Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/453

 A Visit to Beauvoir. 447

A Visit to Beauvoir — President Davis and Family at Home,

BY J. WM. JONES.

Richmond, Va., August ist, 1886.

A trip from Richmond to Beauvoir, by the Richmond and Dan- ville route to Atlanta, the Atlanta, West Point and Montgomery to Montgomery, and thence by the Louisville and Nashville railway, is quick and comparatively comfortable, even at this season. Leaving here at 2 A. M. on Thursday we reached Beauvoir — a flag station on the Louisville and Nashville, half-way between Mobile and New Orleans — at 4:40 P. M. Friday.

The first questions asked are, "Where is Mr. Davis's house?" "Is Mr. Davis at home?" The grounds are pointed out as running down to the station, the large vineyard of Scuppernong grapes form- ing a pleasing contrast to the sighing pines around, and soon the large yard, shaded by live-oaks, is seen, and the dim outlines of the cottages and mansion, as we hurry along the road to the house of a relative on the beach, several hundred yards below. But I was greatly disappointed to learn that Mr. Davis had received a summons to his plantation up on the Mississippi river, and had lelt several days before.

I had, however, a very pleasant time — gazing on the beautiful Gulf, breathing its salt breezes, dipping in its brine, catching fish every morning for breakfast, making some very pleasant acquaintances, etc. — and made a most enjoyable visit to Beauvoir, where Mrs. Davis and Miss Winnie entertained me in most agreeable style.

THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS.

At this and subsequent visits I had ample opportunity of seeing the house and grounds. The house is a large, double-framed building, painted white, and contrasting very pleasantly with the foliage in which it is embowered. A wide veranda runs around it, and a broad hall through the centre makes a very pleasant sitting-room in the summer. On either side of the main building, and a few yards from it, are very neat cottages, also white, and in the rear are ample and convenient out-buildings. The house is very well furnished, mostly with handsome old furniture, the walls are adorned with some fine pictures — some of them copies of the masterpieces of the old mas-