New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-23
DOMESTIC LIFE IN SOUTH C1ROLN4.

CORRESPONDENCE Of The " Y. Tribune.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1856.
Much "a has been written on the Domestic In
stituton of the South, there are features of that
institution which have yet to be exhibited in their
true colors. of which neither North nor South
seem to BE- fully aware. In the North we are apt
to suppose that there must be something in the
"cherished institution of Southern Slavery,
which is either very profitable or very gratifying to
Southern feelings AsojOurn, however, of a few
weeks among our Southern neighbOrs is sufficient
70 convince us that whatever profit there may be
attached to the traffic in slaves-to the breeding
and rasing Of stock Of human chattels-there Is
very little ofether profit or gratlhcaton IN the re
latlOn of master or mistress and slave, so lar
least as that relation exists in the domestic circle
a few facts which have come under our own oh
seryation, will serve to illustrate their position
We will not expose the dOings of strictly private
life. We will " no further than life in boarding
house where we pay handsomely for all we have
and are consequently under no obligations for
Southern hospitality" but feel at liberty 10 use
for the benefit oftruth and humanity, the deyelop-
ments which have forced themselves upon our at
tention We do not seek to give extraordinary
occurrences but common life as 1t IL here.
The family at this house consists OF hostess OF
portly dimensions, who has certainly been hand
some woman, and probably in the early part OF
her life kind good natured, soclabe, and perhaps
even an amiable lady. She was the daughter OF
Quaker family She is evidently woman OF strong
sympathies, and naturally generous in disposition;
miss Eliza" her sister, maiden lady; young
man nineteen years of age, Of the hostess, and
his sister, little lively girl about eleven years
old, and the Deputy Marshal. The boarders con,
sst of between thirty and forty merchants, and
tradespeople of the city nearly all of whom are OF
Northern birth and, privately speaking, OF North
ern principles as we'll
The remaining members OF the family reside
in outhouses along with the wood, dogs and yer-
min. They are as follows: Big Sylvle col
ored woman about thirty Ave years ola age She is
an intelligent cook, and has authority over the
Kitchen under the hostess and Miss Eliza, and
whose commands are daily enforced By the threats
of the Deputy Marshal Big Syyie is a stout, we'll
built negress with about one fourth Anglo-Saxon
blood. In addition to her accomplishments as
cook, che has acquired the art OF smoking tobacco
and of drinking whisky, In which she mas attained
degree of perfection equal TO that OF many oil the
white race around her. Her person, her clothes,
her hair seems 10 be thoroughly soaked IN very
dark colored OIL or in more common language,
grease" II is possible that water is applied TO
her face and hands occasionally, but i is by accl-
dent and not from am desire for cleanliness. We
do not often venture even 10 look into the Kitchen,
as il is by no means conducive TO an apPe,ite
for dinner We cannot sGy what the
floor of the kitchen is paved with. 1t is
possible that there are bricks there, but they can
not be discovered without considerable excavation.
Big Sylyie never leaves the kitchen: she ives
there, she sleeps there, adjusts her toilet mere
smokes there, boards there, drinks there, and
whenever she can get enough OF the fayOrte beVer-
sre-gets drunk there. The dining room IS up one
fight of steps, and . Big Sylyie has established
the rule that it is not within her province to make
her appearance in the dimng-room even after the
boarders have dned. She has a very nice idea on
this boundary question, and have been frequently
amused at the pertinacty with which she adheres
10 her established custom in this respect.
It's necessary 10 call the cook Big SylVle 70
distinguish her from the waiting or chamoermad'
who.e lame is Likewise Sylyie. Little Sylvie is
neat Young woman, 80 nearly white as TO be equal
in appearance TO many who boast OF Anglo-caxoh
origin. All that is wanted being the blush on her
cheeks. She did not know who 10 call fatner' ana
her mother was nearly as white ne nerseii.
Slavery does not suit Little Sylvie she has spirit
and no small share of Intelligence f0ra vile we
would infinitely prefer her TO the " Miss Eliza
who exercised so much authority over her. she
only needs education 1t appears that she had
prov ed a temptation TO one of the boys, ana
the result was fine baby, which our hostess took
charge of and trestedi as kindly as though IL nad
been wholly white, and (asis too often the case win
white children) nursed il 10 death. Little Sylvle
knows little too much for complete submission,
and not enough TO effect her escape. che threat
ems she will run away when the Marshal exercises
his cruel authority over her, and on one occasion
she did run away, but WAS found at the nome VI
her owner. a slave-breeder in the neighborhood;
who. in AL probability is her father. She hsd