The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-28
THE SOUTHERN LEADER d
ysfrerson Davis as his nsssiasa s' 'li ; !
s Home 4
! .rr,s ! !, IN. OF THE Lotus By THE MEx s,l
CAN aULF--A sTATEsa1Assss ofissiesss w
VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
,,.,cnee az fl,e BOSTON Hcraid J

WV ORLEANS, May 10. SeyeDty-fv'
miles east OF this city, on the New oriean
md Mobile railway, is the little fiag-statior
Of Beauvcir, about equi. distant from Mtssis
sirni CITY and Biloxi, fayoriic seaside re
sorts OF the wealthy residents OF New Or
leans. Besuyoir is The heine OF Jeaefso.
Davis. This alone gives it celebrity. hos
nres.n,inence among the quiet and deiight
Uni little towns along the Gull shore
yntending visit TO tue famous SOUTH
ern statesman, 1 took the e'uts ir rc,.
YESTERDAY morning for the saore. :. 4 w ',
railway runs through q country o.
great interest to the northern eye Leas.
mo New Orleans. the road takes you pas'
jonr stretches Of swamp land {pdntaeosat
,ss ssarIy span;ards called them), along quiet
hayor,s. affording giimpses Of the semi
tronical scenery OF this region, past the Gu
/ rioi,s lake dwellings Of the negro fishermen:
and across miles OF trestle-work over broao
eynanses of water. The road-bcd is excel
lent. and is ballasfed with white sand IRON
the Gull shore. The elasticity Of tho road
bed IL such that you feel scarcely jar 2:
the train g!ides along.
mr.. DAyIs's HOUSE.
Alighting from the train at Beauvoir sta
tion. YOU see two or three small brown
structures, grove of pines, and the Whlte
Vista OF vanishing railway track, slitterins
with millions Of minute refractions OF the
bright sunshine for miles along its sandy
way. Taking the haIf-perceptible roadway
10 your right, ten or fifteen minutes walk
through the pines brings you to the beach.
Here YOU see house built in the airy FASH
ion OF this region OF perpetual sunsnlne.
This Is the residence OF Rev. Dr. Lacock'
nm aged Episcopa|ian clergyman, once
chaplain to the Duke OF Cambridge. be-
yond the reverend gentleman's estate you
see, fronting the beach, another estate, Tue
residence of Mr.. Davis. Entering the gate,
vol, pass across lawn dotted with liye-oak
and other trees, festooned with the pic
turesque Spanish moss. Before you is low
and spacious mansion, painted white, with
broad ye.andas. At either side, tribe
nearer the fence, is small bulldIng-a sort
OF pavilion.
While resting on the veranda, waiting
for your letter of introduction to be handed
to the master, your eye takes ia the Hospital
BILE provisions for ease afforded by several
comfortable rocking chairs, table, and a
settee. Life here is al treSco. The broad
. hall which goes through the house is 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 yeranda, sits OF n
morning the eX-PreSident OF the South. In
full view is the Gulf OF Mexico, that daz-
.zlDg, radiant eXpanse Of sbimmering blue.
Its summer waves glide softly to break in
lulling sound upon the white and sparkling
sand. The breeze is laden with the strange
perfume OF the sea. It is the land Of the
lotus-eaters, where tits always afternoon.
Sitting on this veranda, into what rtveries
may not the Confederate eX-Presideut fall
as he gazes out upon this Mexican Gulf,
which, had the dreams of the southern
statesmen been realized, would have been:
the inland sea Of q mighty empire stretch
ing TO the tropics.
/ was soon summoned to the little pavil-
ion to the rieb OF the mansion. This build
ing is divided into two parts. The rear
ward is occupied by an ancient and favor
lite negro servant, whose idea OF housckeep-,
ing is to display his furniture and tools on
his little veranda. He has notion OF
raising vegetable odds and ends IN boxes,
and his yagarieS excite but smile. No
one dreams OF interfering, even for the sake
OF order, with the privileges Of this ancient
servitor. r'4'+' - 80
80. THE STATESMAN. No..
), =, The front portion OF the pavilion is oc-
-cupied by Mr. Davis as q library and study.
Here found him, slightly indisposed and
lying upon lounge. His manner is genial
and very kindly, with that charming cour-
tesy characteristic Of tue high-bred south
erri gentleman. Seventy years OF age; Mr..
Davis has get fresh and vigorous look.
His hair, moustache, and whiskers are
white in part, but his eye, is bright ard
cheerful. I His face, in repose, is almost
severely intellectual, but the smile which
lights up his mouth and his quietly cheer
full laugh dispel the first impression OF cold.
ness. Few OF our public men have the
quiet fascination Of manner, the old-fash-
Toned grace, and the charming converse
iional powers OF Jefferson Davis. His
memory is capacious and retenlive. One,
might, with facile Photographic pen. col
1rut t great stories OF "Reminiscences from his
lips. Is U.s. =.
7 asked him il. he was much visited by;
newspaper-men. He replied that he was
not, for he had made it an inyariable rule
not to be interviewed; and Of the repulses
of reporters be gave me several instances OF
an amusing nature. "Surely," he said, ~.
who am disfranchised, not even q citizen OF
the United States, and with nc. political
ambitions. may claim Immunity from the
reporters" The conversation naturally
turned upon .s#f
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS,
and in his estimate OF the journals of the
old school. as compared with the newer and
q spicier'' papers of to-iuy, Mr.. Davis
showed an intimate knowledge OF the his
tory Of journalism in this country. He
spoke OF the great accuracy OF the Murphy
brothers, the official stenographers of the
United States Senate. Although rapid
speaker, he always felt that lie was going to
be accurately reported when either Of the,
.MurphyS was in the Senate gallery. Mr..
Davis is pretty extensive newspaper
reader. He reads the New Orleans dallies
of "A morning, brought out by the express.
Papers are sent him from everywhere,
many OF bis southern friends addressing
their papers to " eS-President Davis"
LITERARY HABITS.
asked him II, in working on his me-
moirs. be preferred the morning hours for
hts literary task. BE said that he did not !:
that he could work better evenings, and
was, In fact, a late riser. 81 got enough OF
early rising 10 the army in my Younger
days." he added. The manual labor OF
writing was, he remarked, distasteful 10
him. aud he sought relief IN dictation, 1T
though has thoughts come faster than the
pen OF has a1aauuensis could secure thets.
The only person who could ever wpae
fast enough for me- p lie said, "was nav
shief clerk WhenI was Secretary OF War.
he dtsliSed composition, asd equally DIS.
Hked. writing. We were, therefore, ahe
compliments OF each oiher.ss
Mr. Davis incidentally remarked, Whale
gfancins through the papers, that il @as
no nnf k,o,n :