Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/455

 A Visit to Beauvoir. 449

details of her housekeeping, or visit her neighbors, or look after the needy poor.

She is one of the finest conversationalists I ever met, and her repol- lections of society and events in Washington, in Richmond, and in Europe, and of the prominent men and women with whom she came in contact, are simply charming, and would make a book of rare in- terest were she disposed to turn her attention to authorship. Devoted to her husband, and taking a natural pride in his fame ; an affection- ate mother, who delights in her children and grandchildren ; affable and pleasant with her neighbors ; a noted housekeeper and fine economist, and a charming entertainer of visitors, she strikes all who know her as worthy to share the fortunes and comfort the declining years of our chief, as she was worthy to share his honors and reign in society at Washington and at Richmond.

She speaks in the most cordial terms (as does Mr. Davis) of Rich- mond and Richmond people, and inquires very affectionately after some of her special friends.

Miss Winnie Davis, the single daughter, who was born in Rich- mond not long before the close of the war, is one of the most thor- oughly educated, accomplished young women whom I have ever met. At the same time she is simple, affable, and sweet in her manners, a brilliant conversationalist, a general favorite, and every way worthy of her proud lineage and happy inheritance as "Child of the Con- federacy."

Mrs. Hayes, the only other living child, was on a visit to Beauvoir, but was sick, and I had not the pleasure of seeing her; but I heard her spoken of in the warmest terms of admiration by some of the neighbors. I saw her four sweet children — and what pets they were with their grandfather, whose love of children is one of his strong characteristics !

PRESIDENT DAVIS.

Returning from a several-days' trip to Meridian, I was delighted to find that Mr. Davis had returned from his plantation, had done me the honor of calling at my brother-in-law's to see me, and was awaiting my arrival.

Those who knew him in Richmond during the war might not recognize him at once, as over twenty years have left their im- press upon him, and he now wears a full beard instead of being closely shaven as then. But the handsome face, the courtly grace of his bearing, the fiash of his eagle eye, his cordial manners, genial

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