The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-05-16
MR.. DAVIS AT HOME.
A Pleasant Talk With a Northern
Journalist.

A Pleasant Talk With a Northern
Journalist.
N. Quad Meets the Ex.Presidtnt Of the Con.
federaey at BeauVoir,
VERY INTERESTING CoNvERsAT1oN.
1t is drive of Eve miles over q
sandy road through the oaks and
pines and palmettoes from Mississip.
pi City to Beauvoir, the home of JEFF
ferson Davis, and as I passed over
the road the other April day, fright
ening an alligator here skirting an
orange grove there, and all of sud-
ken breaking out of the forest upon
the sandy shores washed by the
waves of the gulf. I felt he had we'll
chosen the home of his old age. His
had been a life of turmoil, even be-
tore civil war was whispered. He
had been giant in politics, warrior
in Mexico, diplomat and an antag.
onist in all the main issues of the
day and the problems of civil gov
eminent! Few lives have been so
eventful.
HIS NE1GHBoRs.
l asked the justice of the peace
who drove me down in his springless
wagon, drawn by a span of too fat
horses, if be knew Jefferson Davis,
and he answered:
"Why, of course-kuow him for 80
years."
"And how do the people in this
neighborhood feel toward him?'
Everybody likes him. He is a
good neighbor, ajust minded citizen,
ana mas the respect and good will of
every man, woman and child"
care any of his former slaves in
this neighborhoodr'
"Plenty of them, and what's more
number Of them are now in his
employ. He was kind to his peo
pie, 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 Miss
issippi to hire them to leave him.
He has two large cotton plantations, |
outside of the Beauvoir property,
thus directly and indirectly employ
ing hundreds of colored people, and
you can't find one who hasn't good
word for him. No, stree, Mister,
there isn't man in this country bet {
ter though of as neighbor, a citi
zen aud man than Jefferson Da
Wis.,
Ibe house is what we in the North
would call a story and a halt cottage
in height, and it faces the gulf.
Around it is 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. Ma
ture has done much to beauty the
grounds, and they are kept in neat
and tidy condition.
The house is roomy, finely fur
uished and, while there is no osten
tatious display, there is 'homelike
atmosphere and a look of cosy com
fort. One can see refinement and
none of the home comforts are sacri-
feed. 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 Elk .pREs1pEsr.
l 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
snowwhite hair and whiskers, blue
eyes, face wrinkling with age, voice {
as soft and kind as mother s--such
was the picture of the man who for
four years held the destinies of a
continent in his iron crib. In the
zenith Of his power he may have APP
peared naughty and imperious to
some, but not to the generality. A
kinder face have never met, and
though there is something in the
voice to warn one that its owners has
held place and power, one is soon
charmed with its kindness and touch
If pathos.
Mr.. Davis is Is years Of age and t
his health is not of the best. 1t is II
evident that his life of vicissitude is
drawing to a close, and as one reali-
yes it he cannot but admire the phys /,
cal and mental machinery which has .
stood the strain of so much labor.
Many man of equal age had laid
1nWn hia hnrdens nf nnhlic l;fo vhn,