The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09
MARTHA GOODE ANDERSON
 WRITES OF MRS. JEFF. DAVIS

In g recent Issue of the New York Globe appears the most interesting and delightful sketch of Mrs. Jefferson Davis tbat has probably ever been written since Mrs. Davis has been residing in New York It Is from the pen of the gifted young southern writer, Mrs. Martha Goode Anderson, and will be read with the deepest interest. The article is re- produced in full A. K. W.
 There is a shrine in the Hotel Gerard in this city to which all southerners who come this way go sooner or later It Is up on the seventh floor-high above the rush and roar of the city life, and here, in big, light rooms, with pleasing furni- ture, is gathered all that Is left of those who were closest associated with the Lost Cause. A white-haired woman with keen, bright eyes, tense manner which bespeaks life tensely lived, and O voice so soft and sweet that one all most catches the romance of the ane- tellum days In its infection, Is the guard ian of this shrine. She is Mrs. Jefferson pavis-all that Is left of that day of long ago, peacefully rounding out heir eightieth years, 'in the twilight" as she calls 1t, in the midst of memories and objects that have meant all to her and much to those who loved her. Mrs. Davis has re- gently beeen very i'll with an attack of heart failure, and Is still very feeble. She Is able to leave her bed only late in tine morning towards noon. when she sits for the rest of the day in a great arm chair by broad window through which the suns rays fall in great streams to brighten the pretty room
 When she is well enough she finds her greatest pleasure in the visits which southerners pay to her, and, when strength allows, she rarely refuses to see any southern woman who pays this visit of respect and interest. She can move only with the help of a cane, and spends much of her time reading. "Tf I were a rich woman she says, 'I would soon be- come poor, for all of my money would go for books. When we came to this house, fifteen years aGo, I resolved not to have a book asSiod me-there is the result" !" she said pointing to a handsome book case rll.d rg1fh rare and beautiful vol- tunes When asked il her love for books had led ier to keep a diary which some day would be added to the list of read able, Mrs. Davis laughed T once heard Mir Davis say that a diary was the refuge of scoundrel' People who keep tdiarles always take those about whom they write off guard, he said, and never get one as one Is. All of my historical papers have been given to the Historical < Society of New Orleans So that the memoirs of MT. Davis which have writ ten is to be all think. that l shall have to tell of those other G5ys. I have re- membered so much" she went on, that people whom met in those times of crisis have long since faded from recollection and it Is with me now as if much had Dever been.
 Have Sweet Voices.
 s It has been said that southern women have the sweetest fl all American voices. Whether this is true of all. it is very true of the former mistress of Beauvoir. T think the educated American voice is pretty much the same everywhere" said Mrs Davis But think the greatest tax on the pleasing quality of the American voice is the present public school system. In large cities, where the classes in the public schools are necessarily very large the constant effort to make ones self heard by all pitches the tones so high that children-the greatest Of all imitators. of course-follow their teachers in this, and the result Is shown in harsh strident, and angular tones. often think the southern woman has been most blessed In her sur roundings. and looking back, I am very thankful that there were some things in the south. as there still are, beyond pur- chase and price. I recall visit l made at Beauvoir one summer before that dear home was sold, when an amusing incident happened which has never since strength ened this feeling of appreciation. After the war it was extremely difficult to get good servantsa trouble, believe, which has grown steadily worse not only in the south. but everywhere. At Beauvoir is remote in the country I. of course. experi- enced even more distress in this line than other housekeepers. It so happened that this summer of which I sneak I en- gagged for my cook an excellent Irish woman, whose skill was fine and whose wages were high. That summer it had come about that more than the usual quota of visitors came our way, and at the end of my cooks first week more than