The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-04

" his fondness for a pair Of goats that
foraged on the south front lawn. Mr.
Lincoln often stood for minutes at a
time watching their antics After the
assassination they were given, she
thought, TO Mrs. Lee. nee Blair.
While daily I'm the White House
through the troublous time of war.
Keckly was often visited by a myster-
ious woman, who ordered n very fine
dress from her. It happened that dur
ing the fittings she was never alone
with the woman. Upon one pretext or
another the dress was brought back to
be altered. until one time. finding KecE-
ly alone. she offered her a handsome
amount Of money if she would get her
place as chambermaid in the White
House. This Mrs Keckly refused TO
do, her own suspicious already having
been aroused by her actions. The re-
fusal was well-founded. for. as was prov
en- a few months after, the woman was
a notorious spy.
In Davis Family.
One Of Elizabeth's very first customers
IN Washington, In 1850, was Mrs. Jeffer-
son Davis, and in speaking OF the Davis
family. she pays many a pretty compli
ment TO the president of the Confed-
eracy and his wife. Keckly says that
Jefferson Davis was the embodiment OF
Eentleness and consideration. not only
for his own family. but for all Of those
who We're in any way connected with
his daily life
The Davis family wanted Elizabeth
to go south with them, Mrs. Davis
patiently explaining the situation Of
the politics OF the country, and assur-
ing Elizabeth that as Mr.. Davis would
undoubtedly be made President, she
could soon return and take up her abode
in the White House. However, Eliza
beth considered fl better for her TO re-
main in Washington, or her after life
with the inmates Of the White House
iaight have been averted.
Story Of a Wrapper.
Among other things made for Mrs.
Davis before her departure for the
South were two chintz wrappers. While
I'm Chicago I'm 1850 Kecldy one day
visited the great Charity Fair, then be-
ing held for the benefit Of tho disabled
soldiers Of the war and their wives and
children. Keckly found a great crowd
surging around an object. which, curl
osity leading Ter to investigate. she
found 10 be a wax figure of jefferson
Davis.
It was groteSqucly attired i'm one of
the chintz wrappers that she had made
for Mrs. Davis i'm Washington, and so
worn as 10 expose his masculine gar
ments underneath. This SO astouished
KeosSly that she exclaimed why, L
made that wrapper" The words We're
eagerly caught mp by the throng, and
passed from lip 10 lip, and to add stiH
further 20 her discomfort and embar-
rassment, the crowds chcered her TO the
echo.
Elizabeth says that although Jefferson
Davis wore at the time Of his arrest
a waterproof cloak the wrapper was
one Of the two made by her for Mrs.
Davis, while in Washington. and must
have been taken from the ladies' lug
gage at the time Of the arrest.
Behind the Scenes
But 1t was the book, Behind the
Scenes: by Elizabeth Keckly. Formerly
"a Slave But More Recently Modiste
and Friend Of Mrs Abraham Lincoln:
Or -Four Years In the White House"
which turned the most tragic act In the
life Of this wonderful old woman. When
the little volume first appea red, Il was
supposed 70 be the spite OF a servant
who wished TO pay a grudge and every
one condemned Elizabeth KeckIy as an
migrate, treacherous friend. and an
aVaricious woman. with desire to
make all she could out Of the country's
great tragedy
Now at almost ninety. with her days
numbered, Elizabeth tells the story Of
the book. and eXonerates herself from
the slightest blame in the matter. and
as the diffusion OF the negro race
through the North IS now so great and
the people at large have come 10 have
an understanding Of the weakness or
strength Of negro character, all doubt
as 10 the old woman's honesty In the
matter is cleared away.