New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-30
NEW PUBLICATION

iigcnt merchant whose business pursuits have lea
him TO familiar acquaintance with the people
and institutions of the South. A residence OF se'e
raj yeaY, at different times IN that ~
gion has furnished him with ample MAZE
rials for the composition oi an INSTRUCT
i've work, and possessing remarkable power Oh
narrative. he has produced volume OF rare in-
terest not only as an Illustration of Southern So
ciety, but as graphic, animated ana oi'eh Thrill
ling stcry. Completely at home on the panta-
ton. and in the houses of the planters, the author
VIA not an Aboittionst. His prepossessons
were rather in favor of the peculiar institu-
ton: at lea ST, if he cherished theoretical attach
ment to freedom, his sympathy with the planters
prompied him to advocate the let-alone system;
if not Pro- Slavery man, ne was averse to any
interference with the vested rights" of Southern
industry; but after the blazing out Of the rebel
lion, he saw things in another light and is now
the earnest champion of substituting free North
ern labor for the tyranny of the slave-holding
oligarchs. This policy may be regarded os the
key. note of his volume. His opinions are entitled
tc the consideration which is due to intelligence
and sincerity, and we trust they will not fail to
obtain wide hearing. The following description
of a short sojourn in family of 'poor whites"
presents piquant illustration of the manners OF a
class of society which is less known to the gene
ralty Of travellers than either the slaves or their
masters:
Entering the house, we saw, by the light of q
Of which rOare0 ana crSckieQ
on the hearth that " contained only siDge apart
ment. In front Of the Fireplace which occupied the
better half Of one sids OF this room, the floor was OF
the bare earth, Uttered with pine chips, dead
cinders. live Goals, broken pot,, and lazy spaniel
dog. Opposite this at the other end OF the room
were two low beds, which looked as If they had
been "sept in forever, and Dever made up
Against the wall, between the beds ana tie 1re-
place stood small pine liable, and on 1t was IA large
wooden bowl from whose mouth protruded the
handles OF several unwashed pewter spoons. On the
right OF the fire raced rockingham, eviaent-
Nv the peculiar property Of the mistress OF he man
sion and three blocks Of piOe log, sawn oil smooth
w. and made to serve for seats. Over against these
lowered high-backed settle, something bike that on
sot Huldy AL alone
When Zeke peeked thru the winder,'
and ON it. her head resting partly on her arm, partly
on the end of the SETTLE small bare foot press
ing the ground the other with the TART Of the per-
son which is supposed TO require stockings extended
in a horizontal directiOn-reclDed, not Huidy, but
her Southern cousin, who, i VIII wager, was de-
cidedy the preter and dirtier Of the two. Our en-
trance did not seem 10 Gisconcert Der IN the least
for she lay there unmoved as marble statue, her
large black ewes riveed on my face, as If seeing
some popdescript animal for the first time. stood
for a moment transfxed with admiration. In a
somewhat extensive observation OF Der sex In both
hemispheres, i have never witnessed such form,
such eyes such faultless features and such wavy,
black luxuriant bair. A glance at her dfess-a
lad ylsh py-yNO n.
parently her only garment-and second look Al
her face, which, closer INSPECTION, had precisely
the hue of tallOw candle, recalled me to myself,
and allowed me to complete the survey oil the
premises.
The house was built of unhewn logs, separated by
wide interstices, through which the cold air came,
in decidedly fresh not health7giviny currents,
while large rent in the roof that let ID the ram,
gave the inmates an excellent opportunity for 10.
dulgng in a shower-bath, Of which they seemed
greatly in need. The chimney, which bad iniruded
couple of feet into the room. ~ II to Keep out OF
the cold and threatened mOmentari'y TO tumble
down, of sticks, built up IN clay, While the WIN
dows were Of thick, unplaned boards.
Two pretty girls one Of perhaps ten and the other
of fourteen years, evidently sisters of the unsdorued
beauty, the mddle-aged woman who had admitted
us, and the dogthe only male member OF tue house
hold-compOsed the family. had seen negro cabins,
but these peoDle whites, and thess whites were
South Carohaians. When such coUnterparts Of the
feuda serfs still ex ST. who will say that the days Of
chivalry are over
After had seated myself nv the fire, and the
driver had gone out TO stow the horse away under
the tumtle-0own shed at the back OF the house. the
elder woman raid TO ne:
Reckon yer wet. Ben in the rain ~
"Yes, madam, view been out most Of the day,
and got III the river below here"
% Did YET Ye mean the run ! reckon it .
right deep now.'
q Yes, our horse had to SWIM l replied
Ye orter strip end put on dry coes to onst."
Thank you madam, ! WILL"
Going to nv portmanteau, which uhe darby had
placked near the door, found il dripping with wet,
and opening it discovered that every article had
undergone the rite OF immersion.
"Eyerything il thoroughly soaked, madam. shall
have TO dry myself by your hre. Can you get me a
cup Of tear ~
morsel to est or drink in the house"
Remembering that our excellent hostess Of the
night before had insisted on filling the wagon-box
with quantity of "chcken ixins," to serve us in
an emergency, and that nv brandy flask was in my
India-rubber coat, sent Scip out for them.
The stores disclosed boiled chicken, bacon, sand-
witches, sweet potatoes, short-cake orLbread but
tered waffies and " common DOING too numerous
TO mention, enough TO last FAM Of for fort
night but all completely saturated with water. Wet
or dry, however, the provisions were godsend to
the halfstarved family, and their hearts seemed to
open to me with amazing rapldity. The dog got up
and wagged bis tail and even the mar bl-ke beauty
rose from her reclining posture and invited me 10 a
seat with her on the bench.
The kettle was soon steaming over the fire, and
the boiling water, mixed with little brandy,
served o. capital substitute for tea. After the
chicken was re.cooked. and the other ediLles
"warmed up" the little pine table brought out,
and learned-whas had before suspected-tbat
the big wooden bowl and the hslf-oozen pewter
spoons were the only "crockery" the family pos
sessed.
declined the profered seat at the table, the cook
ing utensils being anything but Inviting and con-
tented myself with the brandy and water; but for
cettipp for a moment hs color I rnotioned To the