The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-06
A DAY WITH MRS.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
"Reminiscences of the Daughter of
the COnfederaey.

"Reminiscences of the Daughter of
the COnfederaey.
A short time since called upon Mrs.
Jefferson Davis to get from her a few
dates and particulars for a sketch of
Winnie Davis.
Her apartments are in the Hotel Gar
ard, New York. 1 sent up my card,
and very soon was told to come up"
A pretty little maid opened the door
and soon ushered me into a pleasing
and rather quaint little parlor. She
said: Mrs. Davis is just getting up,
and will see you as soon as she is
dressed 1t was then 1870. 1 settled
myself comfortably in an easy chair,
and began to study the personality of
the room. 1 smiled, for it was so diff
ferent from what one would expect.
One could see an old lady lived here.
The walls were filled with little pic
lures of all kinds. Some "old-timey"
and others little etchings; but the walls
were we'll filled, hanging high and low.
A large and handsome life-size por-
trait of Winnie" las all Southerners
love to call herr was upon one side,
and the small mellowed light that
burns always before it brought out
very plainly the sweet features of this
beloved Daughter of the Confederacy."
The two doors to the room were
hung with cretonne portiers, pink roses,
scattered over a straw colored back
ground Tho window SeI,tS Io,,poa op5
pillows. of which there must have been
twenty We're all covered with the same
goods. She seemed to love that par
ticular pattern!
A table stood near with the newest
novels upon it, and showed plainly her
was graced with a lovely lace throw
her own hand-work, upon it was a
large cut glass vase of American Beau
ties Upon "a tiny table in the corner
stood a delicately shaded rose bowl,
filled to over flowing with pink roses;
while on yet another stand, was a
tall slender vase of pink carnatian
This profusion of flowers struck me
pleasantly, for it told a tale of love and
thoughtfulness. But the time was
slipping by, and 1 wondered if she had
forgotten me. 1t was now twelve
o'clock.
Presently I heard step, and before
me in the parted PORTER, stood the
widow of Jefferson Davis. 1 rose
quickly, and advanced to her, saying,
How glad 1 am to meet the woman
whom all the South loves"
She smiled and seemed pleased, gave
me a warm grasp of the hand and
asked me to be seated. saying, 1T all
ways gives me pleasure to meet any,
one from the South" Setting near her
could see quite plainly that it was
the face of woman grown old! She is
not handsome. hut has a strong intel
lectual face. She is quite stout. and
walks with difficulty, even with the aid
of a cane. She was exceedingly gra-
cious, and we We're soon talking of
past, present and future. She told me
much of her life during the war, and
that dreadful time just after! She
spoke very feelingly of what she had
suffered-how full of sorrow her life
had been. Her voice shook with emo
ton over the very memory. leaned
forward could not help it-and plac-
ing my hand upon her arm, said with
admiration, why, Mrs. Davis! You
are heroine!' stop! Stop" she ex-
Claimed, excitedly. Don't call me
heroine. I don't want to be one I
only ask to be happy woman" Alasi
for her: her wish will never be grant
ed. Her heart is filed with too many
sad memories. and her latest sorrow.
Winnie's death-will ever keep the wish
from fulfllment
She spoke of her life in New York:
said Many people in the South con-
denim me for taking up my abode in
the North, making it my home after
all that has happened. But she was
living here because she had to earn
her living, and could do it better at
the North than in the South; that her
literary work kept her very busy"
She said: II am working very hard.
1 am obliged to, for I am dependent
upon my pen for my living" She has
been very indignant over the reports
that had been circulated that the
Daughters of the Confederacy had been
contributing to her support. She had
felt these reports keenly, for they had
never contributed one dollar towards
1t. She wanted that distinctly under
stood for once and all! And, point
ing to the different articles about her
she said: 'All these things l bought
with my PEN" She repeated: IT have
and l do work very hard" Later, when
L recalled her home, l wondered when
she worked. She never leaves her
bed until IL any morning, lunches at
II; later drives or receives calls. While
we were talking the little maid came
IN, bringing package. Mrs. Davis
smiled pleasantly at her, saying: This
must be another remembrance" and,