Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-08-02
attached to his son, and how fondly he

/
must be settled for the first of every month.
attached to his son, and how fondly he
became interested in all that the bright,
frank young fellow turned his hand to.
He was engaged, with the help of the
body-servant, in building boat, and
the President halted us for a half-hour
in discussing with his son the prospects
of the venture. The boy was studious,
well-strung, robust-having the features
of his mother, but many of the fathers
characteristics altogether an admira-
BILE boy. He died Of yellow fever last
year, and with him died the last of his
kingly line.
/ Mr.. Davis could not have selected a
better place in which to perform the
great work upon which he is engaged.
The house at Beauvoir is an immense
roomy mansion, built in the old-fash-
ioned Southern style. The hall is wider
than an ordinary room, and covers more
space than the whole floor of tene-
ment house. 1t was laid with light
mating, and in the center is a large
damask sofa, the center-piece rising
above the seats and holding large tray
of flowers. The rooms are very large,
and the piazza probably thirty feet wide,
and runs all around the house. The
parlors, dining g-rooms, ETC., are fur
nished as they are usually furnished by
persons of culture and wealth, but there
was better assortment of large chairs
than ever saw before.
On the right hand of the house is q
small two-room house, built for Mr..
Davis's especial use. This is his work.
shop. One room is his library. This
is filled to the ceiling with books, step
ladder being necessary to reach the
higher shelves. The books are histo-
ries, records, etc., mostly bearing on
the late war. In the middle of the room
is a large table on which are various
books and sheets of paper. A large en-
craving of sacred character surmounts
the mantel. The next room is intended
for resting in case Mr.. Davis should de-
sire to lie down. Mr.. Davis says that
he has probably an unequaled library Of
reference for the great subject in which
he is interested. He says that he has
been engaged for years in getting
together all the material that he could
probably need, and he is now ready for
work. On the left hand side of the
house is a similar building, which was
Mrs. Dorsey's study. This was most
tastily furnished, and contained fine
miscellaneous library, with an immense
ly full collection of works of Southern
authors. Mrs. Dorsey spent the most
of her time in this cozy little retreat.
The grounds about the place are very
handsome. There are an orange grove,
fine vineyard, orchards, lawns and
some superb groves. The climate is
almost tropical, and there is q profusion
of bright and fragrant flowers. 1 was
struck with drove of peacocks. that
made the woods gay with their fine
feathers. These were Mr.. Davis's es-
pecial pets, and it was pretty sight to
see him feed them, which he did regu-
larly twice day.
1t is impossible to overestimate the
caution and carefulness with which Mr..
Davis has worked upon his history of
the rebellion. He feels that his will be
the authoritative defense of the cause
of his people, and he fully appreciates
the gravity of his task. 1t is two years
since saw him, and he was reported
then to be finishing up his work. Ids
covered that he had hardly begun it,
having spent years in simply arranging
the material for it. Mr.. Davis is q most
systematic worker, and is possessed of
great endurance. He is rapid writer,
and is ripe scholar. 1t is the argu-
ment and the facts on which he has
pondered so long. No idea can be
formed of the scope of the coming book.
1t is certain, however, that an unexpect-
ed space will be given to the discussion
of the motives and necessities that led
to the war. 1t will not be a vehicle of
the prejudices of the writer, but it will
be very decided upon certain of Mr..
Davis's critics and enemies. I asked
him if he was going to be severe upon
these persons in his book. "Well,"
he replied, smiling, "they say man
gets ill-natured as he grows older.
don't know what I may WRITE" In
conversation he seemed to be bitterer
toward Mr.. Stevens than any one
else. He discussed Joe Johnston freely,
and expressed himself vigorously as to
Gov. Brown, but said little of Gen.
Toombs, and seemed to care less. He
was warm toward Senator Hill, and in
quired affectionately after him. doubt
if the South has ever produced more
thorough scholar than Mr.. Davis. His
book will represent the steady, devoted
work of his best and ripest years, and it
will be pride to the South no more as
an indication than as classic.
Mrs. Dorsey was of no direct kinship
with Mr.. Davis, but the two families
had frequently intermarried, and had
always been intimate. 1t will be re-
membered that by decision of q year
ago Mr.. Davis recovered a very large
plantation that he had lost. This, added
to the legacy of Mrs. Dorsey, makes
him one Of the largest landed proprie..
tors in Mississippi, and puts him and
his family in affiuent circumstances.