Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-23
TALE OF AN OLD MANSION
INVOLVES LOVE AND WAF

Probably few of the American tour
near Paris In which the Empress Jo-
sephine made her home and which Is
so Intimately associated with the story
Of her romantic career. are aware that
handsome southern mansion bears
the same name.
This American Malmaison," says
W. w. Finley, president of the South
ern Railway company, in communi-
cation to the Birmingham, Ala, Age
Herald, sis located about ten miles
east of Greenwood, Miss. It is fine
example of modified colonial architec-
ture, standing on one Of the hills Dor
dering on the famous Yazoo delta,
where, from an observatory on the
roof, view of the surrounding coun-
| try for many miles Is commanded. In
the ample grounds about this house are
the offices, storehouses, detached kitch-
en- and other buildings which are al
ways associated with the typical south
ern plantation home. The mansion Is
palatial in extent. with porticos and
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 par
| lor, and the most striking piece of fur
niture in the room is center table of
ebony, inlaid with tortoise 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 candelabra. The
parlor curtains are of red silk brocad-
ed damask.
''Malmaison was built about 1910 by
chieftain of the Choctaw nation east of
the Mississippi river.
Louis LeFlore, the father OF Green
wood LeF'lore, was native of France
who located in Mobile and engaged in
trade with the Indians in 1892 He
married Rebecca Cravat, a beautiful
Indian girl, and their son, Greenwood,
was born on June 2, 1900 Louis Lee
Flore served with distinction in the
war of 1912 and subsequently kept an
inn for the entertainment of stage pas
sengers on the old Natchez Trace"
Here Major John Donly Of Nashville,
who had a government contract for
tcarrying the mail from Nashville to
Natchez, became interested in the
bright and intelligent halfbreed 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 youthful attach
ment was developed between 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 &C
count of the youthfulness of both par
ties. Some time afterward the young
man asked Major Donly what he would
do If he were in love and the 1ady's
parents objected to his marrying her.
| Without suspecting the design OF the
question, the major said: I would
steal her and run away with her. The
young folks promptly acted on this ad-
vice and went to the home of a neigh
Dor, where they were married. They
were soon forgiven.
Not long after his marriage Green
wood LeFlore returned to Mississippi.
where in 1922, though but % years of
age, he was elected chief of the Choc-
taw nation. The title Of colonel was
conferred upon him and he was given
a sword and medal which Thomas JEFF
ferson had bestowed upon a former
chief. The sword was a beautiful
steel blade with gold-mounted handle
The medal was of silver, about four
inches in diameter, and was symbolic
of the peace and good will which ex-
listed between the United States and
the Choctaw nation.
Greenwood LeFlore's influence over
the Indians was good and spread
throughout the entire nation. He was