The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-07
Daughters to Receive
Portrait of Mrs. JEFF
ferson Davis.
PRESIDENT MAY
BE NEW YORKER
Some Opposed to Going Away
From South for Leader-Open-
ing Exercises Tonight at
Academy. When Flags
Will Be Given Local
Commands.

oVershadowing in interest every
other event of the Richmond conven-
ton will be the presentation to the
Daughters OF the Confederacy of the
only full-sized portrait of Mrs. Jcffer-
son Davis ever painted from life, and
conceded by those who knew her, and
art critics generally, as the best por-
trait OF her eXtant. 1t was painted
by Mrs. Jenny Delony Rice. now Mrs.
L. "A. Meyrowitz, of New York, who
arrived yesterday to attend the con-
vention, from sittings given by Mrs
Davis with her hearty approval and
understanding that 1t was to be the
portrait of historic record
The presentation ; of this portrait
eonesday evening at the Jefferson
Davis Mansion will be one of the sig
niicant features of the present con-
vention. and will assume greater i'm
portance as the years go by. bringing
with them the gradual passing away
of those who knew Mrs. Davis in life,
and leaving open to succeeding gem
erations only this avenue for knowing
the first lady OF the Confederacy"
Painted From Life.
The portrait was painted in the last
year of Mrs. Daviss life. and has been
pronounced absolutely faithful in
every detail. Mrs Meyrowitz, the ar
fist vino completed the task, is
native of Arkansas, but has spent
most OF her life in New York and in
the art centres of Europe In pur-
suance OF her life work.
The painting shows Mrs Davis scat
ed in u carved mahogany chair against
curtain of crimson velvet, with an
open book on her lap The face wears
an expression of seriousness BORDERING
on sadness. She is dressed in simple
black gown, with collars and cuffs OF
rose point. The collar IL fastened by
brooch in the form of diamond
crown and pendant, and on her right
breast Is II group of badges. the in
sigma Of the Daughters of the Con-
federal y11--tifSaSss--ifugueno sSeelety, and
other ORGANIZATIONS to which she be-
longed.
Mrs. Meyrowitz not only painted the
portrait; she has also designed the
architectural frame. 1t consists OF two
columns, with Corinthian capitals, such
as grace many Southern mansion:
crossed By u cornice on top. The base
OF the frame suggests wide portico,
and ii Is not difficult to see that the
WIole represents a southern doorway,
in the centre OF which Mrs. Davis Is
sitting.
The artist was close personal
friend OF Mrs. Davis. and 1t was largely
due to her suggestion and initiative
that Mrs. Mcyrowitz became Il mem
Der OF tile New York Chapter OF the
United Daughters OF the Confederaoy.
Convention Opens Tonight,
Everything Is in readiness Tor the
eighteenth annual convention OF the
United Daughters of the Confedcracy,
which viii be formally opened this
evening at the Academy OF Music with
addresses of welcome by Governor VIII
liam Hodges Mann and Mayor D. q:
Richardson, and with an Interesting
program OF opening exercises. Dele
gates have arrived in large numbers,
and an unusually big attendance is
expected. one ~ the impressive fca-
lures Of the meeting this evening will
DC the presentation to the Richmond
Light Infantry Blues and To the How
tiers OF two battle flags by Mrs. Stone
wall jackson and Mrs j. L. B. Stuart
Widow OF the cavalry leader Both
commands VIII be present in full dress
uniform, and will add TO the color and
hriliiancy OF the spectacle.
the Richmond Chapter of the Daugil-
tiers, official host to the conventions
has established a bureau of nforma.
lion ut the Jefferson Hotel in charge
oi the Junior Hollywood Associa ton
which WAS busy all day yesterday fur
hlS'Ains information In regard to notels
boarding houses, badges. tickets, pro-
grams and notices OF every kind. This
service will be continued throughout
the week for the convenience of the
visitors
several preliminary committee meet
ings will take place to- day The OK
ccutive committee Will meet at tho
Jefferson Hotel at 10 o'clock this
morning. and will be followed by a
meeting OF the Arlington Monument
Committee at ii y NJ. At o'clock
in the afternoon viii take place the
IN cot inn Ms IN -
mittce.
Four In Race for President.
one Of the big contests of the pres.
ent convention will centre about the
election of the president general 70
succeed Mrs. Virginia Faulkner Nc.
Sherry. the retiring executive. rh,
office becomes vacant every two years
and is the most sought after honor In
the power of the Daughters to bestow
SO far only four candidates have open
" entered the rucc-Mrs. Alexander
b. White. of Paris, Tenn: Mrs james
Britton CAN'T. of Jefferson City. No.;
Mrs. Halliburton, OF Little Rock, Ark,
and Mrs. Livingston Rowe Schuyler. OF
New YORK;. Other women are men
toned for the office. but have not yet
come out into the open
An element OF discord is likely to be
Injected into the race because of the
fact that one OF the candidates, Mrs
SCHUYLER, is from New York, State
outside the pale of the old Coafeder-
acy, In the case OF the other three
candidates this question does not
arise, 1t is pointed out by some that
TO elect as head of the Daughters Of
the Confederacy a woman who makes
her residence in section of the coun-
try which was active in the war
against the Confederacy. would create
an anomalous condition of affairs, and