The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1902-02-28

ers' boat, the Natchez. The captain
was expecting Mr.. DAVIS on that trip,
and when la found that Mr.. Davis
was not at the lanc.., vas ruoking
uut for him When the steamer came
along Mr.. Davis made a signal to her,
and the captain bIowed, to show that
he saw us. We rowed up and Mr..
Davis was taken on board. That was
the last time | ever saw him."
"Did he act as II he was impressed
with the greatness OF the journey
which be had undertaken?" l asked,
Its significance and farreaching pos
sihilities?"
''Jeff Davis was man you couldn't
tell what was In his mind" Mr.. Mont
gumery replied. "He chatted with US
just the same as usual. Said we we're
late, praised the orsmen for their ex-
ira efforts, and said what good time
we were making. Mr.. Davis was a |
master In the art OF speaking or writ.
ing for the public. though. He could |
say more in one sentence than most
men can in half page"
II wish you would tell me some
thing more about the life On the place
before the war as you remember it,
said.
I'VE just barely had an idea what
slave life was. The conditions on our
place was better than most. The over.
seers had only partial power. They
never were allowed IT, punish anyone.
All thev could do was tn keep account
and tell Mr.. Joe when he came He
always said what the punishment
should be. and staid near to see that
his orders were carried out. | re-
member hearing one instance that
illustrated his disposition.
Mr., Jne had his slaves in two
| squads. called the upper set and the
'lower set Each set had its ow u
nyerseer. and there was always more
or less rivalry between the two over
seers One day one Of these men
made bet with the other Of box
of cigars that the latter could not
have a certain man punished. The
way came tn knnw ahnnt this was
that an uncle OF mine. who was only
a hoy then, overheard the two over
seers talking. He was too small to
report what he had heard then, even
II he had wanted to do So, but he
heard the net made and saw the out
come nf it, Years afterward, when
: he was IA man. he told me about IT..
: Every Sunday morning the field
hands came together for roll call, and
Mr.. Joe held count at that time. II
+. the OverseerS had an account agM n st
anyone they turned it, in then and Mr..
joe decided what should be done.
I When this mans name was called the
D 0yerseer entered a charge against him
r The man came out'of the ranks an6
+ took seat reserved for this purpose
s The overseer claimed that the mar
J. had been guilty OF naturalization
a and had used insulting language Il
: him.
r. Mr.. Davis asked the man il tn,
q charge was true.
y Well, marstcr,' the man said, all
IS can say is that If I ever said then
u words what he says l did, don
,. know anything about it. l c0uldn'
a have known what was doing at tn
d time. You know me and know wha
C kind OF a man I've been.
n Mr.. Davis questioned the oversee
D about the matter. The overseer rt
peated the charge, and finally mad
'e az issue of the case. He said he coul
'e not be responsible for keeping orde
" on the place unless this man wa
&c punished.
/ Finally Mr.. Joe gave in, but he sai'
ir Mr.. -, III do as you wish tn
time. under the circumstances, but I
9 tell you this: I'd just about as sot
'e take the punishment myself
y Mr.. joe was a man who had
y large correspondence. hoth upon bus
=" ness matters connected with the ma
I" agement VI the plantation and in p0
~ tics. He had been Il LAWYER with
y practice which had brought him bo
''e fame and fortune. / was soon able
eu he put to work sorting over pape
''e and putting them away, and 1t W
not very long before he had me beg
az tn do copying for him. There were
:. typcwriters In those days. and Il
y" Quentlv four or Hve copies OF io'
e" sperch or plea or account would Ia
TO he made by hand. All this help
OF my education greatly. Another VI
ai- In which got help came from n
'ed going over the mall. used to Ia
be- the papers out and read them before
ny came back to the house. In this VI
ke. l came To have a very good idea
'nt what was going on In the world"
- PerM,ns VIM heard Mr.. Mont0ou
~n cry address the league In Park
re Memorial Hall commented on the e
'ev ceIlrnt English he used, and On q