The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-31
MRS. DAVIS A DEVOTED WIFE.
was Her Husbands Constant Com
panion and Adviser.

EJaDtOn anu 1uN1SCA.
on his way to a political meeting Ct
yicksburg one December day 6S years
ago jefferson Davis paid visit to his
hrotber's place, the Hurricane, near
Natchez, Miss. The host, eager to en-
sertain his brother, sent a saddle
horse to the Howell home to bring
pretty 1s-year-old girl VINO had just
returned from school in Philadelphla
That was how the man who came to
oe president of the Southern Confeo-
eracw met varina Howell, and two
vears later they were married.
From then until Jefferson DAVIS
died in New Orleans in 1889, his wife
was with him, in peace and war. AS
x5eyoted to the Confederate cause as
ner husband himself, she could hard
w be persuaded to leave Richmond
when Grant began to close IN around
if in 1865. Mrs. Jefferson Davis was
her husbands constant assistant ana
adviser. And her tribute to him. a
znemoir in two big volumes, still sur
wives. a. valuable historical record OF
the doings in Richmond from 1861
TO 1865.
Mrs. Davis was born at Natchez on
May 7, 1926. Her grandfather was
the Governor Of New. Jersey and her
father was clerk in the Bank OF
the United States. AS young girl
she went to Philadelphia to school,
and it was on her return home, for
the Christmas holidays, that she met
Jefferson Davis. He was a widower
ahen. 30 years old, and just at the be-
ginning of his political career. In a
letter written soon after she net him.
Warina Howell said:
SCI do not know whether this MT.
Jefferson Davis is young or OLD. he
looks both at times; but I believe ne
is old. for from what hear he is only
two years younger than you are. He
5mpresses me as remarkable kind OF
man. but of uncertain temper, and
mas a way of taking for granted that
everybody agrees with him when he
expresses an opinion, which 'offends
me: yet he is most agreeable, and mas
a peculiarly sweet voice and win
ming manner of asserting himself. The
fact is, he is the kind Of person L
should expect him to rescue one from a
mad dog at any risk, but to insist up
on q, stocial Indifference to the fright
afterward. I do not think that shall
ever like him as I do his brother Joe.
would you Believe it, he is refined
and cultivated, and yet he is Dem
~ocrat.''
The wedding took place February
20. 1917. AMI. in that same year JET
serson Davis was elected member of
Congress. From that year to the
Civil War a great deal Of the Da-
vis's time was spent in Washington
Mr.. Davis served as senator, as secre-
4ary of war under President Pierce
and then as senator again. In the
preparation OF some Of his ablest
speeches it is said, his wife rendered
him valuable assistance.
When he withdrew from the senate
is January, 1861, he and Mrs. Davis
went back to Mississippi, and the next
month the delegates Of the seeding
States, in convention at Montgomery,
Ala, chosen him President Of the
Confederacy. He went at once to
Richmond, and his wife began pack
ing up their belongings to follow him.
Her journey was turned almost into a
triumphial march. She went by way
of New Orleans, and there a military
company presented to her bouquets of
ylolets. The color of the violets, she
relates, filed her with a sort Of su-
perstitious dread.
In her memoir of her husband Mrs.
Davis tells of their life in Richmond
during the great war. She tells how
the flag captured from the Merrimac
was brought to her, and how the dis
,covery that it was damp with blood
made cher sick and sorrowful over
the dead and dying Of both sections" /"
It was in wartime that one Of her
children was killed by a fall, and she
writes Of the accident thus:
"on April 80 I left my children
quite well, playing in my room, and
had just uncovered my basket in Mr..
Davis Office when servant came for
me. The most beautiful and bright
est of my children, Joseph Emory,
had in play climbed over the connect
ing angle Of banister and had fallen
TO the brick below He died III few