Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-23
The virginia Planter OF Eighteen
Centuries ago. O.


He was full of prejudices, oddities,
humors; and the men of his class inau.
purated the Revolutionary struggle
fpct which by itself makes him worthy Of
attention.
Let us 90 back in fancy for a moment
and visit the planter in his manor-house
on the banks OF the James, the York, or
the Rappahannock. His house is some.
times large and fne, like "RosewelT or
"Stratford Hall" but frequently unas-
Stunning. II stands, however, in the midst
Of hundreds, often thousands, of rich
acres, and its out baildings and servants
quarters" form q little village. Here
the planter is lord and master of all
riding to and fro we bis estate daily
and issuing his order, and these orders
there is no one to dispute. He is an ex-
c~ellent Observation-Disclosures the best
rider Of the American army, was a plan
ter before he was q soldier-and the
mounted figure is that of the bluff, rud'
dy, healthy English country gentleman
His dress is plain at home, but when be
enters his coach-and-four, driven byport'
" black coachmsn, to go to the metropo
lis of Williamsburg, or to attend church
or TO preside in awful state at the county
court, he is en- grade tsnue-rufles, golC
laced waistcoat, silk stockings, buekleC
shoes, and powder. The costumes ofth'
old comedy, as we set them on the stag
to-day, alone give an idea Of the gor
geous full dress" of that period, whicl
is accurately shown in the bird-of-para
dise-like plamage of the figures in th,
painting Of Wsshington's wedding il
1853.
At church, where the old squire calml.
dozes while the parson drawls; at court
where. as magistrate, he is the terror 0
evil doors; at the fine balls at the 6oN
ernor's place or the Raleigh Tavern
and in his own hospitsble house, wher
the table groans under every d~elicaeJ
and the wine flows freely-the generous
dogmatic, prejudiced, courteous, ir-pC
sing old worthy appears in his mo;
r characteristic phases. His opinion
upon political, religious and social sui
, jects having long since been made III
and he adheres to them with an obstini
cy which defes every attempt to modii
them. he believes that constitution
monarchy, q historic nobility, and
landed ~aristocracy, are the consiituer
elements of national government au
a society. England and everything En-
lish is with him in a subject both Of q
miration aud affection. The Engli'
Church Establishment is his establis
meat, aud be has little patience with u
New Lights" "Bsptists," "Presbyt
: risns," and other ~dissenters, who a
leading people astrayfhe tells you, wi
their new tangled views. The EngliI
law Of primogeniture, giving the esta
"a to the eldest son, and thus perpetuatil
an aristocratic landed class, is, IN d
y planters opiRion, the very stol
t. OF the social fabric. The kings right
his sobedience--D his Opn rights a
respected-is a doctrine which mes
u with his hearty appreciation He spes
Of England always as home" andloy
all connected With her. All his 300
le English books. All his pastimes Q
" English. He loves thoroughbred bora
fox-buuting, improved breeds Of stoC
Christmas festivities, a house oyerHo
y ing with company, and a generous stV
y, Of living.-JohR Esten Cooke, IN II,
per's Magazine TOR June.