Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-12
MRS. w. H. FELTON'S 18Th BIRTHDAY

CUNDAY was the eighty-eighth birthday
~ of the first woman Senator of the Unit
~ ed States, and Mrs. W. H. FELTON, sat at
her home in Gainesville and received tele-
grams and callers and turned the golden key
that unlocks a treasure chest of memories
And which of these shining jewels, memo
ries Of life rich in achievement, meant
most to her? All, if you are woman you
will know, and if you are a man, perhaps
you cannot understand at all. For feminine
milestones are marked always by such intan-
gible things as have to do with the dreams of
youth and the ma &c wand of love. first
party an evening frock, q glance from eyes
across a crowded room-these are the true
epochs
But let Mrs FELTON, tell you about them in
her own words, her eyes still bright with the
youth of seven-yearOld Rebecca Latt1mer and
that first birthday party.
1--WE lived at Belmont, on the road from
Decatur to CovingtOn," she explained, land
the schoOlhouse was only short distance
from our home. All my schoolmates attended
the party in a body. At that time you know
we had all the slaves we needed, and work
was nothing. I had my own little darby girl
just to wait on me. The table was set out I'M
der big cedar tree in the yard, and l poured
tea and felt very grOWn-up and important.
The floors in the house were waXed like glass,
and l remember one of the boys had on new
pair of shoes and fell spraWling before the
whole company. He grew up to be a very
important person, but [ never saw him after
ward without thinking of that time.
Rode Pacing Mule
81 had a pony of my own from the time
was six years old, and we used to ride Il great
deal My friends would come by for me, and
father would always say, Take care of the
little girl He thought l behaved very pref
tily. but when we got out of sight of the
house I would race with the best of them.
Sometimes the saddle would slip around and
deposit me on the ground, but my pony didn't
mind. One of our favOrite diversions was
singing school. You see, we had a strict
Presbyterian preacher and dancing wasn't al
lowed. I rode horseback until 1 was seventy.
remember once I didn't have saddle horse,
SO l rode a pacing mule, and he was one OF
the best mounts l ever had.
II don't mean to say" right here Mrs. Eel
ton will smile with that mischievous CLEAN
in her eyes, that l never did go to any
dances-but we didn't dance like they do
now. We danced the Virginia reel.
"And I've been on the stage, too like
regular show gal That in perform
ance of 'Ernani,' given at Monroe. And also
played the banjo
Mrs. FELTON, still has more pep than the
average flapper. You marvel at what she
must have been like then.
II was graduated from Madison Female
college at seventeen, with honors" she con-
tinued. Sherman burned the buildings
down when he went through Madison, and
they were never rebuilt DR.. FELTON, delivered
the graduation address, and called me little
girl Right away he came courtin', and a
year later we were married
1T was a day wedding, and I wore my
travelling Dress silver gray cashmere. We
had dinner at my home and then drove seven
miles to the nearest railroad station. We had
to stop over in Atlanta, as We couldn't make
connection to Gainesville until the next day.
And I've lived in Gainesville ever since. My
sons house, where I live today, is on land ad-
joining our original plantation.
s"Of course, there were absences brought
about by the war and politics. With my serv-
ants and two SMALL children l Tefugeed in
front of Shermans march until we finally got
out of the way near Macon.
"After the everything on our planta-
ton was in ruins-and | didn't have my
babies, either" Mrs. FELTON, smiled sadly
1--WE had five children in all, but my son
Howard is the only one living"
A Most Notable Dress
Everyone knows how Mrs. FELTON, managed
her husbands political campaign writing
speeches and letters driving with him in
buggy over fourteen counties, and standing
shoulder to shoulder through everything. DR..
FELTON, served in the Georgia legislature and
later was member of Congress for three
terms from 1875 to 1881.
81 never shall forget" she says, "the dress
| / wore to my first White House reception. 1t