The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23

were not resorted TO. But he liked good
food, flowers, drives, books, music; and they
gave him his fill. Kalakua never lived any
better than did this poor student for forty
five days. Then, thes bonds having all been
signed and sealed, the big seal was packed
away in the Secretary's trunk, and the Gov
ernOr called for their bill. 1t was paid with
out word; so were all the other bills; and
then the Governor and Secretary OF State
rode away"
AT JEFFERSON DAVIS HOME.
4 Social Chat With the Ex-President of tn
Confederacy.
detroit Free Press
It is a drive of five miles over a sandy road
and through The oaks and pines and palmet-
tees from Mississippi City to Beauv0ir. the
home Of Jefferson Davis, and IS passed over
the road the other April day, fngh Iening an
alligator here, skirting an orange grove there,
and al of a sudden breaking out of the
forest upon the sandy shores washed by the
waves of the CALF felt that he had well
chosen the home of his old age. His bad been
h life turmoil, even before Civil War was
Whispered. He had been giant in politics,
g warrior in Mexico a diplomatic and an an
taeOnistic in all the main issues of the day
and the problems OF civil government. Few
lives have been so eventful.
HIS EEIGHBoRs.
! ssked the Justice of the Peace who drove
me down town in his springlsss wagon,
drswn by span Of too fat horses, ii he knew
Jefferson Davis, and ne answered:
why, Of course-knOTn him for thirty
years"
And how do the people of this neighbor-
hood feel toward him.
''EverybC dy likes him. He is a good
he gnbor, jusi-minded man, and has the re-
spsct and eood viii Of every man, woman
and child
'Are any of his former slaves in this
neigh borhood?'
Plenty Of them, and what's more a num-
Der 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
IN his employ there isn't money enough
in the State of Mississippi to
hire them to leave him. He has to large cot
ton plantations, outside of the Bsauvoir prop
erty, thus directly and indirectly employing
hundreds of colOred people, and you oau't
find one who hasn't good word Tor him. No
stree, mister, there isn't man IN this part of
the country better thought of as a neiehbor a
citizen and man than Jefferson DAVIS"
AT HONE.
The house is what we in the North would
call story and half cottage in height, and
il faces the Gulf Around it is a famous
grove OF oaks and other woods, and from
here and there tree the long gray moss
hangs down and swings In the breeze IN its
weird and dreamy way. Nature has done
much 10 beautify the grounds, and they are
kept in a neat and tidy condition.
The house is rOomy, finely furnished, and,
while there is no OBSERVATIONS display, there
is a homelike atmosphere and look of cosy
comfort. One can see refinement and taste
everywhere, and none of the home comforts
are SACRIFICED. From the veranda one can
look out upon the tireless white caps rolling
in upon the sandy beach, and the neighbors
are all that the word implies.
THE Ex-PREsIsENT.
had only moment to wait before the ex-
President came in and gave me a hearty
grasp of the hand and word of welcome.
Tall, almost snow-white hair and vhiskers,
blue eyes, face wrinkling with age
voice as soft and kind as a mothers
such was the picture OF the man
who for four years held the desti-
MES OF a continent in his iron grip. In the
zenith OF his power he mar have appeared
naughty and imperious to some, put not to
the generality. A kinder face L have never
met, and though there is something in the
voice to warn one that its owner has held
place and power, one is soon charmed with
its kindness and touch of pathos.
Mr.. Davis is seventy-three years Of age and
his health is not Of the best. 1t is evident
that his life OF vicissitude is drawing to q
close, and as one realizes it he can not but
\ admire the physical aud mental machinery
] which has stood the strain OF so much labor.
Many 8 man of equal age had laid
/ down his burdens of public life
/ when Mr. Davis assumed his greatest. He
/ has been a man without rest until within the
last few years. His literary work. entered
! upon long after his sixtieth birthday, was q
/ task which would hsve discouraged many an
! author twenty years younger, yet ne made no
pause until the last chapter was in the pub
| isheI's hands.
NORTH AND SOUTH.
He asl ed me about my Southern trip
] where / had been, whom / had met, and
/ what opinion l had formed OF the sentiment
! of the masses; and when answered that the
North and South seemed more closely united
to-day than at any period in our histoey, he
/ expressed deep qualification. 1T is grand
/ and progressive country" he said, and the
better the people understand each other, the
/ better for our future country"
He asked me regarding the sentiment OF
/ the North, and | believe | answered truly
when told him that rancor and bitterness
/ had died out of the hearts of all bat dema-
gogues and malevolent politicians.
THAT is right" he replied, "ard trust no
untoward event will sever the growing cor
dial relations"
ABOUT WAR.
BY and by be drifted into the subject OF
war. It was Mr.. Davis who gave General
Mcclellan his first upward steps and it was
| Mr.. Davis who appointed General Meade 20
the lake survey, and was sharply criticised
| for his selection He believed that McClei-