Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-03
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, JULY 81, 1865,

correspondents give 1oVoiiy
counts OF JEFF, Davis condition. 1ester-
dav he was rapidly sinking and the pros
pect was decidedly good that he would
cheat the gallows; to-day his health Is
better than ever before tomorrow he
will very likely have at least one foot IN
the grave again. The Fortress Menroe
correspondent of the New York Herald
re-iterates his statement that Jeffs
health is In critical state, and that out
door exercise has been accorded him for
that reason. The Fortress Monroe cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer
on the other hand, says his health Is
better than when he arrived at the Fort;
that out door exercise is granted on ac-
count of the intense sultriness of the
weather, and not to restore a failing or
broken down physique. So far the weight
of authority is about equal, but the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Times comes to the rescue of the
"good health" side, and says that those
who know how JEFF. Davis is treated,
how he looks and deports himself, and
what is the state Of his health, are very
much amused with the imaginary pic
lures drawn concerning these matters
by certain correspondents. The writer
says that the food furnished the rebel
chief is such as he can eat and relish. He
doesn't have strawberries and cream, nor
boned turkey and mince pies, but he
does have tea and coffee, beef and other
meats, vegetables and cigars, and he
makes no complaint whatever of any de-
priyation. 1t is not true that no one
speaks to Davis. With Ge1. Miles and
DR.. Craven he converses freely, but never
on military or political affairs, such res
ervation being a matter of his own
choice. He receives letters from his
family and those of sympathy and ad-
vice from other quarters, although none
Of the latter have been given to him.
The Times correspondent says:
"When Davis was first incarcerated
he made application for pen, ink and
paper; the application was refused. He
buEu lIlduG uO lNHuNcto lOI S0NGldi
until after the reception of letter from
. an eminent lawyer, when he again re-
quested stationery. 1t was granted on
one condition. Finding it difficult to
comply with the terms hc returned the
materials. He has several times express
ed desire for free correspondence with
his wife and family, and seemed annoyed
\ at the determined refusal given at each
application.
What earthly honest purposes the
presses hope to gain by circulating lies
about Jeff.'s health is difficult to con
ceive. He is in better condition to-day
than he has been in five years. 1t will
be remembered that hacking cough Sc
1 riously affected his throat and lungs
during his last days at Washington; it
has gone entirely. He has been blind of
one eye for many years, and the sight of
the other was exceedingly poor Of late.
The power of his eye is greater now than
at any time in ten years He wears at
times the famous green goggles, but
there is not the need of them now that
there used to be. During his rule at
Richmond the constant strain upon his
eye wore upon it, and it was the opinion
of his best and most intimate friends
that he would eventually lose sight al
together. This is changed for the bet
ter. Regular hours, much sound sleep.
almost total abstinence from wear and
tear, are doing much for his health gen
erally and very much for his eye sight.
His carriage is still erect. His hair is
changing color, his cheeks, always sunk
en-, are now covered with light beard,
n making him look fatter and sounder; his
physique is in good repair, his limbs are
firm and his step square.
Of his mental condition it is more
difficult to speak. He is as eager for
books, for mind food, as he is for the
substantials needed for his body. Natu-
rally nervous, years of ill health have
made him irritable. Other years of alb
solute power made him impatient and
trouble seems to have made him queru-
lous. Still he sleeps like top. He re-
tires early, and sometimes never turns
till morning.
Nor is it true that he has been denied
the privileges of an occasional walk,
any more than is the story that his near
approaching dissolution compelled a
cnange OF programme. Gen. Miles, q
prudent, efficient officer, has been in
ShaIse Vi tue prisoners person and
health. He is, in fact, held responsible
for him by the President and the Secre
tary of War. At first, before the excite
ment of capture and confinement wore
away, it was deemed best that he should
oe kept quietly in his ample room. Since
then, however, at various times, at the
suggestion of the General or of Davis, as
sne case might be, they have walked out
upon the ramparts in the cool of the
early evening, and shifted the fresh air
together. With Gen. Miles, Mr. Davis
has ever been courteous and decorous In
nus bearing and conversation"
bARNuh.-Mr. Barnum, together with
an eminent American citizen as plenipo-
sentiary, will sail for Europe in q few