The morning news., 1889-03-03
JEFFERSON DAVIS, HOME LIFE.
The Aged Leader of the Confederacy
and His Charming aousehold.

LE GESON LA Wis AO LIE u.
The Aged Leader of the Confederacy
and His Charming household
BeauUoir Letter to 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
Tne mansion belonging 20 the Davis es-
tate is a typical southern residence of large
proportions, set in the midst of nearly a
dozen cottages and other buildings. When
erected it was one of the fin st on the gulf
coast. Wide verandas, or galleries, as they
are called here nearly surround both the
mansion and the cottages. Up long flight
Of ssels and across the trout gallery one
makes his entrance into spacious hall ex-
tending nearly tho entire length of the
house, and communicating with rear gal
Iery. This is one of the finest old nails any
where to be seen in the south, with its high
ceilings and Its situation to secure cool
breeze from any direction whence it bio Ts.
Two divans in the center invite one to
test its comfort, and the sides are lined with
bric-a-brac Of much interest. On either
side of the hall ara the parlors, library and
living rooms, square in shape and filled with
comfortable, Eone-like furniture. Upo1
the walls are to be seen many souvenirs
gifts that commemorate scenes in the life
Of their owner, antique pictures, and manv
articles gathered during travels in this and
other countries
The home life of Mr. Davis and his
family is something pleasant TO look in
upon and long to BE- remembered. M. and
Mrs. Davis and daughter. Miss Winnie,
constitute the immediate family. Another
daughter is married and lives in Colorado.
A body of well-trained servants attends the
house and grounds, and, contrary to the
rule in southern homes, the servants are
white instead Of c5lored. Besides those
whom | have mentioned as composing the
family circle, it is rarely the case that there
is not some oJe to occupy one of
tae great cottages, close by tne mansion,
and add one or more to the number
about the dining table 1t may be rela-
tive or it may be a friend, perhaps claim
ing little righ5 to hospitality, but offered
the benefit TO health of a winter in the
south. Perhaps it is only caller, who steps
OFF the train at the station, wishing to pay
his respects to the Davis family. He finds
when he has done so that his host an
ticipates his inability to obtain accom-
dations elsewhere there being no public
house, indeed scarcely house Of any sort
in the vicinity, and he is cordially made
welcome until such time as he taxes the
train to depart All visitors are made per-
fectly ''at home for the time being; the
whole household, from the master
10 the wee little servant girl who
stands smIlingly at the door to receive
gue.ts, has caught the spirit and mastered
y
when you hear the order given for the cur
riage to save you a half-mile walk in the
heavy sand, almost as though you are part
ing from friends of long standing, who will
follow you with their interest, instead of
from the acquaintance of an afternoon.
Mrs. Davis, upon being brought to speak of
the almost constant demand upon their
time by strangers, says that they nave
scarcely 70 note an iastance Of imposition.
On the contrary, they feel that often they
have entertained gels unawares."
Mr.. Davis was permitted to enjoy life
with his first wife-the daughter of Gen.
4 chary TaylDr-Dut a few years before
the occasion Of her death. The present Mrs.
Davis was NJ IS Howell Of Mississippi, and
she is fine motherly-looking woman, some
twenty years younger than her husband.
Mis- Winnie Davis is young woman of
attractive appearance, tall, with dark hair
and regular features. She Is universally
beloved by the southern people, and is
recognized as II belle in society circles If
northern as we'll as southern cities. But
her own tastes lead her into
quiet home life. She was
educated in Germany and is highly
cultured woman. She is skillful with an
artists brush, and also finds time to hai die
in very lneritorious fashion the pen of an
authoress; aad while her constant reading,
added to the varied scenes of her life, fit
her 10 succeed IN JnlS nelu, she Is, nrSG or
all. the comfort and cheer of the home to
which she is much attracted. Both Mrs.
Davis and her daughter SHINE as conversa-
tiOnahstS. They are people OF liberal
minds. Nothing of the narrow prejudice
which betokens a life shut up from other
peoples interests and ideas is to be de-
lected; aud vet in expressing their views
the flavor of emphasis is not lost. They
can respect, if they do not always share,
your opinions.
On the day Of the visit in question Mr..
Davis was feeling quite i'll, and as conse-
quence he did not rise until after the noon
hour He is troubled somewhat with
scatica, but aside from that his general
health is good. He is now past 81 years of
age, his last birthday having been June 3,
and yet he stands as straight as ever
he did in his life, but his step has
not that irmness and elasticity which
marked it a dozsn years ago. His
head is covered with a good coat
ing of hair and like his short-cropped full
beard, it is as white as snow. His courtly
bearing, so quickly observed on his en-
trance into the parlor, is that of the pol
ished southern gentleman, and his first
wcrd after introduction is enough to make
YOU feel that you may bs at ease during the
remainder of your stay Although his hair
is white and his voice not 50 strong as in the
prime of life, Air. Davis is intellectually as
Gear q d bright as ever, and his fund of
hum +, instead of diminishing, seems to be
growing greater.