Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-02
Peculiar Mode of Displaying Hospitality
in the Old Dominion.

Peculiar Mode of Displaying Hospitality
in the Old Dominion.
Olmsted's new volume on the Slave States
gives q travellers experience in Virginia in
this wise
On hot morning in July northern tray-
eler left the town of Lynchburg, the chief
market town of Virginia tobacco and rode
eastwardly toward Farmville Suddenly
taken severely i'll, and no house being in
sight, he turned from the road into the shade
Of the wood, dismounted, reclined against a
sturdy trunk, took an anodyne, which he
fortunately had with him, and at length
found relief in sleep. Late in the day he
awoke, somewhat recovered, but with sharp
headache and much debilitated. He man
aged, however, to mount, and rode slowly on
to find a shelter for the night. In half an
hour the welcome sight of an old plantation
mansion greeted his eyes. There was large
court, with shade trees and shrubbery be-
tween the road and the house, and in the
corner of this court, facing the road, a small
warehouse or barn, in and around which
were number of negroes moving casks OF
tobacco. A white man, evidently theil
owner, was experimenting their labor, and
to him the traveller applied for lodging for
the night
We don't take in strangers
The traveller informed the planter of his
illness and inability to ride further.
you'll have to try to ride as far as the
next house sir; we don't take in Travellers
was the reply.
Really don't feel able. | should not
like to put you to inconvenience, sir, but
am weak and faint. My horse, too, has eaten
nothing since early in the morning"
Sorry for you, but we have no accom-
modations for travellers here" was the only
reply, and the planter stepped to the other
side of tobacco cask.
The traveller rode on. About half an hour
afterward he came in sight of another house.
II was distance from the road, and to reach
it he was obliged to let down and put up
again three different sets of fence-bars. The
owner was not at home, and his wife said
that they were not accustomed 10 take in
strangers. at was not far to the next
house." she added, as the traveller hesitated
He reached, at length, the next house,
which proved to be the residence of another
large tobacco planter, who sat smoking in its
veranda, as the traveller rode near and made
his petition; .,..,.. -
his answer.
The sick man stated his special claims to
kindness, and the planter good-naturedly in
quired the particulars, asked how far he had
ridden, where he got his horse and his dog,
whittier he was bound, and so on (did not
ask where he was born or what were his
politics.. The traveller again stated that he
was i'll, unable to ride further, and begged
permission to remain for the night under the
planters root and again the planter care
lessly replied that they didn't take in trav-
elers anon, asked how crops were looking
further west, and talked of guano the war
news, and the prospect for peaches. 1t be
came dusk while the traveller fingered and
the negroes camein with their hoes over
their shoulders from the fields across the
road, but the planter continued chatting and
smoking, not even offering the traveller
cigar, till at length the latter said "If you
really can not keep me tonight | must go
on, sir; can not keep my horse much longer,
| fear"
4" 1t is not far to the next house."
But have already called at three houses
tonight, sir"
"Wel, you see, since the railroad was
done people here don't reckon TO take in
travellers as they once did. So few come
along they don't find their account in being
ready for them"
The traveller asked for drink of water,
which a negro brought in caabash, bade
good night to the planter, and rode on
through the woods. Night presently set in
the road crossed a swamp and was difficult TO
follow, and for more than an hour he rode
On-seeing no house--without stopping.
Then crossing water, he deliberated whether
he should not bivOuac for the night where he
was. He had with him n few biscuits and
some dried figs. He had not eaten hitherto.
hoping constantly to come 10 a habitation
where it might happen he could get a cup OF
tea, ofwhich he felt more particularly in
need. He stopped, took some nourishment,
the FIRST he had tasted in fifteen hours, and
taking also little brandy, gained strength
and courage to continue his Journey A
bright light soon cheered him, and after
time he made his way to a large white house
in the rear of which was an old negro woman
stirring the contents of a cauldrOn which
stood over the fire, by which he had been
guided. The old woman had the appearance
of house servant, and he requested her to
ask her master if he would favor him with
lodging for the night.
Her master did not take in travellers"
she said besides, he was gone to bed and
she stirred on, hardly looking at the tray-
eler till he put his hand in his pocket, and
holding forth silver, said,
NOW, aunty, mind what tell you. Do
you go in to your master and say to him,
There is gentleman outside who says he is
sick, and that his horse is tired and has had
nothing to eat to-day; that he is stranger
and has been benighted, don't know the
roads, is not well enough TO ride further, and
wa Is to know if you won't be so kind as to
let him stay here tonight"
Yes, massa, I'll tell him 'twon't do no
good, though, and he'll be almighty cross,
She went in, returned after few minutes.
seized her paddle, and began stirring before
she u tered the words, iH.a nII
reckon.D
Z twas after ten o'clock when the traveller
reached the next house. IL stood close upon
the road, and the voice of woman ausw cred
3 knock upon the door, and in reply to the
geran1 SAD II was not far to the store, and
there, ,'l' = - - -
Finally at the store, the traveller succeeded
~ sitting admittance, was comfortably