The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1877-01-25

After this episode, for we heard
the history of "Black Bess" on the
spot, we hurried away to get our
wraps, and were presently seated in
the luxurious phaeton, Gashing along
the river road northward toward tho
Duyvels "Danse Hammer" The
dread-sounding name is tho dosigna-
ton ola steep declivity, over the
summit Of which tho local Indians
formerly held their corn dances, a
religious festival in the harvest sea
son. The dusky figures of the rod
skins, as they caporcd around in
concentric circles under the light
OF tho yellow moon, with their weird
chants and grotesquo ceremonies,
must have seemed indeed diabolical
proceeding to the mattcr-of- fact
knickerbockers without invitation
to settle on tho rich lands of the
Mohawlis. Bat tho "Dovil's Dance
Chamber" is silent now, and only
tho rushing rivcr and solemn ccdnrs
remain unchanged around the spot
where the original lords Of tho soil
worshipped tho Great Spirit upon
this mountain.
The lodge at the open gateway
was apparently tcnnantlcss. SO we
entered and drove round and round
the terraced ascent to tho top of tho
hill where the country-scat of the
Hon. Bancroft Davis now stands. A
magnificent view is had from this
point, and one could not but wonder
II the fortunate owners of this fine
place did not sometimes ycarn for
tho scene upon which We now gazed,
in their voluntary cxilo Inter dem
Linden. Mr.. Davis and his family
have been abroad for some time, as
he represents the government ut
tho Court Of Imperial Germany.
But ovon here where tho "master"
is away, everything is kept in trim
array. How charming is all this to
eyes only accustomed to the careless
heantios Of our rich Lind ! 1t seoms
rs if there is now "trash' hcre-no
weeds, no bricrs, no fallen loavcs.
The very grass seems to "grow to
order ) and the boughs of the over
hanging greenwood wore rs regular
as clipt hedge. Wo laughed when
in reply to aquostion rs to whether
those cednrs were kept trimmed on
contract, onr bright young compnn-
ion, Mrs. B. nephew, saiu serious
ly
"Why they grow so !"
Night is closing in as we dash
home, glad to escape from "nip-
ping and M eager air" into the
warmth and light of the cozy parlor.
A cheerful coal fire welcomes us like
q homo face, and amid tho comfort
and congeniality of this lovely home,
we forget that wo arc "strnnycrs in
a strange land"
Before the autumn sun hal risen
high next morning, we were out
drinking the delicious elixir of fresh
air, while tho duncolored Storm
King asross the river was still wrapt
in his mist cloak, and the sidos of
North Beacon covered with gray
shadows. Across the sward stream
ed broad rays Of sunlight. glancing
from the rosy applos and golden
pears that had fallen on their omcr-
aid velvet bed during tho night
and glittcring on the glass roof of
tho grapoTy, whence luscious clus-
tors, pink, purple and white, send
out opalino rays Of delicate color.
Across tho rustic bridge and bub-
bling little brook still telling it's
sccrect of the lake, whose bright
bosom bears a fleet of snowy ducks
up gently rising path to where
the strawberry beds lay on the
Southern slopc-down again among
The raspborrros, trained on horizon
tai wires--and thence into II wood
land which extends to tho rivers
bank. All this we rnmblod ovor be-
fore we were summoned to the
bright breakfast parlor, whore flow
ors and stands Of fruit lit up tho
hospitablo board
"Tho feast of roason,' etc. (stalo
quotationN always enhances moro
epicurenn and gastronomic pleasures;
and L must not forget to relate
several rare anecdotes, which, as
they concern certain wcll-known
person"ges, are considered public
property.
Our host had entertained "the
government ut u lunch party last
summer, and on that occasion
General Grant was particularly
gracious, keeping up spirited con-
versation with sprightly Southern
lady, Mrs. &, When cigars were
handed, the President refused, and
Mrs. g. playfllly remarked:
"Why, General, you have the
reputation of being n great smok
or" H
81 have the reputation of q great
many things which I do not de-
geiv We" was the historic reply.
"Why don't ladies smoke?" he
continued; "they always profess to
be fond of the odor OF a cigar" fc.l
"Oh YES" Mrs. G. assented, "but
it gets in tho hair. #'' ...'
"Well," rejoined the Great Silent
Man, s'then they can hanp it. out of