Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-01-05
The American MaImaiSOn
Near Greenwood, Miss,

By Pres. W. W. Finley Of the Southern Railway
A letter from me on any subject
not directly associated with South
ern development may be unexpec
ted. However, in this holiday
season, when lighter literature is
appropriate, | venture to give you
a brief account of one of the most
notable homes I'M the Southeastern
States, the history of which and
of its builder | have found very
interesting.
Probably few of the American
tourists who visited MalmaisOn,
the chateau near Paris in which
the Empress Josephine made her
home and which is so intimately
associated with tho story Of her
romantic career, are aware that a
handsome Southern mansion bears
the same name.
The American Malmaison is To-
Gated about ten miles east of
Greenwood, Mississippi, on the
line of the Southern Railway in
Mississippi. 1t is fine example
of modified Colonial architecture
standing on one of the hills border.
ing 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, de.
tached kitchen, and other build
ings which are always associated
with the typical Southern planta-
ton home. The mansion is palat-
in extent, with p0rticos and
balconies in front and on the sides.
Most of the furniture was made in
Paris of solid mahogany and many
pieces arc eXquisitely carved and
Overlaid with gold leaf. Mirrors
in gilded frames are on three sides
of the parl0r, and the most strik
ing piece of furniture in the room.
is a center table of ebony, inlaid
with tortoise shell, gold and moth.
or pearl. The mantcl is OF black
marble and on it is an ebony
decorated with gold leaf,
and two handsome candelbras.
The parlor curtains are of red silk
brOcaded damask.
Malmais0n was built about 1910
by Col. Greenwood LeFlore, the
last ChieftOn of the Choctaw Ma
ton east Of the Mississippi River.
Louis LeFlore, the father of
Greenwood LeFlore, was a native
of France who located in Mobile,
Alabama, and engaged in trade
with the Indians in 1892. He
married Rebecca Gravel, a beauti.
Indian girl, and their son,
Greenwood, was born on June 2,
1900. Louis LeFlore served with
distinction in the war of 1912 and
subsequently kept an inn for the
entertainment of stage passengers
on the old Natchez "Trace." Here
Major John Donly, of Nashville,
who had a government contract
for carrying the mail from Nash
vile to Natchez, became interested
in the bright and intelligent half
breed boy and took him to his
home in Nashville where he kept
him in school for six years.
Major DOnly was the father Of a
fair daughter, Rosa, and a youth
full attachment was developed be.
tween the two young people.
Greenwood LeFlore, in keeping
with the high sense of 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 on account of the youth.
fulneSs of both parties. Some
time afterwards the young man
asked Major Donly what he would
do if he were in love and the lady's
parents objected to his marrying
her. Without suspecting the de.
sign of the question, the Major