The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-30
for the Sunday Democrat

IL would have been bold venture for any
one, save Sir Walter Scott. to Introduce his
readers into the sequestared and ancient
homes OF the dead, whose marble inscriptions
half defaccd the long neglected and desolate
dwellings Of defunot humanity, who were
consigned To Oblivion even III time, but for the
ahiss Of that venerable aud interchangeable
lover Of antiquity, who. with pous care.
struve To rescue fast fading names from for
Retful Disregard. @
Sir Walter Scott succeeded In his design OF
gathering intense interest about "Old Nor
tally" But his genius was equal TO seem
ingly impossible tasks, and tho taste OF tho
public, In hills age and country, was vastly
different from that or the age ami country in
which we live Novelty and progress are 30
eagerly pursued that little heed 10 given TO
auEht besides. Change is lord OF the ascend
ant. Antiquity IL ignored. The faith or our
fathers ID elegantly styled 'old fogylsm"---
principle la silenced by expedioncy and the
sober voice Ut wisdom drowned III new ex-
periments we fanoylng, oil the while, that q
better and more improved race arc governing,
or will govern, tho world.
Ii Ia sometimes pleasant to cast our eyes
back and. In defiance of the loud call for OK
element III tales Of daring adventure, cxa9
gerated pictures Of life audaclous attacks on
tho verify and purity Of religion III Ii some
times pleasant, we say. to turn away. like
!. aid. glance for little while at the things
A total change has come over society In the
South People OF culture. high refinement
and Astounding wealth. have felt the desolat-
Inv and inhuman effects Of war. The stately
homes Of these, where not leveled to the
earth serve to attest the fact that once Gle
Rance and luxury occupied wide nails where
bats and owls now find shelter, where the
sound OF music Is hushet and ruin regns.
Here IL u deep, dark forest OF live oak and
laurel trees, with all occasional pine, tower
ing aloft. while bay, dogwoY,d and cedar, l9W-
stand forth Id pristine beauty, ns though no
deadly tramp of hostile feet had ever passed
amongst them. This is the domain OF q
Southern rice and cotton planter, near the
fruetiiy large tract Of country In Beaufort
district, South Carolina. Surely nature has
been bounteous here Look at the richly
verdant and luxurious underground Mt the
wild cactus, china brinr, sweet IN yrtle, fan
palmetto sumac and convolvulusl What
delicious land for fairy bowers, moonlight
rainbIes. or u sail on the near river. we pass
these, and note u forsaken mansion whose tall
roof and pillared front, whose halt falling
fences and level lawn, now married BY many
Il thistle and weed, informs US Of the fact that
In place OF tho generous hospitality once its
boast, that grim old house Ii without u mas
ter: crannytng winds sing along ita CORR
xiors and the very genius OF solitude nfa-
sides: efaly the large orbed moon above, sur
rounded ny t%inkhnE stars, and the wander
Ing fire fly below, make plum what we see
Fire and war have done FEARFUL work iu this
once goodly demesne. There stand tire sta
bles, ruotless, where only Wild FOXES AMI
tameless creatures take refuge. Ihfre r.
a pile half consumed by fire, black
ened and moidering, once itl!ed
with rice corn, potatoes and other pT@3u1s
necessary to the sustentation of lif', and ~
dicatiye Of plenty and prosperity tnef& l#
tae wide avenue. with its long file of poplar
trees. low fencts, alambered over by charuhr@
rose vines, mnltitiora and eglantine. Fhete u
the useless kitchen, with it, wide chimney.
moldy brick oven and decaying ilo0r: here
Ia the once lovely garden where stlit thRHN A
flower struggles Into life amidst tagging
weeds, and many u favoring heIh, plAatN
lang syne With care & ows beside the hsiN1I
lock and the nettle. How plaintively Sang th !,
whippourwiu far down the dtnEte aI 4
the shriii locust replied from Aim
perch on strong limbs OF the water-eah aui
#catalpa. A huge tortoise waddled across the
grass grown pathway, and here and there
bloated toad leaped away to his nightly GOV
art Distant and faint the night howl OF the
wolf was heard revealing the fact that saw
axery had usurped civilization and the
dwelling OF man had been given over 70 the
dominion of desolation.
Standing still, we RaZed and paRdered On
the past, But an aged African stood before
80