The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31
LETTERS TO EDITOR
A Southern Mansion


 To the editor of The Age-Herald:
 "A letter from me on any subject not directly associated with southern devel- opment may be unexpected. However, in this holiday season, when lighter ltera- ture is appropriate, I venture to give you A brief account of one of the most nota- ble homes in the southeastern states, the history of which and of its builder l have found very interesting.
 Probably few of the American tourists who visit Malmaison, the chateau near Paris in which the Empress Josephine made her home and which is so intimately associated with the story of her roman- tic career, are aware that handsome southern mansion bears the same name
 .'The American AIalmaison is located about 10 miles east of Greenwood, Miss It is a fine example of modified colonial architecture standing on one of the hills bordering on the famous Yazoo delta, where, from an observatory on the roof, a view of the surrounding country for many miles is commanded. In the ample grounds about the house are the offices, storehouses, detached kitchen, and other buildings which are always associated with the typical southern plantation home. The mansion is palatial tn extent with porticos and balconies in front and on the sides. Most of the furniture was made in Paris of solid mahogany and many pieces are exquisitely carved and over- laid with gold leaf. Mirrors In gilded frames are on three sides of the parlor, and the most striking piece of furniture in the room is a center table of ebony, inlaid with totoise shell, gold, and mother of pearl. The mantel is of black marble and on it are an ebony clock, decorated with gold leaf, and two handsome can delabras. The parlor curtains are of red silk brocaded danlask.
 "Malmaison was built about 1S40 by Colonel Greenwood LeFlore, the last chieftain of the Choctaw nation east of the Mississippi river.
 Louis LeFlore, the father of Green wood LeFlore, was a native of France who located in Mobile, and engaged in trade with the Indians in 17G. He mar ried Rebecca Cravat, a beautiful Indian girl, and their son, Greenwood, was born on June 2, 1900. Louis LeF'lore served with distinction in the war of 1872 and subsequently, kept an inn for the enter tainment of stage passengers on the old Natchez "Trace." Here Major John Don ly of Nashville. who had government contract for carrying the mail iron Nashville to Natchez. became interested in the bright and intelligent half breed hoy and took him to his home in Nash. vile where he kept him in school fol six years.
 Major Donly was the father of a fair daughter Rosa, and youthful attachment was developed between tho two young people. Greenwood LeFlore in keeping with the high sense oi honor that governed him through life told Major Donly of his love for Rosa and asked permission to marry her The major and Mrs. Donly objected or account of the youthfulness of bott parties Some time afterward the young man asked Major Donly what he would do if he were in love ane the ladys parents objected to his mar rying her. Without suspecting the de sign of the question, the major said T would steal her and run away witt her" The young folks promptly actet on this advice and went to the hom, of a neighb bor, where they were mar ried. They were soon forgiven.
 Not long after his marriage Green