faction among the ease-loving minority in the different cities, and many appeals for a prolonged stay; but the Secretary was inflexible. However, he ran when the wives appealed, and always showed the "white feather" to them, but without surrendering at discretion.

At this same time Mr. Dobbin was in trouble on account of the projected reorganization of the navy, and many were dropped. One of them who had fared badly thus explained the situation to me: “There are, you see, three causes for dismissal, mental, moral, and physical unfitness. I had all three."

There were fine old men who had never for a moment believed the navy could exist without them, but who for some good reason had been "waiting orders" for fifteen years, from whom all means of existence were taken away when they were too old to work. They woke up from comfort and dignity, to find themselves poverty-stricken and discredited, for at that time there was neither an army nor a navy retired list. The injustice was manifest, and their grief and humiliation most painful to witness. The whole city pulsated with sympathy.

The Retiring Board, presided over by Com. modore Shubrick, was composed of the best men available for the purpose, but, of course, private pique was one of the reasons assigned

for their action, and the atmosphere was murky with tears and indignation. Mr. Dobbin actually became feverish and all unstrung under the pressure brought to bear upon him. A lady pursued him so relentlessly that he said: "My dear Madam, you shall, if you please, have my resignation to hand to the President, if you think you can procure a reversal of the decision from anyone else."

One poor woman met me in the Senate gallery, and said, "What can they mean by unfitness, my husband is six feet two in his stocking feet." An example of the non sequitur in reasoning which is not often excelled. Under the pleadings of the unfortunates, in which all classes united, many of them were restored to their positions, but it was necessarily a time of great trial, and the ruin of a great many who were lost that the navy might live.

This experience added new vigor to Mr. Davis's efforts to introduce a retired list, as he was most painfully depressed by the mortification and suffering of his old friends.

During his four years in the Cabinet he worked with an increasing ardor that tired out all his assistants-sometimes he came home. to dinner at two o'clock in the morning, bringing with him his dear friend and coadjutor, Colonel Samuel Cooper, Adjutant-General of the United States Army, who, being much

older than my husband, looked ready to faint. Luncheon with wine was often sent from home to the War Department, but Mr. Davis forgot to eat or offer the repast to the Colonel.

When Mr. Buchanan came into office, Colonel Cooper gravely said that the consolation he felt for losing Mr. Davis was that he could rest; "for," said he, "another four years would have killed me; Mr. Davis is never tired, he takes no account of time."

Amidst all this eager labor, the humblest soldier could get an interview with him as readily as the greatest general.

One day a woman called at our house before he was up, at seven o'clock, and was given audience; after a half-hour's talk with her, Mr. Davis came in to our breakfast-room with a soiled, yelling little boy by one hand, and followed by a frowsy young woman with a crying baby. He ordered a chair placed for her at the table, courteously invited her to be seated, and led the child up to me, saying,

My little man, there is a lady who comforts crying boys." After quiet was restored, it was developed that she had come to appeal from a sentence pronounced against her husband, who was a private in the ranks, and Mr. Davis had promised I should take care of the children until she could go to visit the President and appeal for a pardon. He accom

panied her and secured it, while I performed the expiatory sacrifice at home. The poor creature came back in the course of time, bringing me a note from my husband begging that the family might have an early dinner, a dollar be given to each of the children, and the butler be sent to pay their passage and see them off safely on the train.

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This was not an isolated instance; for hundreds could be cited of his tender consideration for the helpless or sorrowful people who came to him.

I once became very tired of the visits of a poor little dwarfish insane man, known in Washington for having expressed his intention to murder Mr. Clay. This little outcast came very often to see and levy upon Mr. Davis for contributions, and I said, “I do not know how you can bear with him, he is so intrusive." He looked troubled and said, "Perhaps if he were agreeable he would not care to call so often it is a dreadful fate to be distraught and friendless." When the poor man was troublesome to others, and af ter he had been committed to the insane asy. lum, my husband sent supplies of letter paper and envelopes to him in order that he might follow his inclination to write long ietters to everybody, and Mr. Davis personally answered those addressed to him.

His heart was so tender that he was sometimes betrayed into misplaced sympathy. There was a poor disfigured creature spent by disease, with a talent for mendicancy, who used to sit in front of the War Department and knit stockings winter and

summer.

Every day the messenger of the Department, Patrick Jordan, was instructed to pay her a small sum of money, and at last he insisted on my sending her a little cushion to prevent her taking cold, though Patrick always declared that she was rich and a "practised outlaw." This messenger became so attached to him and served him so well, that when we left Washington Mr. Davis gave him a handsome gold pencil-case. Some years ago, when Patrick died he left the pencil to be returned. Mr. Davis found much comfort in the loving message which accompanied the pencil, and his eyes were misty with tears as he closed the widow's note.

He abhorred the idea of oppressing the weak so greatly, that it was a difficult matter to keep order with children or servants. If the children were sent from the table for misconduct he called them to kiss him before they went, and our little girl Margaret Howell, who was born about this time, would as soon as she could talk say, "I wish I could see my father, he would let me be bad."