Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-04
BELLE MEAD.
A Rhode Islanders Visit 10 .
Southern Plantation.

Cor. Nashville Americana
NASHVILLE, October 31.-ln the
company Of agreeable friends, on a
beautiful evening in October, the In
dian summer throwing its lovely haze
over the distant hills, We rode six
miles out on one Of the many delight
full pixies which lead to this fair city,
to Belle Meade, the home of General
Harding and his accomplished family.
his son-in-law, General w. II.
Jackson, and brother of Hon. Howell
jackson, United States Senator from
Tennessee, made us welcome and
showed us his fine domain and noble
stock.
General Harding holds that the
only pure blood in America Is the
horse Of 300 years pedigree.
Robert Green and his able assistant,
cold Man William Harris" are the
prooms of the breeding establishment,
and exhibited the beautiful sons and
daughters Of the noble sires now in
the stud of Gems. Harding and Jack
son with almost the pride OF owner
shin, These faithful aud competent
servants come over from slavery times,
and with sold Nanny Ellen give
ms an idea Of old times in Tennessee.
In the home-place are about 3,7S5
acres finely set in blue grass. with 425
acres in a park, rivaling any that
England can exhibit, where 300 wild
deer roam and breed, and furnish ven
ison for the table, and add a beauty to
the scene which | have never seen
surpassed. A noble s~taghound was
secured as we rode to the park, so he
should not course the herd. After a
most hospitable welcome at the pic
turesque mansion, we visited one ofthe
most complete stables in the world,
where we saw the Bonnie Scotland,
Enquirer, Great Tom and Bramble
colts and fllies just weaned and put
up to get ready for the spring sale.
About eighty fine brood mares. with
the above named famous sires, breed
for the ANIMALS at Belle Mead the
flyers that have made this place so
famous.
Bonnie Scotland died a short time
since, aged twenty-eight, but has left
some celebrated son to ~perpetuate his
fame.
About one hundred negroes, old and
young, cultivated this rich domain,
and show the care, kindness and thrift
OF their noble employers.
As we looked over the striking land
seape Of water, trees, meadows and
corn land, alive with beautiful stock,
fine Jersey COWS, highly bred sheep,
and the most famous horses Of the
day, we thought was natural for the
owners to be as genial and happy as
they appeared. Who could not be
happy here2 We never spent a pleas
anter evening and shall carry its
memory to the end of life.
We shall cherish the memory Of
this visit as adding one new emotion
to our lives. We never saw before
such a domain. We did not know
there was such a place in America.
Here they do all for themselves; saw
at their own mills their own logs, and
grind their own corn and wheat. The
jersey COWS give them rich milk and
beautiful butter for the place. White
and black share fruit and meat and
milk and yenison; the ~patriarchal
master and owner lives to make his
hundreds happy, and they share the
honors Of the place and the renoEn Of
the stud.
General Harding trains no mares.
His noble old race course is in wheat.
and be breeds and sells yearlings only
and on their pedigree.
Old Gamma, who beat Wagner,
died here and left some daughters.
The annual sales are an event in the
sporting world. When the springtime
has raised the bluegrass knee high:
when the highly bred colts are gayest
and early flowers scent the air with
fragrant doors, the group that eat and
laugh and look and buy Belle Mead's
colts and fllies for the future strife
and noble sport could easily make the
journey there for pleasure alone. l
wonder thats picnic every day does
not seek these pleasant places.
l advise my Yankee friends, when
fitting South, to pause a day in beau
tiful Nashville, and place on their list
Of sights to see. Belle Mead.
| am told that from the time when
Charles Sumner visited this charming
spot and saw with his own eyes slavery
ash was then, 10 persou from the
North has been treated differently from
my own warm reception; and though
General jackson rode with Forrest
and could "hit hard, and can't vote
yet, | never found a warmer welcome.
nor had a more cordial invitation TO
come again"
We road away With a blessing On
our lips for all at Belle Mead.
LYsANDRR FLAGG.
Providence, r. l.