Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-08-09

From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution
About two years ago had Geographic
orders to find Mr.. Davis as soon as pos
sible, for the purpose of obtaining from
him certain desired information. Invent
to Memphis, then his nominal residence,
only to find that he was not in the city,
that his wife and daughter were in
Europe, and his son in-law in New York.
He then had the Presidency of the Mis-
sissippi Valley Insurance Company, a
sort of sinecure, i think, provided for
him by his friends in the Crescent City,
and it was thought probable that be was
in that city. Invent down the river, ap-
piled at the Office of the Trading Com
pany, but found Mr.. Davis absent. No
one could tell me where he was, but |
was informed that he was very busy at
work upon his history of the war, and
was hid away at some quiet retreat, his
location being unknown to all but his
most intimate friends. / discovered,
however, that his letters from his wife
were forwarded to Mississippi City,
fashionable watering-place near New
Orleans, on the Mississippi City line.
To this point took myself.
Making my way unguardedly into a
pair of ratings that opened like a fun
mel at the depot, and then narrowed into
plank lane that led inevitably to an
old-fashioned, cool looking hotel, l
stepped up to the register and asked if
Mr.. Davis was in Mississippi City or its
neighborhood. Mine host replied that
he had not seen Mr.. Davis, but he had
heard that ne was stopping at Mrs.
Dsrsey's." He further informed me
that Mrs. Dorsey YVES sort of literary
woman-that she was rich, and that her
residence was known as "Beauvoir,
and that for consideration | could Sc
cure transportation to .he same. In q
half. hour ! was on the way.
never had q more melancholy ride
than that which followed. The road led
through heavy pine forests. The tall,
browH trees rose straight and monoton-
GUS from drifts of white powdered sand
the moan of the wind through their
tuited heads mingiing strangely with
the sHishing sound Of the waves of the
yellow gulf as they rolled ceaselessly ON
the beach. At almost every turn of the
road we came upon old houses-of i'm
posing size, character and surroundings,
but thoroughly dismantled and desc
late. Worm eaten and decayed piers
ran out into the water-roofless boat
and bathing houses were scattered along
the shore; broken down fences of fine
pattern barely limited the shape of for
mer Enclosures. There were mansions
dead looking, deserted, with grass
growing on their very roofs; there were
stables and carriage houses, and
pigeon-cotes all disused and ten
antless; handsome grounds choked up
with weeds and sand-drifts Occasionally
there was sure 10 be seen some pert at
tempt at reclamation that only set off
the general desolation more wildly. l
was travelling through strip of coun-
try formerly one of the most fashions
bic and celebrated. 1t was here in the
old DAYS that the millionaires of New
Orleans brought their friends and fam.
lilies for the summer, having establish
ments here that in splehdor and luxuri-
Gus appointments equaled sHy thing to
be found in this then prodigal land
With the Gulf rolling at their feet; with
strong saline breezes driving the heat
waves back; with the best of surf-bath-
ing, yachting, fishing and hunting, and
with a society brilliant, well assureda and
knit together by the memory of half-a-
dozen generations, they had ali that
they desired. / learn that in the past
few years this gulf shore has regained
much of its lost glory, and that songs
and laughter once more fill these DESC
/ Ia 1