The Magnolia gazette., 1888-06-09
Use ono AGE OF IEFF DAVIS.
By MISS RAssTE HosKINs.

On tne coaSU OF mississippi,
with wave kissed boundaries, in
magnolia scented air, and under
the shadow of many stately live
oaks from whose every branch
trail gray Spanish moss,
"By every light wind like a
censor swung nestles one
storied frame building. Modest
In appearance, and, with its broad
verandahs, not unlike the typical
Southern home. That white
painted house is the Mecca Of the
South, for within its walls 1t
keeps treasure 10 other house,
no other land possesses, the
Chieftaln of the Confederacy.
Beauvor became a historic spot
when in '76 its doors opened to
receive jeff Davis, and henceforth
with its broad verandahs, winding
walks and flower gardens VIII be
asso ,iated the tall, slender, linen
clad fguic of the great man who
passed the evening OF hls life with
In its gates.
Call him .'Sage of Beauvoir, Z
The Great Mlsslssippian' or
"The Leader of the Lost Cause =
vet under every cognomen, the
world recognizes and pays Its
homage 10 the feeble old man
whose clarion voice moro than a
quarter of century ago woke
deathless echoes in the Senate
hall; whose hand guided the Com
fedCracy through all It's trials,
aud whose name, now,. can thrill
the hearts, quicken the pulses and
call forth the "rebcl yel'' as no
otlier name ever can.
The twenty years that Mr..
Davis has passed at Brauvoir have
been undisturbed save bv the
many, visitors, some drawn by
curiosity, MOI by love and rever-
ence, that ever seek admittance
TO his presence; or by the com
nittees that ever invite his at
tendance upon public celebrations.
But weakened by the burden OF
so years, aud political tIlals, and
in precarlous health Mr.. Davis is
unable to traS el much and agoids
appearing in public except on oc-
casions of pecul lar interest to his
lbeloved Sonth, OF to the State of
hiss adoption,s preferriAg to pass
his days far from the. maddlng
/ crowd in the quietude of his ideal
home. There in social and intel
lectual intercourse with his fam
lily and friends, where he displays
the great stores Of anecdotes,
knowledge and experience, gar
nered in his long life, the days
glide into Que another.
But the yeais have not passed
unemployed, for Mr.. Davis did
not think his mission ended with
the fall of the Confejeracy, but
felt his work was only transferred
to the arena of letters, and thai
| lie should not pass from life''
stage with bis work incomplete
so the greater portion OF bis time
has been spent in s'The Pavilion,
| whose leather chairs, book-lineC
walls, shelves weighted with pom.
derous tones, Indicate q Literary
den. Here was written, "Thl
Rise and Fall of the Southerl
! Confederacy," an addition t.
| Southern lItePature, and wha
Ewlll be an aid to the historian o
the future, and will assist in oh
tainlng a just realization of tn
position of the Southern States o.
the questions for which the,
fought and demanded justice fo
them from posteritv.
Bereft of citizenship, cut OF
from politics, in such quiet spot
it would seem that the great qae'
tions, of the day would no longe
, interest Mr., Davis; yet nothin
escapes his giant intellect tha
years have not impaired, and hi
knowledge and grasp of subject
are rs thorough and iirm as in b
/ prime.
Years have not alienatel bI
strengthened his bold 1pon tf
: people; the arrows of enyl
& malice and misrepresopiatie
leave him uuinjurcd; and h
. name, deeds and history are e
{ shrined in the hearts of old al
r young. Whenever be appea
the widest enthusiasm reign
a and The scenes enacted at Atlant
G Macog and Montgomery, when
D piece ofthe hat that had toHcb'
a bis fame-wreathed brow was co
/ sidered priceless, show the lo'
of the followers for their chef
: All that see him feel that 'hs
Z old chieflain stands at the e
franre 70 annfheri world he rei