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Kate Pulitzer
- University of Georgia Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
KatePulitzer august3,1898 WemetWinnieDavisforthefirsttimetwelveyearsago,ataparty inSyracuse.MyhusbandandIarrivedabittardilyandwere informedbythehost,“OuryoungfriendfromMississippiisin thesideparlor.ShespeaksfluentFrenchandGerman,playsthe pianoonanartisticlevel,publishesliteraryworksofremarkable erudition,andpaintsdelightfullandscapes.” Preoccupiedasusualwithhishealthandbusinessconcerns, Josephhadnoideawhotheguestofhonorwas.PerhapsIhad neglectedtotellhimtherewasone.“Withallthoseaccomplishments ,themissfromMississippishouldmakeafinegoverness,” hesaidgrumpilyasIledhimtowardtheoval-facedgirlwhosat likeaprincessinanappropriatelygildedchair.Winnieprojects greatphysicalcharm.Shehasexcellentpostureandaratherathletic build.Tallerthanmostwomen,shecanmeetaman’sgaze onhislevel,althoughIamnotsurethatisanadvantageforeither ,sinceshewon’tbedeferentialtohim.Herfacejustmisses being beautiful. Those large pewter-colored eyes are the best feature,andthesymmetryisarresting;shehasherfather’spatrician cheekbones.Iespeciallyapprovedofhergowninarather katepulitzer 43 daringshadeofapricotthatbroughtouttheslightlygoldencast ofhercomplexion.Ilaterlearnedthefabrichadbeenagiftto hermother,whohaditmadeupbyoneofthoseseamstresses whotravelfromhousetohouse.Upper-classSouthernwomenin reducedcircumstanceshaveaknackformakingdoinmattersof stylesothattheyandtheirdaughtersareneverembarrassedby orfeeltheymustapologizefortheirappearance. IwashappytoseeAlfredWilkinson,apersonableyoungattorney whosefamilyhasbeenprominentinSyracusesincethat city’sfounding,waskeepinghercompany.“Goodevening,Fred,” Isaid.Hebowed,havingstoodandallbutclickedhisheelstogether themomenthesawusapproach.Intheintroduction,he citedheras“MissVarinaAnneDavis,whopreferstobecalled Winnie.” “Whatacharmingnickname,”Isaid,tryingnottowinceasshe shookmyhandwithunnecessaryfirmness. “Thankyou.”Atleast,shedidn’ttalklikeaman.Hervoicewas softandmelodious,andnotparticularlySouthernininflection. “Accordingtomyfather,WinnieisanIndianwordfor‘bright andsunny.’Hehopeditwouldguaranteemeahappydisposition .” “Andofcourseitdid.” “Notentirely.I’mpronetooccasionalspellsofgloom.”The shadowthatflickeredacrossherfacewasquicklydispelledbya smile. “Whoisyourfather?”Josephasked,despitemyhavingreminded him,justbeforewearrived,nottopresspeoplehe’sbarely metabouttheircredentials. “JeffersonDavis,sir,ofMississippi.”Shelookedasifsheexpected tobereprimanded. [54.226.25.246] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 08:41 GMT) 44 devotion HebeamedandclaspedherhandssofirmlyIfearedhemight swingherabout.“ThePresidentoftheSouthernConfederacy! Youarethatremarkableman’sdaughter?” “Yes,Mr.Pulitzer.” “PleasecallmeJoseph.AndofcoursemyyouthfulKatewill nothaveyoucallingherMrs.orMadam.Mydear,Ihavelong admiredyoureminentfatherandlookforwardtomakinghis acquaintanceonmynextjourneySouth.” TherearetimeswhenIfindmyselffigurativelysweepingup aftermyhusband,butthiswasnotoneofthem.Iwasespecially proudofhiskindnesstowardWinniewhenIlearnedshehad receivedlessthangraciousreceptionataneventtheprevious evening.Therewasnoevidenceofhostilityatthisaffair,where mostifnotalltheinvitedwereawarethatourhosts,Dr.Thomas Emoryandhiswife,hadstrongtiestotheJeffersonDavises.Tom Emory’sfatherandMr.DavishadbeenclassmatesatWestPoint. DuringtheWarBetweentheStates,thefamilyallegianceswere divided:GeneralWilliamEmoryservedintheUnionArmy;his sonTom,whowasastudentattheUniversityofVirginiawhen thatstateseceded,joinedtheArmyoftheConfederacy.General Emory’swife,agreat-granddaughterofBenjaminFranklin, andMrs.DaviswereclosefriendsinWashingtonwhenMr.Davis wasintheSenate,andalsowhenhewasamemberofPresident Pierce’scabinet. Winniebehaved...