Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-02
our CORRESPONDENTS.
Letter From Kentucky.
Lexington, IN. lnne l9. lS6,

tlemah by the name of Robert Atchenson
Alexander, born in this State, but inher,
itlng from his father an estate and a title
in England, owns place called stWood-
bnrn Farm" situated on the turnpike and
railroad between this place and Frankfort,
about ton miles from the latter place, near
the Spring Station. 1t contains between
three and four thousand acres, mostly of
woodland bluegrass pasture. While he
cultivates such small patches of one thing
and another as he needs, for instance, a
seventy-fve acre field of corn, which now
stands nearly three feet high, his main
business is to raise stock. There are now
on the place eight hundred sheep, South
downs and few Cotswolds, which were
sheared about the 18th of May, and av-
eraged six and half pounds apiece. He
values his bucks from twenty-five to one
hundred dollars-the highest price that
was paid for any one at recent auction
sale was eighty-three dollars.
The cattle are principally Attorneys,
with "righl smart sprinklingn of Ayre-
shires, Durhams and Bremens. The AL
derney cows are strikinglv different from
all others: they are, so to speak, all bag.
The back is bumped up, the rump is bent
down, the carcass is lean, the hip bones
stick out woefully, but the bag is tremen-
dous. The Durhams make the best beef
of any.
The Kentucky substitute for cool eel
lar is the spring house, which in the case
now under consideration, consisted of a
stone house about twelve feet square, built
over a large cool spring. A smooth stone
Uoor is laid, upon which the water is made
to flow to proper,depth, and in the wa
ter are set the pans and the cans of
milk and butter. The "cullud lady"
who presided over this department, dis
played to us visitors the delicious contents
with great condescension and kindness of
manner, remarking apologetically that the
'sdo' had been opened so many times dat
day. dat right smart flies had got in dar.n
There were as many as five or six all told
fitting about over the milk and butter.
The proprietor employs herdsman, a
shepherd, a swine herd and horse keep
er-gives each as much help as he needs,
and holds him responsible. About sixty
men, mostly negroes, and sixteen women,
are employed who live in snug brick
houses two stories high. The owners
house is very unpretending old SHE'LL
He has commenced quarrying very fine
kind of stone out Of his own grounds for
a new house.
The stock is much less in amour now
than before the rebellion, but it has been
increased of late. In reply to the ques-
tion whether he considered it perfectly safe
to enlarge his operations; he said he did
not. He regarded everything rather pre-
carious. but he was getting used to it, and
thought he might go on. John Morgan
stole five of his best horses, but he, Mr..
A, recovered all but one-as is supposed
by virtue of a British flag which he raised
on his place, thereby claiming the rights
of British srbect. As he retains his
hereditary title he cannst be an American
citizen. He is bachelor about forty five,
of small size and unpretending men. but
every inch gentleman. A visit to his
place would be rich treat to any Yer
monter or any body else, who takes an IN
tersst in magnificent stock farm.
Speaking ef a treat. reminds me that
on the day Oh the public sale, genteel
mulatto had charge of some very fine
liquors, and at certain times he pulled off
his lat and with grace that would do
honor to the cup bearer of Turk, he
passed around the bottles and tumblers.
Among others who poured out, held up
the sparkling contents to their own admir-
ing gaze, and, as Virgil sings, touched the
gobles to the surface of the mouth and ca
gerly exhausted the same, there was a
Capt,ln Bell, of the commlssary depart
ment who has often been at Rutland.
Burlington, "Cape Cod and ali along
shore" and for some reason seemed to
take a complacent view of himself and
every body else, and was very communi-
cativ. and obhglng. There was also a
MIR. Netherell, a talented but rather opin-
lonated, not to say, morose old bachelor,
whom some Of the Vermont teachers will
remember having met at Brattlebcro and
other places, where teachers do annu-
ally Ongregate, who kept his own coun-
sells, hut was understood to be connected
with IN agricultural paper in the east, and
to hare purchased some fine stock.
And now for the sake of the cause, and
for tie qualification of the temperance
readefs of the HERALD, let me indulge in
an.egtistical item. This is the seat and
and omter of good old Bourbon whisky,
peach and grape brandy, and pure native
wine. There are several vineyards in the
vicinity, and at dinners and calls, the
"purejulce of the grape" is offered, not
to mention anything stronger. | have
been Under the painful necessity of say
thank you,' a great MANY
times. If l am urged, as | often am, /
say | happened to be PLEDGED against
the use of all distilled liquors, wine or ci-
der. Hy refusal is received with polite
hess, bat with the expression of compass
,ionate regrets that | should deny rnvsalf