The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-14
Especial CORE ,pondence Chicago Times.l
GOING TO BEAJyOIR.

such was the Inquiry addressed to me by
Judge Walker, the historian, few hour:
before departed from New Orleans.
"Never," responded, with Pinaiorical
brevty.
"What but WON'T" said the Judge.
"rll spare YOUR feelings, young man. Al
the same time. as you are journalist, take
my advice o1d don't leave the South with
out seeing the post renowned OF southern
men. To leave Dixie without seeing JEFF.
Davis would be like quitting Rome with
out seeing the Pope"
aSscnted 10 this logic. but asked what
possible excuse / could bave for troubling
Mr.. Davis, who bad persistentIy declined
10 be interviewed for several years.
"Hang the interview" said the Judge,
with energy. "You have seen Lincoln
YOU must see the head Of the other side.
When YOU are as old as | am you will be
| pleased 10 remember that you met Davis,
and formed your own impression about
him. IA 90 down with yon to BeauvOir
station myself, bat am detained by bust
ness. However, PIl give you note OF in.
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Davis. You had better
stop at Mississippi City, because you will
not fnd hotel accommodations at Beau
vOir."
This was ali satisfactory enough, but |
didn't like the idea OF hunting up the bead
and front of the late Coniederacy in his own
castle, and, besides, when | did find him,
If, indeed, should see him at all, what
could ! say to the famous old gentleman?
"HE WON'T EAT YOU"
was Judge Walkers tOnical remark. "You
will find him entirely free from hduteur and
all that kind Of rubbish"
Thus hraced up took my letter Of intro
duCtiop. and started on the afternoon train
of yesterday for this point. The rain was
falling in great, dull, pla,hlng heaps, ii the
latter word applies to any liquid, and rs we
whiried along the steel rails OF the New
Orleans and Mobile road the cypress swamps
that fringe on the east the LOulsianian
metropolis looked more gloomy and Sc
pulcbral than ever. Perhaps that sinister
appearing tree suits the history Of q State
that has been swept by many plague.
South Carolina has her palmetto-LOuislana
her cypress. Addressing her sister COM
monweal,hs, she may, like the dismal youth
in " ROkeby," deliver herself thus:
Letmcrry England proudly rear
Her blended roses, bought so dear;
Lei scotland uinO her bonnet blue
with heat and hsTebell STEPPED in dew;
ON favOl'd EIin's canst be seen
The leaf she loves, of emerald green;
Bur, sisters. Irvine no wreath for me,
OR lwne ii of the express tree.
1t may he aS well 10 remark in this solemn
connection that the cypress wood is about
The most useful Of southern timberS. It
can stand out against wet and dry rot better
than any other kind of tree, because II may
be Gallo amphlbiOus as vegetable" and
consequently suffers little, il anything,
from drought or moisture.
Ia III h.,A al fln
tie peninsula lying between Lake P0nchar.
train on the north and the Sound on the
south, crossing the channel between the
bodies of water referred to and Pearl river,
over trcslle. wo. Ks and bridges, into MisSis-
SiDpi, where we struck the pine forests that
follow the line OF the Cult for many n SOM
hre mile. ran lightly over the long bridge at
Boy 81. Louis, and
ARRIVED AT THE PLACE
from which | write. in the midst Of thick
darkness. at about O'Clock.
At last we reached large house, with
commodious out-buildings and the usual
adornme.ts OF private residences in this
region. The prevailing cOlCr OF the build
| ings is white, with broad and high, brown.
| wooden steps leading up to the portco, and
verauda OF graceful proportions, Afford
ing escape from the sun and the benefit Oithe
fresh sea breeze 10 the Sitting days Of sum-
mer. The grounds were spacious enough,
but had little OF that bedragged look
which follows persistent rain and the me-
lanchOIy decay OF foliage. Beauyoir man.
sion, inherited by Jefferson Davis from
Mrs. Dorsey, is typical southern house,
Ia.ge, picturesque, cool, and situated CON-
mandingly above the salt water. Before
getting out OF my vehicle l sent my letter
OF introduction to the house by q servant,
who soon returned, saying that Mr.. Davis
invited me to 60 ia, and TO wait for little
while, as he was not quite prepared to see
me.
"wENT IN"
accordingly, aud was ushered into n hand
some parlor. crowded, almost, with paint.
ings, eDgravipgs, and other artistic objects
that attested the cultivated taste of the in
habitants. | particularly noticed very
well executed steel engraving Of Mr.. Davis,
which represented him as young man,
with clean-cut features and fine, thick
head OF hair.
While was waiting for the distinguished
host two gentlemen entered the room, and
one, a middlesized. stout, iron-gray man,
introduced himself as Joseph Davis, nephew
VI JtHtf saw my "hN nv iu-
troduced the other gentleman, tail, thin,
somewhat handsome person, bordering on
old age, as General Adams.
General Joe Davis-ior he wore the gray
during the war--then said to me: "Ny
uncle is busy with his book, and burns the
midnigh. oil a good deal lately. Besides,
he is not well, aud is consequently little
late in rising. He will be in presently,
however"
Presently there was the sound OF rather
rapid footsteps, with martial ring In them,
in the ball. The door opened, and man
OF Cbesterheldian beight--about i've feet
teo inches slightly but handsomely built,
with finnish white hair and short, rather
sparse, "cIumpy" white beard, entered.
Ills eyes were gray blue, and the left had
in IL q slight cast, with some suspicion OF
cataract. lie saluted General Adams with
courtly grace. rose and be came toward
me at once, calling he by pane, Which had
Of course been given by Judge Walker in
the Introductory letter.
The Others retired, and Mr.. Davis, who
was smokit z cigar, seated himself, mo-
tioning 10 me 10 do likewise. Then, with
the neyer-fslling politeness OF these people,
be took q "fragrant Havana" from his
yest-pocket, banded 1t 10 me and gave me
bis cigar 10 light 1t With, which l did. 1t
was thus hat smoked
the CALUMET OF PEACE,
50 to speak, With Je1erson DAVIS.