Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-27

Hawk by the chief of the southern
confederacy will be quoted for many
years to come. 1t is one of those gen.
erous tributes which only brave meD
pay to each other. Taken in connec-
ton with what Black Hawk said Of
the same affair-the crossing of the
Wisconsin river-it establishes a
point in history which will be valuable
hereafter,
"Mr. Davis was quite compliment
airy in his mention OF Black Hawk.
HIS remarks contrasted very pointed
~ with what some writer's Of this day
have to say of the old chieftain. It
has been quite the style to censure
Black Hawk as though he was blood
thirsty. woman and baby killer, with
no redeeming qualities. People who
write in this manner seem to forget
that Black Hawk was an Indian, brain
Ter than any other man in his tribe,
but still possessed Of the character
istics of an Indian. Somehow, how
ever, Black Hawk seems to have i'm
pressed his individuality upon all the
whites who knew him, and the old set
tiers who have come down from his
day respected him very highly.
Saw Mrs. Davis.
Some time after this visit met
Mrs. Davis at the New York hotel,
where she lived several years with
her daughter, Miss Winnie. Mrs.
Davis had written memoir Of her
husband which was attempted to be
published by firm in New York, but
the book was much Of botch. 1t was
printed upon very poor paper and pub
lished without an index. On my first
visit to her, she told me Of her trouble
with the publishers and deprecated
the fact that the book had to appear
without an index. She said. however,
that another edition was likely to be
issued which she hoped would be sup
piled with an index. She accepted my
offer to call upon the publishers and
discuss the matter Of the Index and
some other details In the matter Of
publication. did 80 on the following
day and reported to her that the pub
fishers would provide the book with
an index and send copies Of 1t to
everybody who had purchased 1t. be-
Ieve, however, that the publishers had
partially failed short time before
and that their failure became com
plete only a short time afterwards. Be
that as it may, the book was a matter
of great loss to Mrs. Davis. The copy
she gave me Is now in the historical
library. It speaks Of many western
men and would be very, valuable
work had 1t been provided with, an In
dex. AS it is, one must hunt long be-
fore he finds any name to which he
wishes to refer. / think she was un-
fortunate In her choice Of a publisher.
Miss Davis Brilliant.
Her daughter was a very bright
young woman of perhaps 81 or %
years of age. She had already written
one book, monograph on the Life
of Robert Emmett / am quite GER
tain that she had 1t in contemplation
to write other books, but within a year
or two after this she became affiicted
with some organic disease which soon
ended her days. believe she was a
person Of very high merit and had she
lived she would have become dlstin.
guished in literature.
"When I met Jefferson Davis was
astonished to see the lofty manner in
which he bore himself in the face Of
his great misfortunes. l learned that
many people from the north who visit.
ed Beauvoir through curiosity were in
the habit of discussing the civil war
In manner which was very displeas.
ing to the Davis family. However
they could not help but hear It, al
though they hal their own opinions Of
people who SO far forgot the claims Of
decency and hospitality. belisYe that
Mrs. Davis suffered more mentally over
the outcome OF the civil war than did
her husband. At least she did not
have the power to treat the matter as
he did. She impressed me as a most
amiat:e and excellent lady, who made
the best Of her surroundings when they
were left SO nearly without country.
When my time came to IS to the
station Mr.. Davis ordered his carriage
with the colorad driver, who took ne
thitl.cr. was most kindly entertain.
ed and had secured d manuscript
which l prize, and which has been es-
pecfally interesting to all who have
seen my autograph collection in the
historical department. On reaching
home sent to Mr.. Davis cane which
/ had cut at Abbotsford and had had
manufactured after reached home.
sent Mrs. Davis a large book OF en-
cravings. For these gifts / received
letters of great kindness and apprecia
ton which may now be seen in my col.
lection"
SEYMOUR.