Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-12-25
otos From Dixie.

Dawn in this portion Of the country Tie
natiye-h born does not call it "rither" Or mel
ther"-as the words are commonly pronounced
farther North no. They term It elegantly
ni-ther aud i-ther. The parent Is addfessfd,
not as ''pa" tIar) ar ma (narl nor with that
title eEdearlugy doubled; hut A. par. mar,
ter a,qir. mer. mGir, etc Ia similar manner
i. the "a" in all words given ito longest and
fullest emphasis "dsmp' Is ddrmP, "iah Is
fqrn ahd 80 Oh through AN endless vocabulary.
Ia this matter Of pronunciation, as well as IN
their sclusivene,s. is shown the English ten
,leucy of The South Whose people seem to have
retained decided psrtisity for their old
Mdber Country. Aud We really cannot blame
them. They are certainly very correct in their
taste and eyince, 10 this, far seeing wisdom
England, to. day, Is better of IN every regard
than her reba child. Her government is =
fixed one Wherein less want Of morality Is
found than in ours her people, s,aid practical
bile aud imdusj.iuus. furnish fine example "i
what people ought to he; While England ;
commerce, manufactures, agriculture, science
and ar, may well be classcd as very models IN
their line. Aud in saying thiS-thoueh long
our own Quiet opini0n-we hUt echo the views
nf thinking Americans. DuIiug his receui
European tour Mr. Horace White, 10 asericS
If admirable letters to tie Chicago Tribune
gave expressions 90 the same though precisely
declaring, in tipe, that ~ lar from having
cpleted on decline, Britannia bad yet to sre
her dag Of golden prosi erity-wlich day Le
proved bv iucoutro,ertille facts. could uot hr
far distant But to return to onr SUBJECT
thin. then. shows that tie souilern people
have taken a worthy m del after which {"
pattern their language sod customs, and II
they will only go farther IN emuldtnS Eng
lands glory, Why ~ much the better.
The private dwellings here are mostly
frame hut whether of wool, brick "r Stone.
they have all one great peculiarity--A dis
Inactive feature which readily classes them To-
ge,her aud alone. 1t is 'hs: Except where
A Northern capitalist comes down aud ertCt~
house after his own tastes. the residences at
wa,s have their gables nr sides resting "n the
street. The Street door gives entrance {" the
piazza lauothcr great institution here oi which
father url: IN The piazza rs found the dor
admitting iuto Tie h"use, proper. ihuS th'
trout really is facing tie porch, White The side
ul tie dwelling IL uu the street. PiazzAS are
something siuply iualieuahle frnrr Southern
archliectuTe-as uf cnuTse. applied tn A0HSe
hudinp. Without them. The family would
he utterly dismayrd 1t IL ia their airy length
that these deli.ttiul hrrezeN frnm Old OreAn
are sujGed Toy papa. mamma. aud the only
daughter. Their plazzaS generally run 'ht
entire hciqhh AID lrugth OF the house; on
being .iven to each story. he first one, %"
the parlur floor must necessarily he rather
public. a. zach visitor passes through It from
The street door to enter the house hut tbe
UPPER ones nay be ~ private A. possible and.
h AT. are so. Some re enclosed m We -
tiai, blinds. neatly carpeicl and lighted "i'h
ca, hu, tlis, o. use Il luxury aud tsc-~
iorr an excep. 10 20 lie '"li.
L. this. a. ~ most other nCighhoring cities
the servants sleep on the premises. hut ~ en-
lirely scpCrate quarters, built IN the yard-
These servants quarters generally contain f"u'
rocms; two below aud two abrve. the latter
Steering apartments Here. the Old colored
woman "Mauma' we vii call hrrl eats slerp-
and has her being Bur one feature more l.
wanting L. compile the picture: 4 huge d"s
guarding well tie power piazz'-so well. 10
fact. ~ to- make the experienced one rather
wary Of advances in hi, direction, aud caus-
ing the amateur ia visiting S"uihern homes
to- beat a hasty yet disuifcd retreat fr m lhe
dour-helI, the while be slauces uervously over
his shoulder To- see if that Internal dog has in-
deed escaped the door whence bis horrid look
ing ISSUES.
But enough Of the peculiarities Of these
Southern people; suffice it will that they are
brave and courteous and every WAY agreeable
always proviiins. however, that the visitor Is
of their caste for + F. vs. flourish here a
mnch as in The Mother of Slaies-aud though
defeated in a war where Sputhcrn Supremacy
was the stake. they yet cling with igy-like
tenaci,y to thrte grand virtues, the family
pride, family religion aud family honor
j. b. Z.
CL0rlesioD 6 C.