Named Entity Results
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 1

-hearted, tender preux chevalier of the old regime, who, when promotion was to have been expected at Secretary Davis's hands, never made any pretence of leaning toward Southern opinions, would sit in almost total darkness and talk army matters, explorations, Indians, anything by which he thought he could lighten the tedium of these gloomy hours-and often holding Mr. Davis's hand with the tenderness of a woman. The brave old Colonel came to Washington intent upon having satisfaction from General Harney, for a discourtesy he thought had been done to him, .and asked Colonel Hardie to be his friend in the altercation; and in the course of his conversation with Mr. Davis, which was carried on through me, my husband inquired, You do not want to fight, of course, but to have this matter explained and the wrong acknowledged. Well, I do not know, said the old gentleman, I rather think I prefer fighting. It was, however, happily settled without resort to violent measures. Colonel Hardie,

were Lord and Lady Napier in Washington. Mr. Seward came for an hour daily, and sometimes ofteneudience is inattentive or seems ill at ease. Mr. Seward said, I do not, it is rather a relief to me ny liberties of expression with him, I said, Mr. Seward, how can you make, with a grave face, those North. Mr. Davis said, very much shocked at Mr. Seward's answer, But, Mr. Seward, do you never speaMr. Seward, do you never speak from conviction alone? Nev-er, answered he. Mr. Davis raised up his blindfolded head, and with mujudge, I never spoke from any other motive. Mr. Seward put his arm about him and gently laid down hroat had been for some time pretty well; but Mr. Seward came daily until the day Mr. Davis was takente on an appropriation for the coast survey. Mr. Seward and I both objected earnestly, but Mr. Daviss gentle and perfect work. After many weeks Mr. Seward said he might, with the practice of a racont the most prejudiced of his antagonists. Mr. Seward's was a problematical character full of con

is time there was a congress of medical men in Washington, and fortunately our dear friend and family physician, Dr. Thomas Miller, brought the great specialist, Dr. Hayes, of Philadelphia, to see our poor sufferer, though he had been previously ably attended also by Dr. William Stone, of the District. Mr. Davis's anguish was inte cannot. While they examined the eye Mr. Davis sat in the room which had the full morning light streaming through it, that the doctors might see its condition. Dr. Hayes turned to me as I stood holding the emaciated hand that wrung mine at every pang, and said, I do not see why this eye has not burst. My husband felt for the sld excelled by this blessed memory. He sat patiently until the examinations were over, without a word of remonstrance, and was taken nearly fainting back to bed. Dr. Hayes asked me if he was never irritable and remarked such patience surpasses that of man, it is godlike. There he lay, silent, uncomplaining, anxious to save everyon

these gloomy hours-and often holding Mr. Davis's hand with the tenderness of a woman. The brave old Colonel came to Washington intent upon having satisfaction from General Harney, for a discourtesy he thought had been done to him, .and asked Colonel Hardie to be his friend in the altercation; and in the course of his conversation with Mr. Davis, which was carried on through me, my husband inquired, You do not want to fight, of course, but to have this matter explained and the wrong acknowledged. Well, I do not know, said the old gentleman, I rather think I prefer fighting. It was, however, happily settled without resort to violent measures. Colonel Hardie, too, came very often, and sat reading and writing for him when I had driven out for fresh air for an hour. The English minister at that time was Lord Napier, afterward Governor of India. He, too, used to come like a healthy, tender boy, and brought a reminiscence of sunshine and cheer with him to Mr. Davis's bedside. He

Chapter 41: the winter of 1859. In 1859 there was an unspoken feeling of avoidance between the political men of the two sections, and even to some extent between such of their families as had previously associated socially together. Unconsciously, all tentative subjects were avoided by the well-bred of both sections; it was only when some bull in a china shop galloped over the barriers good breeding had established, that there was anything but the kindest manner apparent. Still the restr1859 there was an unspoken feeling of avoidance between the political men of the two sections, and even to some extent between such of their families as had previously associated socially together. Unconsciously, all tentative subjects were avoided by the well-bred of both sections; it was only when some bull in a china shop galloped over the barriers good breeding had established, that there was anything but the kindest manner apparent. Still the restraint was unpleasant to both sides, and induced a rather ceremonious intercourse. I remember a general start at a dinner party, when Mrs. F., a very well-bred, refined, excellent woman said, An abolitionist friend of ours. Those of us-at least half of the company — who were from the South felt the neutrality of the feast had not been preserved, and Mr. Davis whispered to his Southern vis-a-vis, Suppose we were to speak of our barn-burner friends. In the winter of 1858 Mr. Davis, in the mids