Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-17
A VIEW OF OUR TOWN AND A WALK
THROUGH TT,

we StOou upon the nil, On tue COlunOla roaQ,
alongside the premises Of Col F. A stranger was
with us, and the following conversation ensued.
GA pretty, quiet looking village, this of yours"
"Rather so"--was our modest reply.
81 can but admire the taste which preserves SO
much of the beautiful forest growth, as see has
been done in your immediate vicinage. 1t in
dicatcs proper appreciation of the beautiful in
nature"
Certainly, it Is some indication ofcorrect TASTE"
"Yours has the appearance Of being n struggling
little town, and, rs think, is none the worse for
that. A village, without ample elbow room and
abundance of shade-trees and ornamental gardens,
is Of oil things the most insulferable. pigmy imi
tation of City regularity and City distances is esre
cially ludicrous.''
"Your notions nre very much my own"
"There to our lef. 40 beautiful situation, and
those h"icc .vzen acres of ground in front of it,
! studded as they are with thriving oaks, will in
time become magnificent. But oh! that hideous,
sharp topped, red roof
ssThat, sir" said we endeavoring to prevent our
sort of n mistake Of the builders. The present
| owner will certainly amend IL
sewel, do entreat him to do so hastily, for the
credit of the community. To surmount large
house, standing on commanding eminence, with
one of those things, is like crowning prince with
jes:er's cap"
Although we felt the force of our companions
criticism, yet, being desroGs that all his impress
sions should be favorable to the taste of Edgefed
we drew off his attention from the "rcd roof by
pointing him to the snow-capped cottage of Major
B. on the opposite side of the road, pcrched at the
distance of few hundred yards, on its lofty pin
nacle. lie was evidently delighted with the sim
plicity and beauty Of the view, and would doubt
less have commented upon it in flattering terms.
But about that time, his eyes unfortunately alight
ed upon Mrs. LIS old negro-quarer, which stood
full exposed in the middle of her field, and we saw
ut once that our friends brow was contracted
with unfeigncd astonishment.
"Good heavcns!" exclaimed hc-"What means
that black, dilapidatcd collection OF novels, occu-
pying, az it does, so conspicuous ga place in the
pcture!" 1t is certainly an ugly blotch upon the
fair tablcau Of your village scenery. How hap
pens 4"
|
muttcred something about favorite old negro's
superstitous dread Of having new house built for
him and his mistrcss's good-humored compliance
with his whims, which, from the incredulous look
it met, we Judge barely passed current. Hard,
that our friends should put us to such shifts to
cuse them!
Finding that, in this locality, every beauty we
could point out had its corresponding blemish, we
proposed walk down into town, which being ac-
ceded to, we walked on and We walked, held
converse together after this style.
Editor, "Here are some cottages, you perceive,
at the foot of the hill"
Stranger "Yes--and neat enough the most Of
them are. That one, with the large hickory in
front, would look much better after several good
coats of paint. Its rather rusty at present.
Ed. "Well, sir, that belongs to one Of our oldest
citizens, and worthy old citizen he is. Perhaps
he keeps his domicil unaltered, to remind him of
the good old times.'
Str. "Perhaps so-nevertheless, a whitening up
of the old house might "please the Children and
/ think he ought to do it-But how's this? See
there just over the drain, on the lefta good lot,
in to,pn, left uncutivated and neglectcdand piles
Of compost, as live, lying unscattered and grown
over with grass! very singular"
Ed. "It is rather singular, considering that the
owner Off calls himsefsa model farmer"
Str. "Ah these "model farlhers," sir, won't
exactly do. They generally have corn to buy
There to the right is pleasant, retired residence
on the hill.
Ed. ''That is our worthy Baptist Pastors"
Str. ssIndeed Often have heard of him and
his works tits thought thathe has sent out as ma
ny truly welleducated girls, and has confirmed as
many Christians as any man Of his day."
Our walk down main street was unattended by
any severe criticisms except upon the old Rookery
at the corner, adjoining the handsome residence of
Mr.. WIN. B. Some one ought to take this old build
inr in hands and remodel it at least.
The beautiful enclosure in the centre of large
and commodious Public Square came in for it's
full share of praise. Those fine fourishing water
oaks, the Pumps and the Glover plots, within it,
drew forth from our companion the warmest COM
mendatons One general criticism was made up
on the houses surrounding the square. Most Of
them have the appearance Of having been badly
painted-whether the faul. was in the paint or
the painter, we did not decide.