The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-10-16
PLEASURE IN THE SOUTH.
From The South. I

From The South.
We would again have your readers join
'sThe Rural Hebdomadal Perambulatory
Cla b." in one of its brightest Saturday after
noon recreations.
1t has had its happy meetings without in
terrupton, every saturday since early summer,
and on every occasion there has been feast
not only of chice viands but also of bright
scenes to delight the eye, gay spirits to
cheer the heart, high thoughts to elevate the
mind, and sparkling sentiment to please the
fancy which with the liberal spirit good
cheer prompts and the generosity good fel-
lowship promotes we would gladly have
shared with other congenial spirits but we
have the old time habit here of never carry
ing private names or private affairs into
newspapers hence it was only as was the
case in our first letter, where the meeting
was on historic gronnd. where the property
was in some sort in the public eye, that we
could venture to lift the curtain which shut
out the view.
We met again on Saturday last on grounds
where the historic traditional and other ele-
ments combine to render it pardonable to
give expression to the thoughts which grand
old place with noble associations suggests.
Three miles south of town, on the Charleston
road, after charming ride, sheltered by
grand old trees we approach a baronial estab-
lishment where nature and art have We'd to
make noble and charming home, cnvironed
by glorious park of huRdred acreas
North, South, East and West Of the park
spread out wide acres of corn and cotton,
unsurpassed in the rich valleys of the West
and South. OF to the West rise the huge
dense forests of the Wateree Eastward rise
the woodland slopes, first covered with wa
teroak hickory and dogwood, then with red
oak, post oak, black jack and then again the
pine crowned hills. In the midst Of the
park rises a mansion whose substantial
strength and freshness are untouched by
time, three and half stories high, with slate
roof, heavy piazzas, wide marble steps, and
all looking as strong and fresh as the giant
oaks around. Some of these old trees have
looked down upon the red man when he held
undisputed sway in these then wild tangles.
There are trees which sheltered the peaceful
Quakers way back yonder in the last century,
for Just here was the first white mans settle
ment There stands huge catalpa, now de-
caying with age, which shaded the windows
of the first proprietor Of the present line
when CORVALLIS, Rawdon and Tarletoh ri
oted there. This park is oval and slightly
undulating here and there. North, South
and West are gentle depressions, up which
in high water the Wateree lazily pushes its
back flow, now covered with richest verdure.
Flocks of merinos and south-downs dot the
plains, and herds of beautiful red Devons
wade sluggishly along in the deep grass
Lofty and wide spreading live oaks look as
much at home here as on their native Ash
ley Cooper, though all these were planted
here by the hands of pan. The native will
low and water oaks, scarce l'ss majestic and
much more graceful than the live oaks spread
a noble shade, the cedar and holly abound,
and though there are those here to whom
these shades have been familiar for over
half century none can tell which Of these
trees are native and "to the manner born"
and which are the result of art In the
midst of this park, Immediately before
the south front of the mansion, though
some distance off, by the side of long
walk bordered by venerable boxwoei, stands
circle ofgrand old hollies-agcd but SEM
per yiirentes They are all equidistant and
uniform in size and appearance. If nature
placed them there it is wonderful if art, then
nature was most aptly initiated, for art has
attained that highest reach of art, the art Of
seIf-concealment Within this ciIcle, in
this sweet shelter from an August sun, the
forty gentlemen or more to whom We intro
duced your readers in former letter are
gathered, little earlier than is our wont; tor
know this sweet spot and wish to spend there
as many hours as the feetng day will allow.
Arm chairs and round tables are scattered
about the cilcle and whist, euchre, etc., gay
talk and earnest conversation divide the at
tention of the different knots. This group
chat of tie deer hunt yesterday, while a cy-
mic from the whist table enquiries, 10 Ches-
terfield, "Do you ever go hunting twice Z"
Another group talks Of cotton, another OF
waterpowcr, that OF the price of lands, that
of books, that of politics and while one earn
est veteran who studied politicical science
before the war talks learnedly, wisely and
beautifully of the Constitution" from amid
that standing group. another veteran from
that whist table who had evidently been d.
yiding his attention between the convcrsatino
and the game, cries out General, talk not Of
paper constitutions, material reconstruction
is our safety, and for this we want God-given
constitutions of flesh, blood and muscle !;
mine is over fifty years old without a flaw,
where is your paper constitution that can
saw so much?' This breaks up the consti-
tutional party who surround the whist table,
and thus the hours pass until dinner is an
nounced. The weather is uncertain and the
host leads up the high white marble steps to
the great hall, that runs the entire length
of the noble old house, and says, Gentlemen,
the weather is threatening, we will dine in