The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-09

Y
. not originate with the blacks. Thos
/ who would be benefited by emig gr'.
tion were too ignorant and too poo
to move, and tho more intclligen
were doing well where they were
and had no object to leave thei
homes. Mr.. Davis told Of one of hi
former slaves, a man 'as black as th'
ten of spades" who. had bought twt
plantations in Mississippi, one Of Mr.
Davis and one Of his brother, from
which he had sold 2100 bales Of cot tor
last year. He wrote a, good hand
kept accounts well, and had his agents
in st Louis, who did not suspect they
were dealing with a black man. Suet
instances Of business talent among
the negroes Mr. Davis thought were
very rare. As a rule they had shown
no ability to accumulate property.
Mr.. Davis spoke in a deliberate
way, and in low and pleasing tone
of voice, instead Of that Of selGreli
ant man who has played a prominent
part in history. Instead Of looking
into the faces Of his listeners, be
looked downward in the halfdifiidcnt
way of one WHO has cultivated q habit
eff seeking to escape observation, and,
as he spoke, he frequertl y spread his
hands out and tapped the ends of his
fingers together. The general i'm.
preston he made was that of q man
who has experienced great trials and
:nistortuneS, and has lost .lll am bition
Inr the future. The conversation was
nearly all upcn commonplace subjects,
and WAS constantly interrupted by
the arrival and introduction Of new
comcrs and the departure Of men who
had only remained a few minutes.
The manner Of the people present
toward Lin was one Of great respect,
mingled with atfectionate regard.
One old gentleman addressed him as
Mr. Prcsidrnt:" and said, lyon arc
still my President, and will always
be" Mr. Davis SIN led in a halfmcl,
ancAo'5 way, but made no reply.
Another, in taking leave, said he had
il numerous family Of rebels wfo
would pay their respects in the eve.
ning, at which Mr.. Rogers made
some humorous reference to the .nn-
merous family of John Rogers. All
the callers appeared to caretuIIyavoid
any reference to the war, perhaps ON
account of the presence of North
erncr whom they preferred not, to
have for Il listener. In tho evening,
the "ex-President," as lie is. usually
designated, held a reception at Gen
eral Prcston's house. one Of the few
mansions of the old first families that
the soldiers of Sherman spared in
their march through the Stale. A
stream Of people came and went for
an hour and half: Much the great
cr number were ladies, whose warm
greetings told how dear the fallen
chief OF the lost cause still is to them.
| am told that with the men here he
is not so popular. the great family OF
the Rhctts, with numerous following,
having created Il coldnesS towards him
| Iiy charging the failure Of the Con-
tcderary TO his stubbornncss and in-
competency. While Mr.. Davis re-
ceived his guests with affabilty, his
face WAS by no means insi gnificant.
lie had IL high, broad forehead, and
the general expression Of his face was
that of a man Of study, culture and
experiences; but his face was not that
which u physioynomist would select
as one belonging to a leader in any
great enterprise. Atone time during
the reception, u throng Of pretty chill
drrn dressed in white came up the
- cps, and Mr. Davis came out Of the
gloomy parlor upon the broad riazza
and greeted the iittle ones affection
Atcly, giving kind word to each,
and taking the smallest in his arms
to kiss.
After the reception there was q con-
cert in a little hall attached to one OF
the hotels. Mr.. Davis attended the
concert, coming in after the audience
were nearly all assembled. When he
entered, tho people a!l rose to their
feet, showing as much respect rs
! subjects do TO a king, and they re-
mained standing urtil he was seated
when they gavc him a long round OF
applause, at which he bowed and
smiled At the close of the concert
the pianist played "Thc Bonnie Blue
Flag" with an enthusiasm he had not
shown in any of. his performances
during the evening, and again there
was great uproar Of applause, min
glrd with cries OF "Duvis! Davis! !!
| The hero of the occasion was not
disposed to speak, and the group o.
children who had taken part iii the
singing, set up loud cali for "Dixie!'
accompanied by haIt:trantic c'appins
and stamping, but the pianist did moi
respond. Tie audience fingered unit
some one announced that the conccr
was ended. judged that this revive;
OF the memories OF struggle tha
Tended ia defeat and disaster was no
pleasing to the mon, from the expires
: sion Upon their faces, but the ladie
were delighted. All through th'
South the women cherish love to
, the "lost cause" with u pertinacit,
that seems like species of insanity
: and the earliest instruction they Civ
. their children is to reverence tn,
dead Con1cderacy, its flag, and i,
heroes, and to hate the Yankees am
, the very name OF the United States
; Even now, when six years hav