The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-11-25
JEFFERSON
DAVISHOME
SNOWFLAKE
Retreat for Confederate Veterans Of Nils
sissippi Will Be Thrown Open toVisiiOrs
During Centennial Exposition

a retreat maintained for aged Confed
crate veterans Of Mississippi, viii b
one of the show places for tourists
who visit the Mississippi Centennia
Exposition to be held here next year
Beauvoir is maintained by the state
and the Mississippi Division, Sons 0
Confederate Veterans. No inmate
bears any OF the expense; instead
two dollars per month is given each
old veteran and this suffices for his
Incidental expenses. Tobacco, cloth
ing, medical attention and three meals
a day are furnished free
Mississippi's endeavor to care fol
her veterans is typical of the move
ment throughout the south. without
the aid Of a federal pension, the south
forgetting the bitterness and travail
Of the Civil war, but cherishing the
men who fought under Lee-is caring
for her own. The story at Beauvoir is
peculiarly rich in pathos and senti.
ment for it was here that Davis wrote
"The Rise and Fall of the Confedera-
cy" and here that the deposed presi-
dent of the Confederate states came
when he left prison
H. r. Blalzeslee. former commission
er of agriculture Of this state and now
director general OF the Mississippi Cen
tennial Exposition, was the first Mis-
sissippian to contribute the fund being
raised to build new dormitories.
When the exposition is held next
year each veteran and widow at Beau
voir will participate in Confederate
Veterans Day The south will honor
both the fighters who feel want in
their old age and the veteran Of means
who have not been compelled to 60
to soldiers home.
When one enters the grounds at
Beauvoir he inevitably pictures the
south before the war The house in
which Jefferson Davis lived is colonial
in design and circled by wide porches
topped by square. white pillars. A
spacious hall runs down the center Of
the home. In this one sees small
table, with crooked mahog
any legs.
"Jefferson Davis sat here and wrote
his book, an attendant informs you.
He came here for reflection and re-
pose after the war"
There's an old square piano in the
corner Of the reception room. 1t be-
onged to Winnie Davis, "The Daugh-
.er OF the Cenfederacy." For forty
years it has gone untuned but its
one is soft and sweet. In this room
llso one may see the silver commun-
on service used by the Confederate
An oil painting Of jefferson
Davis. hangs over the mantle-piece
md about the place are photographs
i Mississippi statesmen OF later days.
In back room there is an old
Gather trunk, its cover made dingy
" hard usage and time.
"He took this trunk with him to
dexico and Europe" explains the at.
endant as he moves on to the back
'orch with its high green blinds and
attice work. To the rear are the lit
le houses where servants once lived.
nd big rusty bell, rung by clothes
inc that runs over pulley, clangs in
he back yard and summonses the
eterans to their meals.
The bedroom that jefferson Davis
coupled still contains the old-fash-
Dned wooden bed, with canopy top,
pom which Davis lay and dreamed Of
attles won and lost. Paintings and
photographs Of Confederate soldiers
4 their gray uniforms are on the
5alls, and in corner one may see a
ivan Of antique design.
Records OF the Confederate states
. book form, and histories Of the Civ.
war show their dusty covers
trough the glass doors Of the book
ases- Now and then veteran whose
yesight still is good enters the read
1g room and takes down volume
nat recounts the campaigns of Lee, or
tonewall jackson, or Longstreet or
ellis Of Pickett's famous charge at
As the visitor walks through the
rounds he finds little groups Of old
zen sitting on the benches under the
ak trees. They live in the past
est Of them-and they talk Of Appo
iattax, Antietam, Bull Run. Rich
lond, Atlanta, tho Wilderness, Get
'sburg and the valley Of Virginia.
Arguments flare up and wane about
iistakes in strategy, charge and
ounter charge. hand-to-hand fighting
I'd camp scenes. The trench fight
g Of the wars Of today does not ap-
aal to the imagination Of these Yeter-