January 3, 1908.
My Dear Mrs. Behan:
Since we met, the Old Year, with its joys and sorrows, has passed to the great volume of departed years, and the "New" has dawned with its unwritten treasury; I trust that it will pour into your lap only the good things of life, thus making each of its days bright for you. Your letter came on the first and found that I was absent in Houston, where I had been called to the burial of Mrs. Abson Jones, the widow of the last President of the Republic of Texas. * * * But to the subject of your letter—and in reply I will say that it is a privilege to serve on the committee which will endeavor to have Mr. Davis' name restored to "Cabin John Bridge," and I was sorry to have missed the discussion of that matter last spring during the meeting of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, in Richmond. Mrs. Rosenberg and I were invited out to luncheon and were late in getting back to the meeting, when we found that it had been brought up and the resolution passed to take up this matter and try to bring about such restoration. Jn the interest of truthful history, this should be done; and in any way that I can assist this devoutly-wished consummation I am at your service, and I do hope that this may be accomplished in this contennial year of President Davis' birth, and that by June 3d it will be restored. With much appreciation of your appointment, and many thanks for your good wishes and gracious words, believe me,
Cordially your friend,
Mrs. William J. Behan, President Confederated Southern Memorial Association:
My Dear Madam,—It will afford me great pleasure to serve you upon a committee to secure the restoration to the Washington Aqueduct or "Cabin John Bridge" of the inscription placed upon the original structure while the Hon. Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War.
