The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-12-22
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
his Return from Europe-Not Anxious to
Write Now Book-He Thinks KcconciI-
inuon with the South far from Complete.
Netc York Herald.

iauon with the South far from Complete.
Ne,c York Herald
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, accompanied bv
his wife and daughter, returned Yesterday
morning from Europe OH board the Dre.
men steamer Neckar, after long and
tempestuous voyage Of fifteen DAYS from
Southampton. The steamers from the
North German Lloyd call at Southsmp.
ton on their way to and from New York,
and Mr.. Davis seized that opportunity
on the I'D of last month to sail again for
home. Considering the great space
which the ex-president ofthe defunct Con.
federacy once filled in the worlds atten.
ton, but very limited interest appeared
to be attached to his return. Nfessrs.
Derby and TenDy, connected with the
Appleton's publishing house, paid Mr..
Davis the compliment of awaiting bis
arrival at the Hoboken dock on the part
OF his publishers, but besides these 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 instinct make
him pleasant, and even chatty, in an in
formal conversation. he rebels with his
whole nature at the first attempt to draw
him out on formal question of public
importance.
Dir. Davis, as he sat OH trunk in
the cabin chatting with his friends.
though he bore the unmistakable traces
ofhis very advanced age-he is man of
seventy -four-displsyed 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, gaunt, wiry
frame, encased in long gray overcoat
was apparently little bent. and his char.
acteristic face, the heavily furrowed brow.
the deep set, light, clear eyes, the sternly
chiselled nose and mouth. with their
rather parched expression of sunkenncss
and the venerable gray white beard would
nave indicated him as c man of remark
able force even to anybody who did not
know that the lonely old wayfarcr was
Jefferson Davis. He thanked the captain
OF the Neckar for bringing him safely
into port in words of o cordial ring; in
deed, his voice was strong enough to
have been heard with good effect from
the platform. Mr.. Davis's daughter, q
slender, wil!owy girl ofgraceful manners,
just home from school in Germany.
added her thanks in that very pretty.
musical German which is never heard
from German lips, and probably never
sounds mere charming :o German ears
than when coming from those Of Ameri-
can girls.
We have had very rough trip in
decd" Mr.. Davis said, with that slow.
stately method of speech much in vogue
among old fashioned southern gentlemen,
after Mr.. Derby had presented the news.
paper representative. Indeed, the sail
ors say they have never experienced such
weather."
Did you experience much discomfort
on the voyage?" the writer asked.
Not at ALL" Mr.. Davis responded.
rather briskly for him. "Iam never sea-
SICK. Others, however, suffered a good
deal. The cabin was twice under water"
Have you enjoyed your trip to Eu-
rope, Mr.. Davis ?"
mot very much," was the reply. with
rather panied expression. 'T was not
very well most of the time"
Where were you during the greater
portion OF your sojourn in Eurone?"
SIN France. I went over reaiiy %
fetch my daughter from school in Ger.
many, but she came to Paris to meet me
and L spent most of my time in Paris and
Chantilly. Chantilly, you know is an
old, little village famous for its race tracks,
and I visited friend there"
Did you take much interest in tho
boom in confederate bonds 2"
Il did not hear much of it. NV i'm.
preston is it was mostly confined to Lon
don on the other side, and that very little
was heard of it in Paris" Mr.. Davis had
thus far spoken with that measured. dig.
niiied delivery peculiar to him, but now
his stern features relapsed into q broad
smile as ne added jocularly, 81 did not
invest myself" One could see from his
manner and form the grin with which he
shook his head-apparently at the ab.
surdity of the rise-in what q farcical
light he regarded that already collapsed
"boom."
lis it true that you are going to write
a new book, your last one having been so
great success 2"
Mr.. Davis laughed. "Did you ever
hear OF q man who wanted Immediately
after returning from hunt to go on n
new one"
eyes, if it was successful and pleas.
ant one," was the off:hand reply.
DO you suppose any of these passen-
gers on the Necksr would like to return
Just now to Europe? If you ask them I
believe they all would tell you they never
want to go to Europe again as long as
they liveP Mr.. Davis said all this in n
humorous strain, as though the efforts in.
cident to the production Of his last work
had rendered long repose from literary
labors TO him most welcome.
So far SO well. But now a political
question was brcached, and Mr.. Davis
was soon on his mettle. He was asked
II he knew the recent news, and was told
the speech of Senator Davis, temporary
president Of the United States senate.
expressing his desire to leave. politics as
soon as his great object, the reconcili.
alton of the south and north, was accom-.
plished.
"Well, that would be enough for any
one man to accomplish in this world,''
Mir. Davis remarked, aententiously.
"But don't you think it has been prac-
tically accomplised 2"
II should think not, to Judge of the
legislation for the south and the north in
recent years and the want of harmony be-
tween the two sections"
II suppose You take livelier interest
in the subject of the reconciliation of the
south and north than in almost any other.
May ask you, therefore, how you expect
that work to progress under President
Arthur's administration
How can te.l?" Mr.. Davis replied
with sudden warmth: II lack the oppor-
tunities TO inform myself on the public
men Of the day who have \ voice in the
administration" With great emphasis
he added II have shaken hands with
political questions, and, moreover, I never
allow any man to pump me-" Mr.. Davis
dwe!t with special vigor of voice on the
word NnunnHO - az fhnnuh rrnn IL. IL