The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-02-10
A Southern Story About DIR. Holland.

After the occupancy of New Orleans
by Federal troops during our late war,
guuboats patrolIed the river for some
distance above the city On one Of
these DIR. Holland, then engaged In
writing up the South, " was a privileged
guest.
When his ironclad monster was at
anchor opposite the plantation Of a gen
leman well-known IN st. Louis and
father of the relator of this incident, he
asked the privilege of the proprietor Of
visiting his home and seeing his family.
Permission was courteously given, and
he was at liberty TO make the visit at his
pleasure. Mr.. G., as l will call the
planter. had fondness for cigarettes,
and having procured some choice tobacco
and a few corn shucks, he one morning
introduced his daughters and some lady
visitors into the art of making cigarettes.
and with the request that they would
display their skill in manufacturing him
a several days supply, he went out to
look after his plantation interests.
The girls were merry IN the prOsecu-
ton of their newly acquired art, and one
of them in playful spirit proposed that
they each smoke n cigarette. The idea
of girls smoking was awfully" TO all
of them. and with merry laughter each
lit a cigarette and the cheerful group
were soon putting away amid a cloud Of
smoke.
It was Just then that DIR. Holland put
in his appearance. Without fear of re-
bells In ambush he had walked from the
river bank to the c. mansion unattended
by armed mariners. He rang the door
bell, and on a servant presenting himself
he asked TO see the ladies OF the family.
He did not want them notified of hlS
presence and invited TO the parlor. He
would see them Just as they were IN the
family sitting-room. The inner home
life of Southern women WAS what he
wanted 10 see and write about The
servant without other ceremony ushered
him into the presence of the smoking
damsels He took the maidens by sur
prise, caught them IN q bit of fun in
which they never had been engaged be
fore, and in which it is proper to say,
not one ever indulged again. But to the
visitors imagination 1t was one of the
every day acts, not only of that company
of young ladies but of all of the better
class of Southern women. 1t was prec-
ious item to transmit to his Northern
readers, and after announcing his name
and mission he drew forth pencil and
book and his nimble fingers Immediately
commenced record OF MS surrounding gS
and observations.
The young ladies beat hasty retreat
without explanation, and sent Mrs. G.
to entertain the visitor, but he, no doubt,
supposed they had retired to another
room to finish their mornings smoke.
AS might be expected the doctor wrote,
and his publisher printed, an account of
this visit, in which it was asserted that
all of the better class of Southern ladies
are addicted to the habit of smoking.
! Possibly the amiable doctor went down
to his grave with his opinion of Southern
women In the respect indicated un-
changed, and especially so of the group
of fair maidens whose cigarette work
shop he so unceremoniously invaded,
and whose first and only attempt at
smoking he SO suddenly terminated.
Two of those cigarette young ladies
are now St. Louis and st. Louis County
matrons. In the well-filled library of
one Of them 1 found several bound
volumes of Scribner's Monthly edited
by DIR. Holland and it was this fact that
called to the mind of the lady the Incl
dent Just related, and which l deem
worthy the record have here made of it.
ST. Louis Republican.