Evening star., 1941-04-27
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

back In Cnelr noldS nneiy wrought
empire, furniture or more delicately
designed pieces by Duncan Phyfe.
In the high-ceilinged plantation
rooms fine glassware, china, mag
nificent Old World paintings and. In
some cases, libraries of distinction,
were taken for granted. Victorias
and carriages, drawn by blooded
horses driven by liveried slaves,
whisked aristocratic ladies through
Vicksburg's streets.
When the Confederates pointed
their guns at Fort Sumter in distant
Charleston Harbor all this way OF
life was destined to end. Vicksburg,
termed by Gen. Grant "the lifeline
of the Confederacy" because it was
the river junction for its supplies,
was to fall after a desperate siege.
Today on its heights, in the Vicks-
burk National Military Park, Ar
lington of the South" sleep thou
sands from the Union and Confed-
crate ranks. This park is now main
tanned by the Government under the
Jurisdiction of the Interior Depart
ment, and is drawing more and more
persons from all parts of the country.
Pilgrimage Club Formed.
To retain for their city and Its
descendants something of the flavor
of its historic past, the women Of
Vicksburg six years ago banded to-
gether into a single, smoothly func-
tioning Pilgrimage Club. Its pro-
ceeds are being effectively utilized to
help with the maintenance and
restoration Of Vicksburg's landmarks
Trained guides, who are themselves
members of Vicksburg's finest resi-
dental circles, recount the historical
background of old homes and build
ings where their forbears in many
instances made history for their
State and Nation.
Cedar Grove, famous home OF
John Klein, one of Vicksburg's mer-
chant princes and bankers, still re-
tains 20 italian marble statues and
a summer house in gardens that
were once terraced down to the
banks of the Mississippi River. A
patch on the paneling of the front
door indicates where a cannon bal
from the Federal gunboats went
through and richocheted into the
drawing room woodwork. where 1t is
still embedded. It's stately gold
corniced downstairs rooms with their
magnificent mirrors and hand
carved empire furniture won ma
tional acclaim when they were
featured in the filming of The
Crisis"
As different as day from night
Is the McNutt home, one OF the
oldest of Vicksburg's residences but
typically New England in this fAI
Southern environment. Here there
once lived Gov. McNutt, known q:
the Great Repudiator" because OF
his refusal to acknowledge the obli-
cation of certain State bonds. Not
very long ago the principality OF
Monaco brought suit against the
State of Mississippi for the collection
of these bonds which had beer
passed over the gaming tables at
Monte Carlo. The United States
Supreme Court has since ruled these
bonds uncollectable. During the
siege of Vicksburg, a Confederate
officer mortally wounded by one oi
the shore batteries was buried by
candle light in the garden Of the
McNutt home.
1852 Christmas Eve Ball.
The famous Christmas Eve bal
of 1862 was held in the Balfoul
house. 1t has since become Vicks.
burg's first apartment house, with
its great center hall and spiraleo
stairway always available for visitor.
to view. The festivities Of that
long ago Yule-tide season ended
dramatically when Col. Fall Of the
Confederate forces rushed in on tht
scene and announced to his fellow
officers, Gems. Stephen D. Lee anc
Martin L. Smith, that the Unior
gunboats had almost reached tn,
city and it was necessary for tn,
women and children to evacuate i
Immediately.
Vicksburg, we learned, is a con.
tender with Louisville, KY, fol
primacy as the originator of tht
mint julep. In the garden of tht
S. S. Prentiss home, now owned by
Mr.. and Mrs. L. Bryan Dabney, W,
saw the four -columned well canopy
in Ionic design, which still shades
the depths where Mississippi's IA
nous orator and lawyer once con-
cocted juleps wholesale for his as
Sociates.
A fine example of Southern ante.
bellum architecture is the Vollol
home with it's China berry trees
From the balcony of this hous,
Jefferson Davis made one of hi
famous speeches.
Monument to DIR. Bodley.
Reminiscent of the early days o
Vicksburg as the rendezvous of no
torious river gamblers and pirates
is the monument to DR.. Hugf
Bodley, a gallant physician who LEI
a successful citizens committee II
rid the city of these undesira bles
but lost his own life in the fray
It's inscription reads Erected to tn
memory of Dr. Hugh Bodley, killet
by the gamblers while defending
the morals of Vicksburg, July 5
1885"
Mute memorial to the happil.
abandoned practice of dueling /
the home built by Newett Wick
founder of the city, for the ap
preaching marriage of his son, wh'
was a famous duelist, but hat
promised his bride to forego tn
custom after their wedding cere
mony. The son went to New Crlean
for a final rendezvous just befor
the event and was pierced through
the heart by his adversary's SWORD
On a site designated by the vii
of Vicksburg's founder, high on tn
heights overlooking the Mississippi
is the city's historic courthouse
Built by slave labor in 1858 at cos
of many thousands of dollars, it wa
the target of repeated shellfire from
the Union fleet, but bears few scar
of battle. From its lofty cupol'