The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-12
hee,s of the evil.doer here, as well as else


where.
The closet .fsted stinginess that fed tn,
poor slave on coarse corn-meal and tainted
meat; that clothed him in crashy tow-linen
and hurried him on to toll through the field
, in al weathers, with wind and rain beating
through his tat.ered garments, that scarcely
gave even the young slave-mother time to
nune her hungry infant in the fence corner
wh,lly vanishes on approaching tho sacred
precinct Of the great house, the home Of the
LlYds. There the scriptural phrase finds
an exact illustration the highly favored in
mates Of this mansion are literally srrayed
''in purple and fine linen" and fare sumptu-
ously every day! The table groans under
the heavy and blood. bought lu.uries gather
ID with pains-taking care, at home and a.
brssd. Fields, 0rests, rivers and seas, arc
made tributary here. Immense wealth, and
its lavish expenditure, fill the great house
with all that can please the eye, or tempt the
taste. Here, appetite, not food, is the great
desderatum. Fish, aesh and fowl, are here
in profusion. Chickens, Of all breeds -
DICKS, OF all kinds, wild and tame, the COM
mon, and the huge Musco,ile; Guiner fowls,
turkeys, geese, and pea'fOwls, are in their
several pens, fat and fattening for the destin.
ed vortex. The graceful swan, the mon
grls, the black.necked wild goose; patrid-
gs, quuils, phoasants and pigeons choice
water fowl, with oil their strange varieties,
re caught in this huge family net. Beef,
veal. mutton, and venison, Of the most select
kinds and quality, roll bounteously to this
grand consumer. The teeming riches of tho
Chesapeake bay, its rock, perch, drume, Gro.
Gus, trout, oysters, crabs, and tcrrapin, are
drawn hither to adOrn the glitterins table OF
the great house. The dairy, too, probably
the finest on the Eastern Shore Of Maryland
supplied by cattle Of the best English
stock, imported for the purpose, pours its
rich donations Of fragrant cheese, golden but
ter, and delicious cream, to heighten the at
traction Of tho gorgeous, uneuding round Of
feasting. Nor are the fruits Of tho earth for
gotten or neglected. The fertile garden,
many acres in size, constituting separate
establishment, distinct from the common
farm-wi.h its scientific gardner, imported
from Scotland, "a Mr.. McDermott,) with
four men under his direction, was not be.
hind, either in tho abundance or in the deli.
cacy OF its contributions to the same full.
board. The tender asparagus, the succulent
celery, and the delicate cauliaower; egg
plants; beets, lettuce, parsnips, peas, and
French beans, early and late; radlshes'
cantelopes. melons Of all kinds; the fruits
and flowers of oil olimes and Of all descrip.
lions. from .ho hardy apple of the North, to
tho lemon and orange Of the South, culmina-
-tcd 81 this point. Baltimore'gathered figs,
raisins, almonds, and Juicy grapes from Spain.
Wines and brandies from France; teas Of
various flavor, from China and rich, aro-
matte coffee from Java, oil conspired to swell
the tide Of high life, where pride and indo.
lenco rolled and lounged in magni6cence and
safety.
Behind the tall.backed and elaboratcly
wrought chairs, stand the servants, men
and maidcns-6fteen in numbor-discrimi.
natcly selected, not only with view to their
industry and sithfulness, butiwith special
regard to their personal appearance, their
graceful agility and captivating address
Some of these arc armed with fans, and are
tanning rcviving breezes toward the Overhea.
ted brows Of the alabaster ladies; others
watch with eager eye, and with fawn.likc
step anticipate and supply wants before they
arc sufficiently formed to bo announced by
word or sign.
These servants constituted q sort Of black
nristocracy on Col. Lloyd's plantation. They
resembled the field hands in nothing, except
in color, and in this they held the advantage
of velvet.like glos,iness. rich and beautiful.
The hair, too, showed the same advantage.
The delicate.colored maid rustled in the
scarc,ly worn silk Of her young mistress,
while tho servant men were equally well at
tired from tho overaowing wardrobe OF their
young masters; so that, in dress, as well rs
in form and features, in manner and speech,
in tastes and habits, the distance between
these favored few, and the sorrow and hun.
gcr-smitten multitudes Of the quarter and
the field, was immense and this is seldom
passed over.
Let us now glance at the stables and the
carriage house, and VIC shall find the same
evidences Of pride and luxurious e1trava-
gance. Here are three splendid coaches,
soft within and lustrous without. Here,
too, are gigs, phgtons, barouchcs, sulkeys
and sleighs. Here are saddles and harness
beautifully wrought and silver mounted
kept with every care. In the stable you will
find, kept only for pleasure, full thirty.6vc
horses, ofihc most approved blood for speed
and beauty. There are too, men here con-
stantly employed in taking care of these
horses. One Of these men must be always
in tho stable, to answer every call from the
great house. Over the way from the stable,
is house built expressly for the hounds
a pack Of twenty-five or thirty w whose fare
would have made glad the heart Of dozen
slaves. Horses and hounds nre not the only
consumers Of the slaves toll. There wus
practised at the Lloyds' hospitality which
would have astonished and charmed any
hcalth.secking northern divine or merchant,
who might have chanced to shareit. Viewed
from his own table. and not from the field,