Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-29
Seward over the Tomb of His House,
held Remuneration He Enlarged
the "LOveliest Village Of the
Plain "-Parting with the Servants
The Tourney to the Occidenf.

tn6 l<ONtli&bb
Plain "-Parting with the Servants
The Journey to the Occident.
An Auburn correspondent of the New
York Sun furnishes an account OF visit
to Mr.. Seward, prior to his departure Tor
California. He writes:
Mr. Seward occupies large square
brick mansion, built by his father-in-law,
Judge Miller, to which successive addi-
tions and improvements have been made
by the Governor-who, by the way, is
master builder, anti-Mason though he
be-some of these improvements have
been effected by him on a considerable
scale during the present year. The house
is set in handsome grounds, with pro-
fusion of trees about it, wherein abide
the birds in gr eat numbers, and the SPUR
rels, which we're the especial pets OF MRS.
Seward and her daughter.
Entering the house to pay our respects
and take leave of the Governor before ne
set out on his travels, we found him In
company with several of the clergymen
of the town, and some others who had
come for similar purpose. he received
us with his accustomed good humor,
warmly, and made us welcome to his hos
pitable abode. =.
Ia answer to an inquiry as to the multi
tudes of birds and 'squirrels about his
place. the Governor said his wife and
daughter cultivated this harmless COM
pany, and since their death his family had
kept up the old custom of caring for their
little pets.
Some one asked what became of the
squirrels in the winter; if they wentaw
with the birds /,
ION, no T. said he; my wife planted
nut trees tor their sustenance, and the
attic of the house is set apart for their
winter lodging. There they store their
supplies of food, and with an occasioi'ai
basket of nuts they manage to keep alo ng {,
| with us very nicely all the year round.
Presently getting into his barouche, the
Governor took several friends for q drive
around the town, to show them the new
houses he is building. OF those there
are twenty now in progress These neat
cottages are designed to make freehold
ers of people of small means. Bach
dwelling is set in a quarter acre plat and
surrounded with appropriate shrubbery.
"Why, Governor" said one of the
party, "you are quite an extensive
"WelI," he gayly replied, show many
houses do you suppose have sulit In
\ Auburn
Nobody could guess; 80 he told them
| he had erected no less than one hundred
and sixty. He began about twenty -hve
wears ago. He had good deal Of Land,
some of il acquired through his wife, but
most of it by purchase. He had two
Irishmen in his employ-Michael, q ma
son, and Patrick, a carpenter. 1 hes'
were good, faithful men, who did then
work honestly and we'll. One day h'
drew a plan for cottage, and told ther
TO build it, keeping accurate account o
/ the cost of labor and material. Whet
done. he was pleased with the job, p si'
the bills, with fair allowance OF profit Il
them. and directed them to build eI
more cottages Just like it. In this y
he became builder. -
He had three motives in so doing de
wanted 10 sell his land, to give these
honest fellows profitable employment,
and 10 make freeholders of his humber
ne;gbbors. His lots be valued at $500 to
$500. and any thrifty man who came
along with fifty to one hundred dollars
and wanted to buy, was installed a'
owuer in the home of his selection at the
price Of the land and actual cost OF ih'
improvements, as shown by his books
the Governor taking a bond and mort
gage for the balance. He has never dis
tressed man or woman, and has Away
rot his interest, and in time, from mos
Of them, his principal, for he gave th'
purchaser his own time to pay IT In. 3,
Mr.. Seward pointed with pardonabi
nr;de 70 a street Of substantial house :
leading TO the outlet Of the lake, all o
which are inhabited by persons OF color
Those houses and lots he has sold on thu
same terms, and the black people wh'
| have thus become freeholders have, fol
the most part, paid up their pecuniar,
obligations; but their political allegiance
thev still deem Mr.. Stewards due, anc
they invariably vote with him or for hin
whenever the occasion arises.
These interesting facts ELECTED the sug
eestivs remark that the Governor ha'
evidently gone into the house and 10
business" himself. quite as extensively
IL not so proftably, as some other people
whereat be laughed quietly, bot sai'
nething.
Returning to the house, dinner va
served, and again the horses we're brough
! a n .1~nrn nrrrt n