Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-07
A CONTINUATION OF THAT WALK WITH THE
STRANGER.

After looking around upon the Public Square,
rs stated before we turned our footsteps down the
hil in the direction of that part of our town call
ed :: Bumcombe." In passing along leisurey and
occasionally stopping, the tenor of our converse
ton was rs follows:
Stranger--IIcre, perceive, are several neat
Offices upon the hillside. How are they tenanted!
Editm.-They are all occupied as law-of1ices
None of them are quite old enough. you would
say, to have witnessed The "lucubrafiones uig'nh
annorum" Yet they contain some old heads, and
others fast becoming so.
Sr.-Well, do tell ME something Of the occu-
pants I'm in quest Of information, you know
Ed,-That upon our right with the Grecian
looking portico, is the office of Col C-L, gen.
tleman of whom You have doubtless heard.
.Sr-ITearl of him frequently; a lawer ofvcry
distinguished attainments.
Ed.-Thesc on the left are occupied respectively
by Squire As, Mr.. Ne, Mr.. Ky and
Col. B-T, the last ofwhom You we'll know. or
the three FIRST will say nothing lest might make
invidious distinctions.
Sr-Are they very Young gentlemen
Ed-Not very! The first is blessed with an in
cipicnt family; the other two have followed my
Lord CoKE's advice, about sacrificing the Deli
Iahs of the imagination at the shrine of Themis,
so closely, that they are still in n state of single
blcsscdness. 1t has been none the worse however
for their progress in the law, as their incoming
cases testify.
Str.-Its all very well, then; and yet every
man, ifllc marres at all, ought TO do it before the
expiration of his eighth lusrum.
Blu! what means this dusky building that raises
its rough front, and drags its darksomc length
alongside of Col. C's legal sanctum!
Ed-That sir, is sort of Livery Stable, BE-
licvc not very ornamental truly!
Sr.-Ornamental indeed! / had nlmost ex-
claimed with the Latin poet, '' monSfrum, korrcn-
dum, informc @c;" but call to mind the spirit of
the age and my mouth is closed For, talk as you
will, taste and comfort must succumb to utility
C. Tis true, lis pity; pity lis, lis true -
Ed-(Divcrting the strangers attention.) Let
me point you sir, to this widespread old hotel
before us.
Str.--Old. see it is and slightly dccrepid; but
il wears nevertheless q cool and comfortable ap.
pcnraucc.
Edit was not so mnch of its Present that
would speak, as of its Past Around this old
mansion, sir, cluster many pleasing associations.
Sfr.--.Ah! pray tell me Of what character they
are.
Ed---Time would fail me to recount the many
incidents of the nden time of which this house has
Lo.,, H., eo.n,, rTI,,y ~, Lo hoI bonl,
Suffice it to say that it was here (somc thirty.
years ago) that BUTLER and WARDLAw and
GRIFFIN anu McDUFFIE and JETER and TnoMr-
SON and BROOKS and ADDISON and FoRD and
McCLIyTycK, shot off the bolts Of their youthful
enthusiasm, or, in common terms, "sewed their
wild oats.
Str.---Go on, sir; you interest me.
Ed---Ycs-- many time have these old walls re-
sounded with peal after peal Of tho old fashioned
shouts of mcrrimcnt. What though an occasional
fisticufi changed for time the nature of their ex
citement! '.Thc sun scarcely ever went down
upon their wrath" 1t passed off with the passing
hour--.and all again was friendship and mirth.
Str..--Oh! the halcyon days of youth! Who
will not make allowances for the hey-day of the
blood! utproceed, sir.
Ed---Were not afraid OF shocking the scnsi-
biliics of certain prudish women and squcamish
men, could tell how the glasses sparklcd on the
antique side board from morn till evenings close
how this custom made fewer drunkards and far
fewer knaves than the artificial restraints of this
day-how the generosity of character, fostered by
those open and undisgniscd habits Offered better
soil even for the mplantaton Of religions holy
influences. llan is presented by the cold phlegma-
tic rules Of modern decorum. But | fear that.
however Conscientious, | would be deemed al
sacregiuus by some, and therefore forbcar.
Sfr.---I concur with you in the main. At all
events, if | have been correctly informed to the
aftcr-hslory of the several individuals you men-
iion, (nnd some of them are known to fame far
and wide,) they themselves are monumental evil
dcnccs of the justice of your remarks.
Ed.--In truth they are /; for will here venture
the assertion that no small community, of our
time, can produce so large n band of equals and
associates, of whom so large proportion will be-
cunc either good or great.
.Sir--.Pcrllaps it was an accidental gathering of
pure spirits and strong intellecs.
Ed.---Therc may be something in that. And
Vet they lacked not industry and application.
Wild and crratic rs the llumor Of society then
seemed TO be. yet the midnight lamp of the student
was trimmed as often then as now.oftener, if we
can implicitly trust the accounts given by the old
men of thai ilk-But am dctaining you here too
long. Let us continue our stroll.
We walked on fora few minutes in comparative
silence the stranger only pausing for moment to
scan and to compliment the three pleasant dwell
ling.houscs of Dr. b.. Mrs. A. and Mr.. II. The
conversation was not again opened 1--WE were both
chewing the cul of reeclion) unlil having crossed
the branch and assembled the hill, we found our
selves in Buncombc Here again the curtain
rises.
Ed.--Thc situation on our left, which you saw
more fully as we came up the hill, is the residence
of Col. b. and is called Violet Hill"
.Sr.---A lovely name, by all The mnses---but not
n Will, more so than the place itself 1dont know
when have seen more English air than his
grounds present. Strange, that this house too
should have one of those red roofs!
Ed---Thc CoIoncls lady did condemn it, and 1t
was painted wlitc bnt the rains and storms have
brought the old '.red'' out again.
SE..-Ah! he ought 10 replace it now, With
fat roof and heavy parapct.
Ed..-I agree with you.-But here's the dwell
ing fCapt. I-E one of our wealthest citizens.