The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-24

llel OFT ID" ken DatpallOht, hurlc0 DhcKeO tue mexican
lancers, and won the rough and ready praise Of
Zachary Taylor.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REALIZE
as he sat there near mo. mnoking TRANQUILITY. with nm
prrtentiuus MANNER md his very simple attire, that
the namu o. j. fsrson Davis was o part 81 history md
would 20 down 10 posteITly rs that VI the chtef figure
of the ~lniyhtirst rebellion that ever sho'k the world
throughout all the ngeu. He-that quiet graceful,
sn"oth-t"ned, cordial almost fsscInalinf elderly
grnilcman--the once dreaded chief Of the sunthcrn
slave Conirderacy | Il WAS difficult, ind, ell, to rraiize
that fict. Ny memory went back over fifteen years
to 'hr time when uur stalwart lcu!uns. with brnnEcd
faces, dusty uniforms AMI shining muskrts. trulEo
ed chcertly to battle, singing with the playIulness Of
soldier spirit:
Well hang JEFF Davis 70 a sonr apple tree!
Wen hing j # Davi. to r sour apple trsei
Well hang JEFF Davis IT, \ SOUR apple trpel
While We 60 marching on!
It was a stup d refrain, especially rs the sonr spple
tree referred to did not grew In time for the execution
and the neck nf Mr.. Davis Is nnw encircled by a shirt
collar instead Of n collar ol hemp.
How happy had bren for certain other governments,
assailed with more justice and far more provocaliur, II
they. like Curs, hnl been less ready with the rorel
Pollard wonl1 not be over knrelinC Mt the grnss-grown
french t st hollis the bones OF the ~studei r. Uf Warsaw
prnying to the god Of BATHS for a sharp sw"rd
Mhrrrwith to snite the itussian nor would lreland's
tears be fa!linc-ihr rpitap h unwritten-on the namc-
less slab ,hrt hides The pnltrless heart Of Emmett
There could have been no contrast physical rs well
n mrntal, greutcr than thnt presented by
TIE REFLECTIVE CHIEFS
If the great American war. Lincoln-..ll. s~trazglirg
alsu, honest, fervid, roughly rlnquent-thG man uf the
,,col,!e-tho type and th- champion NJ the toIling. yet
Intelligent. masses. Davls-gracrfu!, subtle, polisIvd,
pelRisten harsh aud naughty, too on Ucrasluns. 4 ht-
ting representative ut the high-strung planter arstoc-
racy and The chastity sch.sm OF srceSsl n.
Yet who. In the brief ysars given to the career Of
man, would not rather ba Lincoln, lying coldfy there
at Oak kidye. whittier the nssassint's bullet hurled
him, with tue thanks and the love Of Il reunited people
hal owing his tomb. tn, II jefferson Davis, with scecs.
sion behind him, and br'ors hun hit l'l"ce In history
rs the Lucifrr of the American republic. it Isl pity
that 1t MIST bu 70, when bis tulentS and his opportunt-
ties nre remembered.
There In more mnraliIing than conversation In
this interview, which Ia only natural In view OF
the fact that Mr. Dav,s YVES slow to talk an any subject
that interested the public or myself. Ec rsid' ntIy
feared tn say anything that might iny = foundation for
the noted newspaper interviewer. Our craft are not,
in the main, overturdrned with awkward bashful.
ness, and although | found the situation unique, did
not feel In the slightest degree embarrassed.
said to myself; III the old gentleman don't talk,
he Is. at least worth o pen picture"
Said Mr.. Davis. nf!er 3 some hat long. pause, IL
Was much AMUSED WHEN some Of The New York prcss
sant ,hrir junior members ~ interview me-. II WIS
4 t"g-thrr too rich" he cnntlnurd, "bnt I lay buck In
my cuair and laughed at Them"
THE MEMORY OF THIS
manner Of d~iscoma,Ing the New York inqulsttor'
rridcntly ,ickled Mr.. Davis, Tor lie renewed his ncrri'
ment, laughing c0nsninrdly."
"Ynn must uud, rsrand, Mr. Davis" remarked,
that l am not interviewing yon a! all. iou may call
my visit one Of c"rrmuny or anything you please"
~"lnhvr!," he Said. mrrrily, my remarks d" not
apply In your CASE ut all. YIN must no. think because
| don't ci.ousc to talk politics thnl ] ai mol very glad
To srG you, very glad indcrd.'" -,
at ia very kind VI you to Say 81, but. letting politics
slide, don't you think the country has improved very
much materially Of lato yearsF
Mr. LAWS assumed o very dcmnre and provokingly
innocent lock A. he ,tjo!i cd, "As h1't. ~ 'iti any
a.--l a.,1 IN, lu~. a - hNAfr
opportunity o. judging that point than ! havr."
"rhe devil | have" thought l.. "Well, this sharp
old diplomat viii not commit himself even to nm OK.
preston Of opinion relative 10 the progress oil thr
theory that sec-s.i"r was tho only salvation for Pixie
Very well. l think I'll say adlcu 10 this polite but
SLIPPERY scion Of the land Of cotton"
Animated by this reflection | stood up and faih
.tSincr you nre not willing to talk e'ih,r politics or
agriculture, Mr.. Dnvi.. III take my leave"
NJ hope" said he. "you don't think me unwilling to
speak to you on u.hcr INIT RS. Keep your scat."
TIES liz SPOKE A LITTLE
abont Louisiana and particularly about the saltd.posi,
on Avcry's Island. THAT Is inexplic"ble " said no.
'un any theory that ] have read. 1t 10 strange there
Ia NO salt On the other Islands OF similar formation.
Now, there Is something that s~"l"gists might study
with Interest, and, perhaps. they might BE- able to
arrive at SONIC conclusion about II. lit, l considrr.
Were YOU ever In PolandI No. Well therr they haye
mircs rf solid rock salt, just tho Gnrnr, But the iso.
la,ion Of this other one makes Il 81 remarkable"
Mr.. I,nvis btcamr 50 enthusiastic on the saline sub
Isct tina, he IL nno,h"r cignr, and INDUCED a very long
! and artistic Whit 1T bis ch"root.
A gentle knock cuInc ut The dOor. anil was followed
by a lady In = riding inblt. She Was = visitor. ard. al
fear. ID Mr.. Davis might enlarge IN salt until h. rsmr
down to salt h"g. earned beef, and. perhaps, salt h-r.
ring. I concluded Il MS the part Of prudence 10 effect
O mas,crl, retreat.
lie still politely protested against my departure, hu,
| had q r. esentmrnt tht h 5 cuu' te.y wa. ro incwhai
Of the Latin order, which expressrs much ind neurl
little, and, ~ my interviews with President Iinz and
sitting Bull, nett, :r"f whom c"uld speak . word oil
Enrlish. had been rninenl!y brief and satisfactory, l
thought Id make all * ception in the case Of Jrfrrs"n
Davis. wh0 KIN .ws The frt Of usinr language To express
his thoughts better than must Inen, ard 80 | shook
hands and took what, l suppose, will DO my last fare.
well Of "Nassa J, f."
lie came ont on the corliro to- Envc me gnod.hv
! and the Inst sight | had Of him h- Mas standing with
BIZ. hnnds behind his lack. like Napoleon TT -
Helena, looking nut npnn the dull stretch NJ Sen lying
~hrtwern the LOOT of his grounds and the isinnls far
out on the other ride Of MiGis ippl sound, his "hite hair
duttrrinc like b flag rf truce IN the November wind,
and an expression un his keen face which Bseinrd IN
say wnnd =, now, II thxt id Yankee corrcslnn.
dent thought he c,uid interview me ~
Let the readers Of tho Times judgs for themselves.