The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-10
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Luther Bsnson's Visit to the Bx-Presideat
OF the Southern Confederaoy.

OF the Southern C0nfederaoy.
Luther Benson recently visited Jefferson
Davis at bis home in Bssuvoir, Miss, aud
tells about his interview as folio VS., in the
Kokomo Dispatch:
On The morning OF she 10th instant stop
ped at Beauvoir Station, on the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, and after a walk OF
half a mile arrived at the home of Jefferson
Davis, exPresident of the Southern Confed-
eracy. For quiet and repose q more fitting
spot'could not have beeen chosen than this.
one of the most beautiful on the Mississippi
Sound. The walk from the depot is along
an even, white, sandy road, lined on either
side by spres ding shade trees, the road lead
ing down to the Gulf of Mexico. To the
left OF the road, and partly hidden by shell.
terIDg msgnolias, is the bouse-a large
French cottsge-with galleries extending
along the entire front and sides. Upon these
yerandas open Venetian windows, where
are broad, low steps leading from the closed
rooms, catching every Whit of the
grateful breeze blowing from the
Sound, whose waters stretch away as
far as the eye can reach. Mr.. Davis
has here plantation comprising 800 acres,
about 100 acres of which is kept in a high
STATE Of cultivation. A very large VINEYARD
comprises part of it, and the grounds on
which the house and out.buildings are set
occupies about twenty acres.
l was met at the door by Mrs. Davis a
most stately matroD, to HON / gave my
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 parlor and, after informing me that Mr..
Davis wss sick, excused herself to learn II he
was able to zee me. In q short time she re-
turned and informed me that Mr.. Davis was
waiting. On entering the room l 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 aud the most polished
manners. For wesks he has been confined
to his bed, suffering with inflammatory
rheumatism. After few moments pleas
ant conversation be asked me if / was &C
quainted in Rushvilie, Ind. informed him
that at one time Rushville was my home
and that / was well acquainted there. He
asked me if l knew q man there by the name
OF John L. Robinson, and who represented
District OF which Nashville is 3 part in Con.
gress more than thirty years ago. | told
him that Robinson had bsen dead more than
twenty-five years, and only knew him by
his great reputation. He said that Robin
son, with his family, boarded at the same
house on Capitol Hill, Washington, with
him, and that ne formed very great at.
tacbment for his little daughter, then child
of five years. He said hs was at the
time suffering from q 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 widow and lived in Indianapolis
He requested me 10 20 in person and see her,
besring his kindest greetings aud best
wishes. He spoke OF her several times and
each time a smile lighted his face and his
voice was IS tender as a woman's or as she
had been his own child. Dear little girl
he said, ''she was go impulsive! Her mother
often tried to repress her, but we were such
friends sbe soon forgot her mothers words
and was prsttling to me about Nashville and
her home there" spent the day with Mr.
Davis and took dinner with him. / was in-
troduced to the other members OF the fani-
ly, Mrs. Hayes and Miss Davis, lady of
very proposing manners and two little
girls, daughters of Mrs. Hayes, aged respect.
lively three and five summers. The ladies' of
the household are true types of the Southern
woman and intellectual in their converse.
ton. 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
loving tone that their eyes sparkled with
which was most lovingly bestowed. Mr.. |
Davis talked freely on ali the topics OF inter-
est, past, present and future, but not until
he had positively forbidden the publication |
OF single word he spoke on public cues.
tions. He said that men had visited him
and ne had given them the courtesy of his
home, thin king they were gentlemen and |
would not report household converse
tioDs. 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 1
feeble. BIS face is deeply wrinkled aud |
shows that he has suffered much. But his |
sufferings and disappointments have softened |
and mellowed every feature OF his face until |
can truthfully say be has as kind coun- |
tenance as / have ever seen. During ell our |
conversation his manner was most pleasing, |
and not one unkind expression passed over
bis face, nor one uDkind word from his lips. |
at one time reminded him that General |
Grant was dying. Poor man." he said, |
Grant has some splendid qualities, es-
pecially personal courage. He is a brave |
man" de has very complete library. |
The library room has open bookcases ex. |
tending on three sides of the room from the |
floor to within three feet OF the ceiling, and |
resting on their tops are paintings and busts. |
Before taking my leave he presented me, |
as a memento of my visit, 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 wss an old penholder which he had |
used for years. Mr.. Davis is the greatest |
man intellectually 1t 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 Nv |
visit with him was most pleasant and will |
liDger while memory lasts.
LUTHER BENSON.