Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-17
sv1RaINIA ADVERTISER
Yhe Virginia Planter OF the Eigh-
teenth Century.

II. was full of prejuliccs, Oddities, humors;
and the meu Of his class inaugurated the Rev
olutiouary struggle--a fact which by itself
makes him worthy of attention.
Let Us 90 back in fancy for moment and
visit the planter iu his manor house on the
banks 0! the james. the York, or the Kappa
haunock. His house is sometimes large and
iuc. like Roosevelt or "Stratford Hall, - but
frequently unas> umlDg. 1t stands, however, in
the midst of hundreds. often thousands, of
rich acres, and lis out buildings and servants
quarters" form little village. Here the
p!autcr is lord and master of aIl-rldlug to aud
:ro over his estate daily, and issuing his orders,
aud these orders there Is 20 one to dispute.
He Is au excellent horsemau-W aShlngton, the
best rider OF the American army, was plaut-
cr before he was d sOldlrr-and the mounted
figure is that of the bluff, ruddy, healthy Eng.
lish country gentleman. Ills dress Is plain at
home. but whcu he enters his coach -and-tour,
driven by portly black coachman, to go to the
metropolis Williamsburg, or 10 attend church,
or to preside 10 awful state at the cou MY curt,
he is en- graude teuue-rutHos gold laced waist.
coat, silk stockings, buckIcd shoes, and pow
der. The costumes Of the old comedy, as We
sci them on the stage to-day, alone give an
which is accurately shown in the bird ot-para-
d;,,likc plunagc of the figures in the painting
Of Washlugtous 5 wedding in 1859.
At church, where the old squire calmly dozes
while the person drawlS at court, where, as
magistrate be is the terror of evil doers at the
tinc bal. at the Governors place or the Raleigh
Tavern and 10 his own hospitablc house, where
thr table groans under every delicacy, and the
vim. A ,ws irccly-thc generous, uOgmatlc pre-
judiced, courteous, imposing old worthy appears
IN his most characcri phases. His Opinions
upon political, religious and social subj jactS have
long since been made up, and he adheres to
them With an oostiuacy wnlch defes every at.
tempt to modify them. He believes that con-
>tluriona monarchy, historic nobility, and
rled aristocracy are the constituent elements
Of national government and society. England
and everything English is with him sub.
jct both of admiration and ctfectlon. The
English Church Establishment is his establish
ultut and he has little patience with the New
l.gar<,' "BaptistS,',, ''Presbyterans, and
other di-scntcrs VINO are leading people astray,
lie tells you, with their new-fanglcd views. The
English law of prmogcnture, giving the es.
tate to Inc eldest son, ard thus pcrpetuatlug 10
arlstuclatic landed class, Is, IN the planter S
opluion tic very urnerstoue OF the SOCIAL la
bric The king 5 right to his obedience his
Jwr, rights arc rcspeced--s a doctrine which
meets with his hearty appreciation. tie speaks
i Enrla, 4 aways Us "homc" and loves all
e r.uuect, i with her Allohis books are English
book. All hs pastimcs are English. He
loves thoroughbred horses, fox hunting, lul-
proved breeds of stuck, Christmas festivities, q
house ovcrhowiug with company, and gene
rnlls stvle of living g.-J0hR ESteR Co0ke.