Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-11

grandifora, large trees, and every one j,
blossom. The magnolia does not, howev
er, mass well, and those groves were mucl
finre, which also were not unfrequenL wher
the beach, elm and liquid amber formed
the body, and the magnolias stood singly
out, magnificent chandeliers of fragrance
The cucumber magnolia, with a large lea
extremely beautiful at this age of the year
was less frequently seen.
The soil seems generally nch though
much washed, off the higher ground
Young pine trees, and other indications O
impoverishing agriculture, are seen on many
plantations. The cultivation, however, il
directed with some care to prevent this.
The soil is sandy loan, SO friable tina
the negroes, always working in large gangs
superint- -nded by driver with whip, con
tinued their hoeing in the midst of quite
smart showers, and when the road had be-
come poaching mud.
Once only did 1 see a gang which had
been allowed to discontinue its work on nc
count of the rain. This was after very
heavy thunder-shower, and the appearance
of the negroes whom / met crossing the
road back to their field, from the gin house
to which they had retreated, was remark.
able. s s .s=
BULLY NIGER GANG.
First came, led by an old driver carrying
a whip, forty of the largest and strongest
women ever saw together; they were ali
in simple uniform dress of blush check
stuff, the skirts reaching little below the
knee: their legs and feet were bare; they
carried themselves loftily, each with hoe
sloping over the shoulder and walking with
free powerful swing, like Zouaves on the
march. Behind came the cavalry, thirty
strong, mostly men. but some women, two
of whom rode astride, on the plow mules.
In the rear Of all, lean and vigilant white
overseer on brisk pony. The men wore
small blue Scotch bonnets, the women
handkerchiefs, turban fashion, or nothing
at all>on their heads.
The slaves generally of this district ap-
peared uncommonly well-doubtless be-
cause the wealth of their owners has ena-
bied them to select the best from the year
ly explorations of Virginia and Kentucky.
! The plantation residences were generally
Of cottage class, well shaded by the trees,
and sometimes with quite extensive and
tastful grounds, usually obtained by trim
ing out the natural groves.
An old gentleman, sensible, polite and
communicative, n capital sample of the
planters, whorode short ditance with me,
said that many of the proprietors were alb
sent, and some Of the plantations had dwell
ings only for tho negroes and the overseer
He called my attention to field Of cotton
which, he said, had been ruined by his
overseers laziness. The negroes had been
permitted 1T a critical time to be te o care
less in their hoing, and it was now impos-
sible to recover the ground thus lost
Grass grew so rampantly in this black soil
that, if it once got good start ahead of you,
you could never overtake it. That was
the curse ofa rainy season. Cotton could
stand drouth better that it could grass
The Enclosures are not often often of less
than hundred acres. Fewer than fifty
negroes are seldom found on plantation;
many muster by the hundred. In general
the fields are remarkably free from weeds
and well titled
I arrived shortly after dusk at Woodville
a well built and pleasant court town, with
\ small but pretentious hotel. Court !
in session, for the house was fill
I'd with guests of somewhat remarkable
character. The ladlord was Indifferent and,
when followed up, inclined to be uncivil.-
At the breakfast-table there were twelve
men beside myself, all of them wearing
black cloth coats, black eravats and satin
DR. embroidered silk .waistceats; all, too,
,leek as if Just from a barbar's hands, and
'edolent of perfume, which really had the
pest of it with the kitchen fumes. Per-
laps it was because found no one willing
o converse with me, and c, ull obtain not
be slightest information about my road,
ven from the landlord.
l might have left Woodville with more
aspect for this excess of decorum if | had
lot, when shown by servant to my room,
ound two beds in it, both of which proved to
,e furnished with soiled sheets and greasy |
pillows, nor was it without much persever-
.nce and bribery that succeeded in getting
hem changed on the one selected to take.
A gentleman of embroidered waistcoat
ook the other bed as it was, with no ap-
,arent reluctance, soon after l had effected
ny private arrangements. One washbowl
md one towel, which had previously been
lsed by some one else, was expected to an
wer for both of us, and wouli have done
% but that I now carried private towel
n my saddlebags. Another requirement
If civilized household existed in connec-
ion with the. hotel, only in an indecent
orm. A servant, when l inquired for it,
,onfdentially advised me to follow the 9th
IT gentlemen to the open stable yard.
The bill was excessive, and the hostler,
Who had left the mud of yesterday hang
ng all along the inside of Belshazzar's legs,
nd had put the saddle on so awkwardly
hat resaddled him myself after ho had
,rought him to tho door, grumbled, in
of the landlord, because l gave
lin no larger gratuity than dime.
AS ]; twas riding out of the village, 1 met