Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
His Return from EuFOPe-NOt AnxI-
Gus TO Write a New BOOk-He
Thinks Reconciliation With Ihe
South Far from Complete.
Neso York Herald. sth.

Bnf. JeuersOn DAVIS accompanied Dy MS
wife and daughter, returned Yesterday
morning from Europe on board the Bremen
steamer Neckar. after long and tempestu-
GUS voyage of fifteen days from Southamp-
ton. The steamers of the North German
Lloyd call at Southampton on their way to
and from New York, and Mr.. Davis seized
that opportunity on the 22d of last month
to sail again for home. Considering the
great space which the ex President of the
defunet Confederacy once filed in the
| worlds attention but very limited interest
appeared to be attached to his return.
Messrs. Derby and Tenney, connected with
the AppletODs' publishing house, paid Mr..
Davis the compliment of awaiting his ar
rival at the Hoboken dock on the part of his
publishers, but besides these a few of the
representatives of the press were the only
persons there to greet him. To these Mr.
Davis awarded reception which sufficiently
proved that while his naturally kindly and
social instincts make him pleasant, and even
chatty, In an informal conversation he rebels
with his whole nature at the first attempt to
draw him out on formal question of pub
lie Importance.
HOW MR.. DAVIS LOOKED.
Mr.. Davis, as he sat on trunk in the
cabin chatting with his friends, though he
bore the unmistakeable traces of his very
advanced age-he is a man of seventY-four
displayed yet much of that vigor in voice
and gesture which would have only been
looked for In a man much his Junior IN
years. His tall, gsunt, wiry frame, encased
in a long gray overcoat, was apparently lit
tie bent, and his characteristic face, with
the heavily furrowed brow, the deep set,
light, clear eyes, the sternly
chiselled nose and mouth, with their
rather parcbed expression of
shrunkenness, and the venerable gray white
beard would have indicated him as a man
OF remarkable force even to anybody who
did not know that the lonely old wayfarer
was Jefferson Davis. He thanked the Cap
tain of the Neckar for bringing him safely
into port in words of cordial ring; indeed,
his voice was strong enough to have been
heard with good effect from the platform.
Mr.. Davis daughter, slender, willowy girl
OF graceful manners, just home from
school In Germany, added her thanks in
that pretty, musical German which is never
heard from German lips and probably never
sounds more charming to German ears than
when coming from those OF American girls.
"We have had very rough trip indeed"
Mr.. Davis said, with that slow, stately
method of speech so much in vogue among
old fashioned Southern gentlemen, after
Mr.. Derby had presented the newspaper
r. preventative. "Indeed, the sailors say
they have never experienced such weather."
the voyage ?" the writer asked.
"Not at all, ," Mr.. Davis responded, rather
briskly for him. 81 am never seasick.
Others, however, suffered good deal. The
cabin was twice under water"
"Have you enjoyed your trip to Europe,
Mr.. Davis ?'
"Not very much, - was the reply, with
rather panied expression. 81 was not very
well most of the time"
IV1rf kbo
tion of your sojOurn in Europe ?''
"In France. l went over really to fetch
my daughter from school In Germany, but
she came to Paris to meet me, and spent
most Of my time In Paris and Chantilly.
Chantilly, you know, is an old, little village,
famous for It's race tracks, and 1 visited
friend there"
Did you take much interest in the boom
in Confederate bonds ?''
81 did not hear much of It. NY impress
sion Is it was mostly confined to London on
the other side, and that very little WAS heard
OF 1t in Paris " Mr. Davis had thus far
spoken with that measured, dignified deliV-
cry peculiar to him, but now his stern fea-
lures relapsed into broad smile as he add
ed, jocularly, 81 did not invest myself"
One could see from his manner and from the
grin with which he shook his head-appar
parentlY at the absurdity of the rise-in
what farcieal light he regarded that al
ready collapsed "boOm."
sis it true that you are going to write a
new book, your last one having been go
great successor
Mr.. Davis laughed. "Dld you ever hear
of a man who wanted Immediately after
eyes, II it was q successful and pleasant
one," was the off hand reply.
"Do you suppose any of these passengers
on the Neckar would like to return Just now
to Europe? II you'd ask them l believe
they nearly all would tell you they never
want to go to Earope again as long as they
lve.'" Mr.. Davis said all this In q humorous
st ain, as though the efforts incident to the
production of his last work had rendered
long repose from literary labors to him
most welcome.
RECONCILIATION OF SOUTH AND NORTH.
So far so WELL But now the political
question was broached. and Mr. Davis was
soon on his mettle. He was asked II he
knew the recent news, and was told OF the
speech of Senator Davis, the temporary
President of the United States Senate, ex-
pressing his desire to leave politics as soon
as his great object, the reconciliation of
South and North, was accomplished.
swell, that would be enough for anv one
man TO accomplish in this world, +" Mr.. Davis
remarked, sententiously.
"But don't you think 1t has been prac-
tically Accomplishment"
81 should think not, to Judge of the leg
islation for the South and the North in re-
cent years and the want of harmony be-
tween the two sections"
81 suppose you take a livelier interest in
the subject OF the reconciliation of the
South and North than in almost any
other. May l ask you. therefore, how you
expect that work to progress under Presi-
dent Arthur's admiDistratiOnpu
"How can l tell ?" Mr.. Davis replied,
with sudden warmth; 81 lack the opportuni-
les to inform myself on the public men Of
the day who have voice in the admins
tration." With great emphasis he added:
II have shaken hands with political ques-
tions. and, moreover, never allow any man
to pump me-" MIR. Davis dwelt with
snecial Yigor of voice on the word Nnumn., ,,