The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-08

A southern Girl h ss1. The War Time Memories of Confederate Sem ator's Daughter. By Mrs. D. Girard Wright. Mrs Wright was Miss Louise wigfall, daughter of Senator Louis Trexevant Wigfall. of Marshall. Texas.
 At the opening of the war between the States Miss Wigfall was fourteen
 Her book begins. as does that one of the series already part of every Alabama. library, "A Belle of the Fif- ties" with a Journey. This journey lacks the length and the events, ana the historical value of Mrs clay olina to Alabama. Miss Wigfalrs Journey in family coach was from Marshall to Austin, Texas. The prairie country at that season was yellow with autumn grasses, in spring blue with blossoms of the buffalo-clover Is the way were an accidental setting of the prairie grasses on fire, and the partial sinking of their equipage into the quicksands of the Brazos River. There are few stories of child hood spent in an honey -combed embow- cred home with many negroes slaves all faithful and affectionate. of barbe- cues, of commencement exercises. of a trip by sea from Galveston to New Orleans, by river from New Orleans to Memphis, by rail from Memphis to Washington. Senator Wigfall was elected United States Senator 50, and was carrying his family to the Ma tion's capital.
 Of our Mrs. ay-Clopton Miss Wig fall writes:
 Among the many interesting peo- ple at Browns were Senator Clement lC Clay and his brilliant wife. Mrs. Clay was a woman of great vivacity, and rare charm of woman; her clever. ness and wit made her a delightful companion, and her lively sallies at the great fancy ball, in the winter or '5S where she personated Mrs. Parting ton with a growing young friend in attendance as Ike will long be re- membered."
 Of the grace with which Mrs. Clay adorned her adornments the writer adds:
 Here I saw, for the first time, what was then called dollar jeweiry' ana this was when Mrs. Clay came down to dinner one night, very elegantly gowned, her ornaments being a beau, tiful set of carbuncles, which sparkieo and glowed in the lamp light. After having called attention to her new ac- quisitions and had them duly ad- mired, she laughinglyfconfess that she had purchased the gems at the | dollar store as a present for her mald; This happy, buoyant temper enabled | her to bear up under the sorrows or | the coming years, when her nuspahu' sent as a commissioner from the Con | federacy to Canada, was. on his re- turn. imprisoned on a charge of com | plicity with the assassination or Lin coin (fancy Clement Clay, the nopiest, kindest, most gentle of men, In the character of an assassinD and thouSn n
 released after months of suffering ana hardship, never recovered his health or spirits"
 Another glimpse of Mrs. Clay IS given. It was just after Gen. J. E. | Johnstons removal, General Hood be- | ing given command of the Army of | Tennessee, many from Virginia and | other beleaguered States were seeking | quiet in Georgia The writer thus re- lates the incident:
 T shall never forget a scene which occurred at the church door on General Johnstons first appearance at service | after his removal. Mrs. Clement Clay, | wife of the former United States Sena- l tor from Alabama, had, with her nus band, the warmest admiration and af- fectionate friendship for General John-
 ston. She was as impulsive and dem
 onstrative as he was shy and reserved. Her feelings of indignation at his re- moval were at a white heat. She not only felt incensed, but she wanted | everyone to know that fact and the depth of her sympathy. They had not met since his arrival in Macon, and catching sight of the old hero, as with reverent mein and modest air he moved | with the crowd through the church door, she rushed up to him with hands
 outstretched, and, rising on tip-toe imprinted on His bronzed cheek warm kiss of love and sympathy, in the face of the whole congregation. The effect was magical. A low murmur went around among the people, tears sprang into many eyes as they saw the blush mount to his brow at this spontaneous tribute to the love which we bore him
 Mrs Clay had only expressed our feel
 ings, and, surrounded by a half laugh ing. half fearful crowd, the old Gen.
 eral made his way down the church steps and hurried homewards."
 | The sketches of the men of the time are simply, intimately and well drawn Quite naively the author tells of her fathers several affairs of honor. of his firm belief in the duello. An amusing
 anecdote is told of General John C.
 Breckinridge's entrance into London
 society By some meilatre he was ushered into the presence of the Countess of Blank without being an