The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-03
HER MEMORY OF JEFF DAVIS.
story of "A Girl of the Confederacy,
to Whom He Gave His Picture.

story of "A Girl of the Confederacy,
TO Whom He Gave His Picture.
Sue Tarpley Carter, in the Confederate
Veteran.
In the days of my childhood Mr.. Dav-
is was O. frequent and much-honored
guest at the home of my father in
Jackson, Miss. Business often called
him to the Capitol. and as they were
warm personal and political friends
they were much together and some of
the most vivid memories of my life are
connected with that great and good
man.
Though but a little girl, would sit
for hours listening to their talk of the
serious times that were upon us, and
of what the future might bring. They
were both slave owners, kind and mer-
ciful masters, and the question which
was agitating the entire country was
often discussed between them in a way
to interest even child. Mr. Davis
was a brilliant tionalist; every
word of his was chaste and elegant,
and such a fund of information was
underlying all he said that it was a
liberal education to be with him. He
was a type of the Old South, bearing
in his personality it's culture and re-
flnement. His fine breeding was "al-
ways present, but never obtrusive." To
children he was lovely, listening to
them with attention and sympathy
Kind and gentle always, he fulfilled
completely my ideal of a Christian
gentleman, for he loved his church and
was guided by it's teachings in every
action of his life. His coming was like
sunshine to all, and to me, who had
shared a warm place in his heart from
my earliest year, it was pleasure I'M
speakable.
heard my father say after one of his
visits. Mr.. Davis is the grandest
man / ever knew" and 1 have letters
of his while in Washington,
when Mr.. Davis was Secretary of War,
telling of the high esteem in which he
was held, and predicting a future for
him that would overshadow even his
fame in Mexico
1t is not to be wondered at then,
that we were full of pride and delight
when he was chosen President of the
Confederacy, confident that this choice
had fallen on. one entirely worthy. He
spent a day with us on his way to
Montgomery to be inaugurated He
bore his new honors with his usual
calm dignity, was full of interest in
our little circle, speaking little of him
self, but much of the cause we held
so dear. Oh, those golden days of
hope, l see them through a mist of
tearsl
When the cannon doomed and the
crowd gathered to escort him to the
depot, Mr.. Davis had a little boy upon
his knee trying to mend d broken toy.
He put the little fellow down, saying
in tone of voice that touched US all:
This is my last day in private life;
tomorrow 1 belong to the people" Just
before he left, he turned to me, saying,
Daughter, 1 have something for YOU"
and left in my hand the picture of
himself For many years 1 have pre-
served 1t carefully, burying it with
my jewelry during the war at the APP
proach of the Federals, as the discol-
orations around the face still show.
When the war was ended and Mr..
Davis free he came to Jackson as
the guest of Gov. Humphreys. We had
not seen him since those fateful days.
He had suffered much, and we longed
to do him honor. Alas! our little city
was garrisoned by Yankee troops, and
we dared not make a demonstration
for fear of harm to him. The young
people gathered at our house and plan
ned to storm" Gov. Humphreys and
greet his distinguished guest. The Gov
ernor, that dear old soldier, grasped
our meaning instantly, and 1 have his
note beside me as / write, saying:
storm on, young ladies; 1 am ready"
My mother and l were invited to
receive with the Governors family, and
1 can never forget the deep emotion
with which ali met Mr.. Davis once
more with years of suffering and dis
between us. Mrs. Davis
was with him, and displayed exquisite
tact. Hearts too full for utterance
would have broken down but for her
timely word or smile.
Mr.. Davis came to our home on mis-
return from Scotland. We could have
no reception, for the Yankees were
with us still, but it was whispered
among his friends that he was there,
and when evening came there was
coming and going in our home
for hours, sometimes only a few words
or hand-clasp, just enough to let him
see that the hearts of the people were
with him still. 1t was a wonderful
so quiet, so full of feel
ing.
After the crowd left we gathered
around the fire and for hours Mr.. Da-
Wis talked in his charming way of his