The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-01
DESCRIPTION OF BEAUvOIR.
Jefferson Davis Mansion That Is to
Become n Home for Confederate
Eatarons

Veterans.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
Laying aside all sentiment, Beauvoir
is the most beautiful and imposing
place on the Gulf coast 1t was set
tied and improved by James Brown, a
wealthy planter, who was lavish in the
expenditure of his abundant means in
building and beautifying his home.
Oaks, cedars, and magnolias vie with
each other in adding charm and the
long, gray Inoss fills in any little de-
tails that are lacking. The mansion,
as it was termed, is as good as 1t was
the day it was built, over sixty years
ago.
All the material was shipped there
by water for that was a long time be-
fore a railroad was thought of in that
section. Mr.. Brown bought a whole
kiln of brick explains Vincent
Knecht, the keeper who shows visitors
over the building and grounds. Most
folks" he continued, buy brick by the
thousand but he bought the whole
kiln"
A gallery eighty feet long and four
teen and one-half feet wide borders the
building in front and on the sides, and
ends in wings that are entered through
tall Venetian doors. The hall is six
teen feet wide, and opens at the rear
on a wide gallery, on which the wings
also OPEN The room to the right as
the hall is entered from the front was
Miss Winnie's room. What a Mecca
this room will be for the veterans, and
how they will cherish everything that
belonged to the Daughter of the Con-
federacy." If her portrait can be Sc
cured and placed on her own easel it
will be more to them than any gift that
can be bestowed.
Opening into this room by folding
doors is the room that was occupied
by the older daughter, Mrs. Hayes.
Seine of the old family furniture is
stored there that Mrs. Davis has given
to a relative. A relic there worth
keeping is MIR. Davis own trunk 1t
is of medium size, made of sole leath-
er, and bears the imprint of the Amer
lean Eagle with wings outspread on the
top. 1t is pasted over with labels of
hotels in this country and in Europe,
indicating something of the traveller
Mr.. Davis was.
The first room off the hall to the
left is the parlor. The mantel there is
of white marble. The fender and fire
set are of brass. Opening off the par
lor is the family library, which has
shelves on all sides, and covering the
entire wall space that is not taken up
by the windows and doors. Miss Win
MES piano was formerly there, but it
has been taken away All these rooms
and the hall are frescoed delicate tint
that the years have not married OBJ
jectionably The work was done by
French artists, it is claimed. when the
house was first built. The corners are
rounded, which is in marked difference
to the present mode of building.
From the library was door that led
into Mr.. Davis room in the west
wing. This room is not nearly as
LANCE as the rooms in the main part of
the house. 1t was here that Mr..
Davis was taken i'll just prior to his
death. He was taken to New Orleans
for treatment, and there died. Mrs
Davis room was the one joining, and
is smaller yet, but a real mother room.
There is the little medicine cabinet,
where the family remedies were close
at hand, and there are lockers and cub