-
sentative women illustrated in their
mutual esteem the patriotic love and fra
ternal kinship which now indissolubly
unite the whole country. Inc position
which Mrs Grant held in the north Mrs.
Davis holds in the south. All the great
leaders of the Confederate states she has
seen gathered to their forefathers in the
sunny southland they loved so well. Lee
and jackson, Johnston and Johnson, and
the thousand valiant generals that fol-
lowed them on hundreds of battlefelds
have all Joined the heroic bivouac of the
dead, their fame the cherished heritage
Of every part Of the country which has
become the leader of the nations OF the
earth. Only a small number of the SPLEEN
did figures of that ever-receding era have
not heard the final call. AS there is but
one member of the Grant cabinet living.
SO is there only one of the able advisers
of Jefferson Davis left to tell the story
of the inner councils of the Confederacy
Eugene is one of the pathetic figures
Of modern history. True, the downfall