Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-02-03
S0t THERN HOMES.
Intelligence. BcTcN OIcTcc and Industry
Of Southern WGmCu-H Homes in the
NMmth ImprcICnIiOme but PrettN.

In reply 70 a very hard criticism upon
southern homes and women, a correspond
ent writes in the New York Times
Oneof the dwelers in a southern home
would like to say few words to her
northern neighbors IN reply to the strict
ures Of your correspondent on South
ern Homes She must begin by stating
that circumstances and opportunity have
enabled her to see good deal OF the
worId-of social life at home, north and
south, and abroad, of social life in its
highest conditions, as well as in its
healthier, happier middle state. With
northern homes She is intimately ac-
quaintcd, and has for many years enjoyed
the greater privilege Of intimacy in En-
glish homes; in France, Switzerland and
Holland she had like privileges to a less
extent to study the habits of the people,
particularly of the women. Perhaps
these opportunities may Justify a dweller
in southern home of expressing her
opinion of these homes and the women
who make them, the class with.which
the Times correspondent seems so well
acquainted.
Planters in ante-beIlum times, Git is
useless to speak of plantation homes since
the war, because they have virtually
ceased to exist, had almost always two
homes, a necessity as well as a luxury, on
account of the general unhCalthiness in
summer of that part of the country best
adapted for the growth of rice and cot.
ton. The plantation houses, as rule,
in Georgia, were large and rambling,
without modern Improvements, and with
no pretenslon to architectural beauty,
and without fine furniture; there was
however, good, often elegant, table APP
/ pointments, and great deal of old-fash-
ioned plate. A large portion was seen in
the north soon after the war; the remain
I der saved has been sold piece by piece as
necessity compelled. There was also
plenty of stable room, and every facility
loralarge-hearted hospitality; for in those
days people visited their friends, with
children, servants, and horses; this was
the custom Of the country. The summer
homes were always more or less pretty
withou: pretension, and never without
flowers, which all southern women love
we'll enough to cultivate with their owl
hands, and who understand it thoroughly
many sending annually to variou
florists in the north for additions t
their greenhouses instead of sending t
France for fine dresses aud bennets. Tht
: summer homes were rarely carpeted, anC
the floors, "dry rubbed" daily, were $,
polished as to require care and habit t,
, avoid slipping; the extensive gallerie
scrupulousIy secured; the bed-linel
washed in pure spring water, of whicI
, there is so great an abundance, smelling
, sweet Of old.iashioned lavender, the ia
vorite perfume OF the linen press. Nov
r these lazy, dirty women" had, witt
] the care and management of their tw
! homes, great deal 10 do, besides; the,
= bought, cut and arranged all the cloth
4 ing for the plantation "hands," taugh
t their seamstress, trained their cooks--n
2 easy chance of a good cook by Oaarin
! high wages. These careless mothers ha
to teach thar daughters before they wel
y wives, The writer being without the-