The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-17
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS DEAD
LIVED TO BE EIGHTY, SURVIVING
HER HUSBAND n YEARS.

Herr About Her Impressions OF Mr.
Davis When n was Varlna W
Mrs. Jefferson Davis. widow Of the Con-
federate President. died at 1925 o'clock
last night in her apartment at the Hotel
Majestic. She had been unco nscious Tor
twenty-four hours. Mrs. Davis caught a
severe cold while driving In Central Park
two weeks ago and pneumonia developed
Her last hours Of consciousness were
spent in recalling old war tim reminls-
oences. Her mind was perfectly clear and
she recognized without difficulty all who
approached her bedside.
With her at the time OF her death were
her pastor, the Rev. DR.. Nathan A. Seagle
Of st. Stephens Episcopal Church; Mrs. D.
Addison Hayes OF Colorado Springs, Mrs.
Davis's only living daughter; DR.. Gerald
d. Webb, and Mrs. Webb, who Ia a grand
daughter; jefferson Hayes Davis OF Prince
ton, N. j., a grandson; Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer
who was Miss Kate Davis; Miss c. f.. Patson'
a niece, and DR.. Robert H. Wylie,
Funeral services will be held at the Hotel
Majestic or St. Stephens on Thursday
afternoon and the body will be taken to
Richmond, Va, for burial.
Mrs. Davis was born in Mississippi,
in old Adams county, in 1926. Varina
Howell, as her maiden name was, be-
came the wife Of LETTERS on Dawn be-
fore she completed her eighteenth year.
Her father was distinguished for service m
New Orleans in the War OF 1872 and the
Howell family was among the most promi-
nent OF that section. She was Mr.. Davis's
- II IL a. .wsf~ IN daNOhfor Nf
Gen. Taylor. having died a short time after
their marriage.
Mra. Davis was known for her clear judg-
ment and she decided the first time that
she saw her future husband that he was
the right man. She wa then II years old
and was invited at that time to come over
to The Hurricane. the Davis place: to
meet jefferson, who had been away from
home for a long time. She had never seen
him before, but he had been making a great
reputation for himself at that time and his
fame had spread throughout the State.
Mr.. Davis was then about 80 years OF
age, tall. Of commanding presence and
counted the most graceful horseman in
the State. II is interesting. to see what
varina Howell wrote about him to a girl
friend after thisf first meeting
Il do not know whether this MIR. Jefferson
Davis is Young or old: he looks both at times.
/ believe he is old. He impresses me as a
remarkable kind of man. but Of uncertain
temper and has a way of akinP FOR granted
that everybody agrees with him when he
expresses an opinion. which ofends me
yet he is most agreeable and has a peculiarly
sweet voice and a winning manner OF assert
ing himself. The fact Ia he Is the kind OF
person / should expect to rescue n from
a mad dog at any risk, but to insist on a
stoical indifference to the fright afterward
I do not think l shall ever like him as | dc
| L.. Iuz,lo- L. Wo.,IA xynta loIinpa 10 ha
is refined and cultivated, and yet he is a
Democrat
Despite her contrary prognostication re-
garding brother Joe, she was married 10
Jefferson Dav Wis the following year. She
went on an extended tour through the South
and was the centre Of attraction for New
Orleans society of that time during her
stav at st. Charles. Later in ngton
she was with her husband all the time,
helping him with his speeches and doing
everything in her power to advance hlm
When the war broke out she went to
Richmond and was with her husband
until his arrest. When he was released
from prison she we'd with him for the
/ remainder Of his life at their old home in
Biloxi, Miss. This was turned into a Con-
federate veterans home in 1899.
From time to time offers OF financial
assistance were made to Mrs. Davis after her
husbands death in 1889 from soCieti les through
the South. She dcclined all these and has
/ preferred TO remain UNepenOenI. one
wrote occasional articles for news.
papers and magazines. In 1903, when
she was in Canada, she was seiZeu with ar
attack OF acute indigestion. The attack
was violent and as she was beginning to IN
In feeble health, it was regarded as the
approach Of the end,
Mrs Davis had a dispute with Gen. Nelson
A. Miles recently when the soldier was
reported to rave made references to a letter
supposed 10 have been written by her thank.
ing him for his treatment of her husband
while in prison. She declared she never
had written such a letter and that the treat,
ment given her husband had been anything
but kline
She had four children. One son fel
of a gallery in Richmond during the
war and was killed. Another son, jefferson
died in Memphis Of yellow fever in 1878
Her daughter, Winnie Davis, called The
Daughter Of the C~onfederacy," died only
few years ago.
Mrs. Davis wrote a history Of her hus
bands life and acted as his amanuensiF
when he wrote the history OF the Confed.
eracy. She lived for a time in England
when he was there but since then had beer
In the United States.