The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-15
The Old Plantation.

To our mind there is nothing nobler or more
inspiring in the history of any country than
the cheerful and patient hopefulness with
which the people Of the South have endeav'
ored, during the last ten years. to cover up the
gaping and ghastly ruts left by the tumbri
wheels of war. We have even endeavored
upon occasion, to convince ourselves that the
future was fuller of promise than the past had
ever been, and possibly we have advanced fee
BILE arguments to prove that the star of hope
might ever rise and shine above the Valley OF
Desolation. Indeed, it might be easy to admit
even now, that the practical eye can discover
in the results of war the prospects and posi-:
bilities of material prosperity and commercial
greatness.
This is WELL But after all there is nothing
so shocking to sentiment as utilitarianism. No
better illustration of this can be found than in
man to spare the tree around which clustered
SO many pleasant associations. These associa-
tions are immemorial. They are not limited
TO any particular object, nor to any particular
section.
The claiml-which we by no means feel in
clined to admit-that the results of the late
war are utilitarian in their character, is one
which may be left with some degree Of COM
placency for future generations to decide. BE
this as it may, however, the particular result OF
that bloody strife which dismanteled the "Old
Plantation" was violent shock to the senti-
ment that clings to whatever is suggestive of
pleasant association.
War waved his bloody hand, and in the
twinkling of an eye one of the most splendid
institutions that the world has ever seen-the
nursery of the greatest American statesmen
the cradle of nservatism-crumbled into dust
and past away forever. 1t seems like dream
to refer to the days when the patriarchal inhu-
ence of the "Old Plantation" extended over the
South. The world has never produced the su-
periors of the gallant gentlemen who, in the
good old days, made the Southern name memo
rable in every field of intellectual activity.
They were barons of later and more refined
era They followed wherever duty led, and
bore themselves right gallantly. They were
proud-imperious if you will-but true to
themselves and their country in all conjunc-
lures. For many long and glorious years they
directed the administration of the American
Republic through sheer force of intellect, but
it has never been charged from any quarter
that they have stopped from their knightly
purity and stained their hands in jobbery.
Their princely hospitality was crowned by gen.
erous and ungrudging charity, and their lives
UlOSSOulcu Will tudI CllitSte pdIIlOIlolu WulCu
seems to have been buried in the universal ruin
of war.
The old plantation What mournfully
pleasantly memories crowd into the mind
The quaint, rambling manor house nesting
among the great trees; the long, low, level
field of grain; the lusty negro melodies borne
upon the bosom of the wind; the far off cry
of hounds confusion of melodious sounds.
tLo 70 oontro1 foproc
the brave men and fair women who gave to
Southern society an elegance and refinement
that no project of the utilitarians can oblite-
rate.
Gallant gentlemen! brave souls generous
hearts we salute you Fair ladies mothers
the dream is ended. Drays trundIIe by with
food for the capacious mouth of commerce.
Men move quickly along with their thoughts
on the future. For, look you, the new days
are upon us-Savmnah Morning Ne'cs.