New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-06
THE COMEDY or BEAUVOIR.

Mr. Jefferson Davis. no matter how many estates
may be left to him by admirng women. must be re-
cared as a somewhat unfortunate person. He has, IN
his time, occupied ahigh public position, and taken
prominent part in important affairs He has been
distinguished as q conspirator. He has been re-
garded by great people a. public enemy. As
chief Of temporary republic. his name is familiar,
not only IN his own land, but in many others; and
vet he seems to have missed, and TO have missed
widely that somewhat Indefinite thing which we
NAV call historic dignity. Other fugitive heroes
have been captured III ignoble DISCUSSES, and have,
nevertheless, not been laughed at; but
when Mr. Davis was reputed to have been
caught in feminine dress, people insisted upon
thinking the incident humorous rather than
epical Now he is before the world in
an altogether different character. Whether Justly
or unjustly he is charged with exercising undue
influence over Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, and with per-
suading her, by various wiles, TO give and to be-
oueath 20 him her real estate. Mr.. Dahlgen, half
brother of the late lady, who would otherwise have
had the property or part of IL, naturally regards
Mr.. Jefferson DAVIS with extreme indignation. and
accuses him Of being that character much por-
trayed by nOyelists aud much acted on the stage
fortune-hunter!
Mr. Mortimer Dahlgren. being duly interviewed,
deposes and says that Mrs. Dorsey was a mono
maniac in regard to Mr.. Davis and that he en-
couraged her unreasonable veneratiOn. Finally
he seems to have become in some sort the
master of Beauvoir. Several are the pictur-
esque incidents of Mr. Dahgren's story. Mr..
Davis managed matters as if tho property were
all his own, ms indeed 1t soon was. :" His
very tread" says the narrator, was that of one
horn to CONTROL There was a crippled old negro
on the premises, an ancient serf of the family and
s venerable seryitor did the OK Pres dent of the
late Confederate States of America kick down
stairs and the back stairs at that Mrs. Dorsey
writing book, and Mr.. DAVIS helped her. aud very
much We should like to read this production of their
combined genius and industry. 1t may not have
ANYTHING to do with the main story but we cannot
forbear mentioning that on Christmas Day, 1877,
there was roasted peacock for dinner Mr. Dahl
glen relates this fact If had some bearing upon
the question of Mrs. Dorsey's sound and dispos ng
mind and memory; but If SO, have failed TO dis
cover the connection, which must be deeply recon
dlte.
Finally, Mr.. Davis, having made himself in all but
name master Of Beauyoir, obtained deed of the
same from the lady, who said that there was pr
yate understanding that he should convey it back
Tn her whenever she desired She promised 20 give
Mr. DahlTen an estate III Arkansas, but she never
did IT, She promised to buy house for him In
Biloxi with neat Office attached, in which he
might practice law; but she failed to keep her
word, though probably the amiable Mr.. DAVIS
strongly recommended her to do so. Mrs. Dorsey
went off TO New-Orleans, taking with her large
picture Of Mr.. Davis; he and his wife continued to
reside at Beauvoir; and the discarded DahlGren
drifted about apparently for some time homeless.
and finally opened a cigar shop in 81. Louis, where
he still dispenses that fragrant commodity. He