Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-26
Jefferson Davis al Home.

! Alighting from the tram Mt Beauvoir
Station, Miss, you can see two or three
small brown structures, n grove of pines,
and the white vista of vanishing railway
track glittering with millions of minute
| rehactions of the bright sunshine for
miles along It's sandy way.
Taking the half-pcrccptiblc roadway
to your right, ten or fifteen minutes
walk through the pines brings you to
the beach. Here you see house built
in the airy fashion of this region of per-
pctual sunshine. This is the residence
of the Rev. DIR. Iacock. an aged Episco-
palian clergyman, once chaplain To the
Duke of Cambridge. Beyond the rcvcr-
end gcntlcman's estate sou see, fronting
beach. the another estate. the residence
of MIR. Davis.
Entering the gate, YOU pass across "A
lawn dotted with live oak and other
trees, fcstooncd with the picturesque
Spanish moss. Before you j. a low and
spacious mansion, painted white, with
broad Vcrandas. At either side "A triilc
nearer the fence, il small building, n
sort of pavilion. While resting on the
vcranda, waiting for your letter of intro
duCtion To be handed to the master, your
eye takes in the hospitablc provisions
for ease afforded by several comfortable
- e
Life here is a. frcSco. The broad hall
which goes through the house is open to
the breeze. but not 10 the ardent sun,
whose rays are intercepted by the ycr-
anda. Here. on the front vcrandn. sits
Of "A morning the cN-Prcsidcnt of the
South. In full view is the Gulf of
Mexico. that dazz ing. radiant cNpansc
of shimmcring blue. Its summer waves
glide softly. 10 break in lulling 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-caters. where It's always afternoon.
Sitting on this ycranda. into what rev
cries may not the Confederate cN-Prcsi-
dent fall, ~ hc gazes out upon this Mex
lean gulf. which, had the dreams of the
southern statesman been realized. would
have been the inland sea of a mighty
empire. stretching 20 the tropics.
! was soon summoned to the little
pavilion To the right of the mansion.
/ This building is divided into two parts
/ The rcarward is occupied by an ancient
and fayoritc negro servant, whose idea
of housekeeping is 10 display his furni-
1 turC and tools on his little vcrunda. He
has notion of raising vegetable odds
and ends in boxes. and his yagaricz cN-
/ cite but "A smile. No one dreams Of in
. tcrlcring, even for the sake Of order, with
the privileges Of this ancient scrvitor
[ The front portion of this pavilion is oc-
cupiCd by Mr.. Davis as a library and
/ study Here ! found him. slightly in
I dispo sed and lying upon lounge. His
manrCr is genial and very kindly. with
, that charming courtesy characteristic
Of the high-brcd Southern gentleman.
/ Seventy years Of age. Mr.. Davis has
! yet fresh and vigorous look Ilia hair
/ mustachc and whiskcrs are white in part.
+ but his eye is bright and cheerful. His
face in rcpuso Is almost severely intel
lcctual. but the smile which lights up
his mouth and hi. quietly cheerful laugh
dispol the first impression of GOODNESS
Few Of our public men have the quiet
. fascination Of manner. tho old. fashioned
+ grace and the charming conversational
powers of Jefferson Davis. His memory
/ i capariouz and rctcntiyc. Ono might.
with facilc photographic pen. collect
great stores Of rcmnisr"ncc from his
/ lips. Correspondence Boston Hcrdh