The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-14
Jefferson Davis at Home.
Correspondence n. Y. World.l

Correspondence n. Y World.
BEAUvoiR, Miss, April lst.-The
station of Beauyoir WAS created on the
line Of the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad simply because Jefferson Davis
lives there. When he, too, goes to join
the silent majority there will be nothing
left of Beauvoir excepting the fact that
Mr.. Davis once did live there. The
name j. so thoroughly Unidentified with
that of the former leader Of the Conied-
eracy that when the passengers read
"BeauvDir" Oh the little frame building
which serves as the station they crowd up
Oh the car platforms and thrust their
heads from the car windows, trying to
catch through the Intervening trees
glimpse Of Mr. Davis home. But they
fail IN this and go back to their seats to
ruminate upon the very effective retreat
he has selected.
A correspondent of The World was
the only one 10 leave tie train AT Beau
voir this morning, and was directed by
the station agent TO follow lane through
the trees ana towards the Gulf until he
came to Mr.. Dsvis's house. 1t was a
pretty walk of quarter OF a mile over
u sunny road. A hut, around whose
door the negro inmates were lying in
the sun, stands at the head of the lane.
On the left hand is piece of land be
longing 20 Mr. Davis, devoted to grape
culture and surrounded by high wire
fence. Nobody is warned" to keep of
this ground nor threatened with ''the
full extent of the law" if he does not
keep off, but two or three notices catch
the eye and the fancy, too, which re1d:
Please do not trespass." The cone of
these simple signs along the lane is in
keeping with all that one hears about
Mr.. Davis from his neighbors in Beau
yolr or his admirers elsewhere. He IS
nothing if not gentle.
On the right Is a wood Just touched
with green from the hand of spring
There are tall pines, live oaks, with
handfuls of Spanish moss, clinging to
their branches, and here and there a
magnolia living IN sweet retirement
The blue forget me-nots are peeping out
in places by the side of your path
Whatever you see-the very voices OF
the birds you hear-seem to be tinged
with a romantic sadness, asd the whole
place seems haunted by the memory OF
cause that was lost. The lane sudden
ly brings you to the top of bluff, over
looking the blue waters OF the Gulf OF
Mexico, and there is the home of Mr.
Davis. There are half a dozen frame
buildings of various sizes scattered irreg
ularly over four or FIVE acres of ground,
the whole enclosed by high board
fence. The many trees are not in rows
there are flowers, but not in beds; there
are paths but they are neither straight
nor curved. Everything is as nature
made it. A very old colored servant,
who was currying a correspondingly old
horse, dotted his nat to the correspond
ent from a distance which only South
ern courtesy could span. The residence
fronts upon the Gulf--a square, two
story, old fashioned frame dwelling,
with five pillars standing solemn guard
on its broad veranda. 1t was called a
mansion once and by courtesy is called
so still. The veranda commands beau.
tiful view os the waters of the Gulf,
with Cat Island lying low on the right.
A few easy-chairs are scattered near the
entrance, all old-fashioned and comfort
able and the easiestlooEing of them all
bears the name Mrs. j. Davis"
Tie doors stood open and a young
negro boy led the correspondent into a
wide hall filled with loungesand oil paint
ings and ornaments, but nothing was
new or bright or modern. All belonged
To that rather indefinite period which
the Southern man refers to as"before the
war" The boy said Mr.. Davis was
not very we'll and had not left his room
that moruing-an event that is not un-
common with him who is close upon his
fourescore years. The correspondent
wrote nete expressing regret at Mr..
Davis's iudisposition and asking ii he
would at some later date oblige the
World with chat upon the affairs of
the South, political and otherwise.
After a few minutes the messenger re-
turned with ALr. Davis's regrets that he
was unable to entertain his visitor aud
with the following note:
30rH MARCH, 'S6.
DEAR SIR: am not well enough TO
leave my chamber or | would orally
reply TO your request for my opinions,
that | am not in office, am not candl-
date for official position, therefore have
a right, as it is my wish To lead the life
of retirement in which the will OF others
~ we'll as my own nas placed me-
Respectfully. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Mrs. Davis and their daughter, Narina
A. Davis, are the only other occupants
Of the old homestead. The correspon-
dent met the latter-a comcly and win
ming, bur wholly unpretenuous girl OF
three and twenty From the house TO
the big green gate that opens on the
bluff over the Gulf is the walk OF
minute. and when the correspondent
emerged from the shade of the tall pine
trees he fels like one awaking from
NJ reverie-a dream of the past.