The Dawson journal., 1883-06-07
HIS NEIGHBORs.

"
HIS NEIGHBORS.
/ asked the justice Of the peace
who drove me down in his spring
less wagon, drown BY a span Of too
fat horses, if he knew Jefferson
Davis, and he answered;
"Why, of course-known him
Tor thirty years"
and how ito the people in this
neighborhood feel toward him?"
Everybody likes him. He is a
good neighbor, a just minded citi-
zen, and has tbs respect and good
will of every man, woman and
child"
Are any Of his former slaves in
this neighborhood"
Plenty Of them, and whats
more a number of them are now in
MS 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 Mis-
sissippi to hire them to leave him.
He has two large cotton planta-
tons outside OF the Beauvoir
thus dirpctlv and midi
rectly employing hundreds Of col
ored people, and you can't find one
who hasn't good word for him.
No, Stree, Mister, there isn't a
man IN this part Of the country
better thought Of as neighbor, 4
citizen and a man than Jefferson
Davis"
AT HOME.
The house is what we in the
north would call story and a half
cottage in height, and it faces the
gulf. Around it is a famous grove
Of oaks and other woods. from
here and there a tree. the long
gray moss hangs down and swings
i'll the breeze in it weird and
dreamy way. Nature has done
much to beautify the grounds, and
they are kept III a neat and tidy
condition. The house j. roomy.
finely furnished, and wh0a there
is no ostentatious display, there is
homelike atmosphere and a look
Of cosy comfort One can see re
dnement and taste everywhere,
and none OF the home comforts
are sacrificed. From the yeranda
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-PREsIDENT.
[ had only moment to wait be
fore the eX-president came in and
gave me a hearty grasp Of the
hand and words of welcome. Tall,
almost snow-white hair and whis-
kers, blue eyes, face wrinkled with
age, voice as soft and kind as a
mother s-such was the picture of
the man, who for four years held
the destinies OF a continent in his
iron grip. In the zenith of his
power he may have appeared
naughty and imperious to some,
but not to the generality. A kind
er face l have never Alet, 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
yicissitude is drawing to a close,
and as one realizes it he cannot
but admire the physical and men
tai machinery which has stood the
strain Of so much labor. Many a
man Of equal age had laid down
his burdens of public life when
Nh. 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 a task which would have dis
couraged many an author twenty
years younger, yet he made nc
pause until the last chapter was in
the publishers hands.
NORTH AND SOUTH.
He asked me about my southern
trip-whera / had been, whom
had met, and opinion | had form.
ed 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 history, he express.
ed deep qualification. at is z
grand and progressive country
he said, "and the better the people
understand each other the better
for our future as a country"
He asked me regarding the SEN
timent of the north, and / believe
/ answered truly when ] told him
hit rancor and bitterness had died
out of the hearts of all but dema.
gooueS and malevolent nnliticians