The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
JEFFERSON DAVIS AT HOME.
The Land of the Lotus by the Mexican
Gulf.
Correspondence Boston Herald.l

Luo NeW OIlcdlS duu 4nOulAC IaAiiOod, 10 bAo
little flag station of Beauvoir, about equi-
distant from Mississippi City and Biloxi,
favorite seaside resorts of the wealthy resi-
dents of New Orleans. Beauvoir is the home
of Jefferson Davis This alone gives it celeb
rity and pre-eminence among the qaiet and
delightful little towns along the Gulf shore.
Intending visit to the famous Southern
statesman, took the early train yesterday
morning to the shore. The railway runs
through country of great interest TO the
Northern eye. Leaving New Orleans, the
road takes you past long stretches of swamp
lands, (pantanosas the early Spaniards called
them), along quiet bayous, affording glimpses
of the sem1-tropical scenery of this region,
past the curious lake dwellings of the negro
fishermen, and across miles of trestle work
over broad expanses of water. The roadbed
sand from the gulf shore. The elasticity of
the roadbed is such that you feel scarcely a
jar as the train glides along.
Mr.. DAVIS HOUSE.
Alighting from the train at Bsauvoir sta
ton, you see two or three small brown
structures, grove of pines, and the white
vista of vanishing railway track, glittering
with millions of minute refractions of the
bright sunshine for miles along its sandy
way. Taking the half perceptible roadway
to your right, 10 or Is minutes walk through
the pines brings you to the beach. Here you
see house built in the airy fashion of this
region of perpetual sunshine. This is the
residence OF Rev. DR.. Lacock, an aged Epis-
copalian clergyman, once chaplain to the
duke of Cambridge. Beyond the reverend
gentleman's estate you see, fronting the
beach, another estate, the residence of Mr..
Davis. Entering the gate. you pass across a
lawn dotted with live oak and other trees,
festooned with the picturesque Spanish moss.
Before you is low and spacious mansion,
painted white, with broad verandas. At
either side, a trifle nearer the fence is small
bui ding, sort of pavilion.
While resting on the veranda, waiting for
your letter of introduction to be handed to
the master, your eye takes in the hospitabie
provisions for ease afforded by several COM
Life here is al fresco. The broad hall which
goes through the house open to the
breeze, but not to the ardent sun, Whose
rays are intercepted by the veranda.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
Here, on the front veranda, sits of q morn
Ing the ex president of the South, in full
view of the Gulf of Mexico, that dazzling,
radiant expanse of shimmerlng blue. Its
summer waves glide softly to break in lull-
ing sound upon the white and sparkling
sand. The breeze is laden with the strange
perfume of the sea. 1t is the land of the
lotus eaters, where it's always afternoon.
Sitting on this veranda, into what reveries
may not the Confederate ex-president fall,
as he gazes out upon this Mexican gulf,
- tbn Gar,tk nr
statesman been realized, would have been
the inland sea of a M ghty empire stretching
TO the tropics.
Twas soon summoned to the little pavilion
to the right of the mansion. This building
is divided into two parts The rearward is
occupied by an ancient and favorite negro
servant, whose idea of housekeeping is to
display his furniture and tools on his little
verauda. He has notion of raising vegeta-
BILE odds and ends % boxes, and his vagaries
excite but smile. No one dreams of inter
fering, even for the sake of order, with the
privileges of this ancient servitor.
THE STATESMAN.
The front portion of the pavilion is occu
pied by Mr. Davis, as a library and study
Here found him, slightly indisposed anc
lying upon lounge. His manner is genia
and very kindly, with that charming court
esq characteristic of the high-bred Southern
gentleman. Seventy years of age, AIR. Davi
has yet fresh and vigorous look. His hair
mustache and whiskers are white in part
but his eye is bright.and cheerful. His face
in repose, is almost severely intellectual, blu
the smile which lights up his mouth and hi
| quietly cheerful laugh dispel the first i'm
| preston of GOODNESS. Few of our public mel
| have the quiet fascination of manner, tn,
old-fashioned grace aud the charming con
versational powers of Jefferson DAVIS. Hi
memory is capacious and retentiye. One
might, with facile Photographic pen, col
lect great stores OF "reminiscences from hi
| lips.
I asked him if he was much visited b,
| newspaper men. He replied that he was not
tor he had made it an invariable rule not t
be interviewed, and of the repulses of repor
ing nature. Surely" be said, Il who an
disfranchised, not even citizen of the Uni
ted States, and with no political ambitions
may claim immunity from the reporters
The conversation naturally turned upon tn
| newspaper press and in his estimate of tn
journals of the old school, as compared wit
tine newer and spicler papers of to-day, MI
Davis showed ali intimate knowledge of tn
| history of journalism in this country. ii
| spoke of the great accuracy OF the Murph
brothers, the official stenographers of tn
! United States Senate. Although a rapi
be accurately reported when either of tn
Murphys was in the Senate gallery. MI
Davis is pretty extensive newspaper reader
He reads the New Orleans dailies of q morn
ing brought out by the express. Papers ar
sent him from everywhere, many of hi
Southern friends addressing their papers
sEx President Davis" n
! LITERARY HABITS.
1 asked him if, in working on his memoir
he preferred the morning hours for hi
! literary task. He said that he did not, tbs
| he could work better evenings, and was, j
fact, late riser. 81 got enough of earl
rising in the army in my younger days" b
added. The manual labor of writing wa
he remarked, distasteful to him, and b
sought relief in dictation, although hi
thoughts come faster than the pen of b
amanuensis could secure them. THE onl
person who could ever write fast enough fc
! me-" he said, WAS my chief clerk when
was secretary of war. He disliked compos
ton, and 1 equally dIsliked writing. W
were, therefore, the compliments of eac
other"
Mr. Davis incidentally remarked, Will