The Kentucky Gazette

TIMES CHANGE.

A KENTUCKY LADY'S TWO VISITS TO CINCINNATI

The First as a Prisoner During the War, the Second to the Present Exposition.

Cincinnati Commercial

Among the party of ladies who accompanied Lieutenant-Governor Cantrell of Kentucky and party in the Exposition raid on Wednesday, to the very doors of the Music Hall, was the sister of Governor Blackburn, Mrs. Mary B. Morris. She is certainly one who is a living proof that the traditions in regard to the charms of manner and conversation of the fair daughters of the Sunny South are yet sustained by those of the State of Kentucky.

Mrs. Morris, though she claimed to be only the chaperone of the young ladies, could illy have been spared from the party. Her pleasant voice, sparkling with that almost imperceptible but charming shadow of Southern accent, was heard more than that of the others as she gracefully accepted proffered attentions or offered the return of the far-famed hospitality of the South to those who cordially received her.

In common with the others of the Governor's party, she expressed herself as greatly delighted with her visit to the Exposition, she had in that connection but one regret, and that was that her stay was necessarily so short, as the duty of receiving at the Governor's Mansion during the absence of himself and wife at Memphis is prevented her from remaining over another day.

With the floral display she expressed herself as more than delighted—indeed, as amazed; it is to be regretted that our Kentucky friends did not choose some day when the flowers were in their first bloom of beauty and fragrance.

But the exhibits of pottery seemed to astonish her more than aught else, and she expressed herself as greatly amazed at what had been done in Cincinnati in that beautiful art.

Mrs. Morris is a charming conversationalist, and at the same time a Southerner in heart and education. So, therefore, it was not strange that she should refer to the past and express earnestly the wish that such excursions as that of the Southern railroad and many more to Expositions and festivals might do away with even the shadow of the memory of the past.

She referred pleasantly, by way of contrast with her recent visit, to the last time she was in Cincinnati. She lived during the war at Chicago, and whenever and in whatever manner she could she sent aid and comfort to the Southern prisoners who were confined at Camp Douglas.

Under the famous order of Burnside she was arrested and brought to this city, and for two weeks was kept in the McLean Barracks. Two hard boards were her bed, one gray army blanket her cover, her muff constituting the pillow. The room in which she was confined was a trifle too well ventilated when the low temperature was considered, as many of the window panes were missing and the wind whistled dismally through the openings. Added to this was the coarse prison fare that together with other privations worked damaging results to her health for a number of years afterward.

She was finally summoned before the Judge Advocate, and at this interview a cousin of hers, a prominent Union officer named Miller, and who, to all her assertions would remark to the Judge, "I told you she would say that; now you see I was right."

To the question whether or not she had often wilfully aided the prisoners by money and clothing, she replied, "Well, yes, Judge, as often as I could; unfortunately I did not always have the means to do so, and that is my only regret."

"Madame," said the Judge, "did you not know that was against orders?"

"I knew nothing about orders, sir. I only remembered that those men were my people."

"Would you do the same again if you were released?"

"Certainly, sir, whenever I had the money to do it with."

Her candor and spirit won for her more consideration than any other course would have done, and soon the rigors of her confinement were lessened, and she fared better during the remaining part of her four months imprisonment.

She likewise referred to Morgan's men, and regretted the sad fate that overwhelmed the flower of Kentucky. On one occasion she asked the Union officer in command at Camp Douglas why, since Morgan always treated his prisoners with so much consideration, when his men were captured they were guarded with so much severity.

The answer was: "Mrs. Morris, to tell you the truth, it is because they are such dare devils; not one of them but would gladly risk his life for a bare chance to escape."

Mrs. Morris again expressed the wish that all who was good and brave on both sides might be remembered as the heritage of a common country, and that all the bitterness of the old days would be forever buried.

As she talked the thought must have come to every one that some goodly portion of the talent of oratory that has caused her brother to be called the silver-tongued orator of Kentucky, had also been given to his sister, Mrs. Morris.

All who had the honor and pleasure of conversation with her, could not fail to wish she could again have become a prisoner in Ohio, but under very different guards and conditions. They would have given her the best the city could offer in the way of dainty fare, and have made her prison gay with buds and flowers and the most entertaining society.

Time brings changes! A few years ago and General Butler was in command at New Orleans, while Mrs. Morris, undergoing the rigors of an extemporized prison made in an old rickety building, thought of no one else with as much horror as she considered Gen. Butler. On Wednesday the Northern General who had made himself detested at the South, and the Southern captive who had learned to think hard things of the North, stood conversing gayly and pleasantly.

The hand of the Union soldier and the white palm of the daughter of the "Sunny South" were clasped with that good will that made the bloody chasm disappear.

It is not to be wondered at that to Mrs. Morris and the young ladies in her charge was presented a handsome floral tribute as they left the building for the special train that was to convey them home.

Visitors at the floral display of Tuesday have not forgotten the beautiful white shield, on which, in purple immortelles, was worked as a word of welcome, and for fragrant remembrance, the word "Kentucky." That beautiful design was placed in the carriage that bore the ladies from the Exposition.

When they reached the train and entered their sleeping car, nothing was too much trouble that enabled them to carefully guard their prized treasure. They had pillows brought out, and there they laid the design as though it had been an infant.

It was decided by them that as early as possible after their arrival a photograph of the sweet memento of the trip should be taken, in order that its shadow might still remind them of their charming visit to the Exposition.

May there be nothing in the future for the lovely daughters of Kentucky to remember less pleasant than their too fleeting stay in Ohio, and their one glimpse of the hospitable city on the banks of that beautiful river that the two states may claim.