The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-15

name and letters of introduction that |
hoped would secure me an interview with
The most noted character in the history OF
| the civil rebellion. Mrs. Davis showed me
the arlor and, after informing me that Mr..
Davis was sick, excused herself to learn If he
was able to see me. In q short time che re-
turned and informed me that Mr.. Davis was
waiting. On entering the room | was cor.
| daily greeted by Mr.. Davis, whose snowy,
intellectual face, and dignifed air pro.
claimed him at once to be q gentleman
OF great learning and the most polished
manners. For weeks he has been confined
TO his bed, suffering with indammatory
rheumatism. After a few moments pleas
ant conyersstion he asked me II / was ac-
Quainted in Rushville, Ind. informed him
that at one time Nashville was my home
and that was we'll acquainted there. He
asked me il | knew man there by the name
OF John L. Robinson, and who represented a
District OF which Nashville is q Tart in Don.
gress more than thirty wears ago. / told
him that Robinson had been dead more than
twenty five years, and only knew him by
his great re putetion. He said that Robin
son, with bis fSiIily. boarded at the same
house on Capitol Hill, Washington, with
tachment for his little daughter, then child
of five years. He said ne was at the
time suffering from a wound received in
Mexico, and Mr.. Robinson's little girl was
great company and helped him TO pass the
time most pleasantly. l informed him that
she was a widow and lived in Indianapolis.
He requested me to 90 in person and see her.
bearing his kindest greetings and best
wishes He spoke of her several times and
each time a smile lighted his face aud his
voice was IS tender as woman's, or as she
bad been his own child. Dear little girl, :"
he said, she was so inpulsivel Her mother
often tried to repress her, but We were such
W. al. h,~ 49, a.
and was prsttling to me about Nashville aud
her home there" ! spent the day with Mr..
Davis and took dinner with him. | was in
tToduced to the other members of the fami-
ly, Mrs. Hayes and Miss Davis, lady of
very proposing manners. and two little
lively three and five summers. The ladies OF
the household are true types of the Southern
woman and intellectual in their converse
ton. A little incident which shows the
tender heart Of Mr.. Davis, was that when the
two little girls came with flowers for him, he
patted their heads and spoke to them in such
4 loving tone that their eyes sparkled with
Joy and they lifted up their faces for kiss,
which was most lovingly bestowed. Mr..
Davis talked freely on ali the topics OF inter
est, past present and future, bat not until
he had positively forbidden the publication
of a single word he spoke on public ques-
tions. He said that men had visited him
and he had given them the courtesy OF his
home, thin king they were gentlemen and
would not report household converse
items. He said / was travelling and
reported just what saw, and could write
about what had observed in and about his
home. He is seventy six years old and very
feeble. Els face is deeply wrinkled and
shows that be has suffered much. But his
sufferings and dsappointments have softened
and mellowed every feature OF his face until
1 can truthfully say be has as kind coun-
tenance as / have ever seem During sll our
conversation bis manner was most pleasing
and not one unkind expression passed over
bis face nor one unktDd word from his lips.
| at one time reminded him that General
Grant was dying. Poor man." he said,
Grant has some splendid qualities. es-
peoslly personal coursge. He is q brave
man." He has very complets library.
The library room has open bookcases ex-
tendiBg on three sides of the room from the
floor to within three feet OF the ceiling, sud
resting on their tops are paintings and busts.
Before taking my leave he presented ME,
as 8 memento OF my Wait, copy OF "A Sur
vey Of the Life and Works OF Jesus Christ !"
with the inscription. Jefferson Davis to
Luther Benson, with best wishes" Another
gift was an old penholder which ne had
used for years. Mr.. Davis is the greatest
man intellectually it has ever been my priv
ilege to meet. His knowledge includes all
subjects, and is profound. He is scholarly
almost to perfection. AS pleasant CONVEX
sationalist / have never met his equal. Ny
visit with him was most pleasant, and will
linger while memory lasts.
LUTHER Benson.