The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-16
TIE HOME OF JEFFERSON DATIS.
II. euad's Social Chat with the Ex-
President Of the Confederacy.

Iodu ana through the oaks and pines
and paImcttoes from Mississippi City to
Bcauyoir the home Of Jefferson Davis.
and as passed over the road the other
April day, frightening an alligator here,
skirting an orange grove there, and all
OF a sudden breaking out Of the forest
upon the sandy shores washed by the
waves Of the gulf, ! felt that he had
well chosen the home Of his old age.
His had been life Of turmoil, even be-
fore civil war was whispered. lie had
been giant in politics, warrior in
Mexico, a diplomat and an antagonist
in all the main issues Of the day and the
problems Of civil government. Few
! lives have been SO cyentful.
asked the Justice Of the Peace who
drove me down in his springles4 wagon
! drawn by span Of too-fat horses, if
he knew Jefferson Davis, and he an
swercd:
"Why, Of counc-known him for
thirty years"
And how do the people in the neigh
borhood feel towards him."
Everybody likes him. lie is a good
neighbor, iust-mindcd citizen, and has
the respect and good viii Of every man,
woman and child
"Are any Of his former slaves in this
ncighborho0d ~
plenty Of them, and what's more
number OF them are now in his employ.
He was kind to his people, and when the
war closed, and he finally came here to
settle down, dozens of his old slaves were
ready to hire to him at any price. Of
those in his employ, there isn't money
enough in the State of Mississippi to
hire them to leave him. He has two
large cotton plantations, outside of the
Beauyoir property, thus directly and in
directly employing hundreds Of coored
people, and you can't find ono who
hasn't good word for him. No Stree.
mister, there isn't q mau in this part Of
the country better thought of as neigh
Dor, Il citizen and a man than Jefferson
Davis"
The house is what we in the North
would call story and half cottage in
height, and it faces the gulf. Around
1t IS II famous grove of oaks and other
woods, and from here and there a tree,
the long gray moss hangs down and
swings in the breeze in its weird and
dreamy way. Nature has done much to
beauttty the grounds and they are kept
III a neat and tidy condition.
The house is roomy, finely furnished
and, while there is no ostcntatious dis
play, there is a homclikc atmosphere
and look Ct cosy comfort. One can
see refinement and taste everywhere and
none OF the home comforts are sacri-
feed, From the ycranda one can look
out upon the tireless white-caps rolling
IN upon the sandy beach, and the neigh
bors are all that the word implies.
had only a moment to wait before
the eN-Prcsidcnt came in and gave mo
hearty grasp Of the hand and words Of
welcome. Tall, almost snow-white hair
and whiskers, blue eyes, face wrinkling
with age, voice rs soft and kind as
mother s-such was the picture of the
man who for four years held the desti.
mes OF continent in his iron grip In
the zenith of his power he may have
naughty and imperious to
some, but not the generality. A kinder
face | have never met, and though there
is something in the voice to warn one
that It's owner has held place and power,
one is soon charmed with its kindness
and touch Of pathos.
Alr. Davis is 73 years Of age and his
health is not of the best. 1t is evident
that his life OF yicissitude is drawing to
q close, and rs one realizes il he cannot
but admire the PHYSICAL and mental
machinery which has stood the strain of
SO much labor. Many man of equal
aye had laid down his burdens Of pub
nc lille when Mr., Davis assumed his
greatest. He has been man without
rest until within the past few years.
Ills literary work, entered upon long be-
fore his siNtieth birthday was task
which would have discouraged many an
author of twenty years younger, yet he
made no pause until the last chapter was
IN the publishers hands.
lie asked me about my Southern trip
had been, whom | had met, |
ana what opinion had formed of the
sentiment OF the masses; and when |
that the North and South |
seemed more closely united to-day than