The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-10-18
For the FREE TRADER.
Nv Escape from Che South.

Nv Escape from thc south.
In the spring of 1861 | was the guest OF
Mr. f. f. Simpson, the largest mill owner OF
Bagdad, Florida We were twenty-five or
thirty miles from Mobile and Il few miles
from Pensacola. Ny host was fine type of
the southern gentleman, cordial and as free
with his wealth as his bcncyolence was boun-
tiful Physically, mentally and morally, his
commanding presence inspired that respect
always due to a superior intellect In our
| conversations, whenever We approached that
! bone of contention, slavery, he would remark,
! that the South had no reason to complain OF
! the North lie was union man at heart but
when the state convention, OF which he was
member, passed the ordinance of secession,
he yielded reluctantly as Il matter Of personal
safety He was no. brutal with his slaves,
and only severe in cases of extreme dlSobe-
diencc A irCwn or some stern remark would
often bring out, "l's sorry, massa lake
and the subject would not be received into
favor for some days, source of great uneasi-
ness to their simple minds. In the morning,
as he Went his daily rounds, the most obscure
member of the community did not escape his
notice, and he always gave them pleasant
good morning, or perhaps some word Of com
mendation, especially where the recipient was
deserving The house-his home-was stu.
atcd upon little emincncc that overlooked
all the other buildings of the place. Il was
I,,I l,ot Al. ly,lyal
gazed down the valley. Every house in town
was his, and forty or fifty make quite a re
spectacle village. They were the residences
Of the several artizans employed on or about
beyond, Just in the edge of the pine woods
and accommodated one thousand capable
hands. Logs and lumber could be seen in
almost every direction. Ship after ship filed
up to his wharves and carried great loads of
lumber to his many northern customers All
this business was carried on with such regu-
larity, that during my residence there of
nearly six months ] never saw any jawing or
architectural finish and beauty, combining |
all the luXurcs of n Madison square brown |
stone front. with surroundings of the richest |
tropical flowers and soft warm southern air /
The ceilings were hirb and the walls hoou,i |
fully ircscoed in fauciral representations of
fabulous prcsences rcmindin,, ono of r,iry
land The library was ahundontI,, f,rcisboI
with all that q literary cnicurc MIGHT IcsireI
or the most eyacting PHILOSOPHER couIl wish
The sitting room always contained 81 bo.l
ct OF fruit that seemed maryclousIy sunnlfcd
by unseen hands as fast as IFS contents wore
removed The dining room was long and
had Il table that was full of the dclicacics Of
every land. Twelve sparks of ebony turned !
the wheels OF this fairy land. each in his ar
her appropriate department. Horses and !
carriages filled the stable and plenty of
grooms were always in attendance.
On nv orrivrl Mr. Simnsop o..i,,cc., -. ,,,,
nv scryan, " Frank, ~ and rIocol ~, ,,.,. -.
lposal horse ana carrforc tIot r,ros .. ,..,
slider for NV exclusive n.o NJ, ro,,,,.. d,
going there were these. NV health had Loon
much impaired hy shinyrcc, nm ,bo c,.., ,rl
IColifornio was rcsilin. viii, ,,,,..
New York. kthis house mot Mr. S;,,,,,.,.,,
who urged me TO attend nm old ,,,, ,.,,, ,,,a
ooInr TO see relatives in his ,iri,i,,. ,,,I
kindly offered to lcfrov my cyno,,.o. ",