The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-20

Sue Tarpley Carter in the Confederate
 Veteran.
 EN the days of my childhood Mir. Davis
 was a 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 little girl, I 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 merci-
 ful masters, and the question which was
 agitating the entire country was often
 discussed between them in way to in-
 terest even a child MT. Davis was a
 brilliant conversationalist; every word
 of his was chaste and elegant and such
 a fund of information was underlying all
 he said that 1t was liberal education
 to be with him. He was type Of the
 old south, bearing in his personality it's
 culture and refinement. His fine breed-
 Ing was Railways present but never obtru-
 sive." To children he was lovely listening to them with attention and sympathy Kind and gentle always. he fulfilled com pleteiy my ideal of 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 ali
 and to me who had shared warm place
 in his heart from my earliest year, 1t was
 pleasure unspeakable.
 I heard my father say after one of his
 visits, MT. Davis is tne grandest man l ever knew: and I have letters of his
 while in Washington. when MT, Davis was
 secretary of war, telling of the high es-
 teem in which he was held, and predict ing a future for him that would over shadow even his fame in Mexico.
 It 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 chance had fallen on one entirely worthy. He spent a day with us on his way to Montgomery to be in- augurated He bore his new honors with his usual calm dignity; was full of inter- est in our little circle speaking little of himself. but much of the cause we held so dear. o those golden days of hope, l see them through a mist of tearsl
 When the cannon boomed and the crowd gathered to escort him to the depot, MT. Davis had a little boy upon his knee try ing to mend 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 l be- long to the people," Just before he left he turned to me- saying. Daughter, have something for you" and left in my hand the picture of himself that accom- panies this sketch. For many years I have preserved 1t carefully. burying it with my jewelry during the war at the approach of the federals. as the dscol- orations around the face still show.
 When the war was ended and Mir. Davis | free, he came to Jackson as the guest of Governor Humphreys. We had not seen him since those fateful days He had suffered much. and we longed to do him honor Alasl our little city was garri- soned by Yankee troops. and we dared not make demonstration for fear of harm to him. The young people gathered at our house and planned to storm Governor Humphreys and greet his dis tinguished guest. The governor. that dear old soldier, grasped our meaning instantly and have his note beside me