Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-06
PLANTATION SHADOWS.
How they Live In Mississippi.

A Southern writer includes the follow
ing i'll letter on life in Mississippi as it
is to-day
Let us draw rough picture of the or
binary Southern plantation home MS one
finds it to-day, eighteen years since the
close of the war. 1t is usually stately
two-story structure, pillarcd i'll front,
rarely ornate as TO architecture, and with
rather IN impressive air of aristocratic
comfort. But examine it closer, with
more attention to detail The paint is
worn oil, aud long weather-marks cross
its front. The conices and mouldings are
fast rotting to decay. Here and there in
the upper story is broken window.
| The shingles are moss grown, and the
chimney is rough edged from disintegra-
tion of mortar and brick The great front
yard of several acres, which used to reach
out far before this antique dwelling to
the street or roadway, has been cut i'll
twain by cross fence, reducing it to half
its old area. The rows OF trees are rough
and untrimmed. Ducks geese, pigs and
gaunt horse wander through the door
yard, making its surface like that of q
pasture. A scattered pile Of wood with
III circumference of chips is a side scar
ON the scene. Battered fences, musty-
looking clump of outhouses, n barnyard
where one or two dismal mules are medi-
tating, complete the picture of shabby
grandeur.
The owner Of this typical mansion is
usually gentleman and n real one
whose outward aspect is not much differ
ent from that of Il wcll-to-do Yankee OF
New Yorker who has been born and breG
in the country. But he is far more cour-
teous and polite not merely as an art bu
as genuine element of his character
His kindness TO II guest is not II formality
but 4 hearty, voluntary impulsc-evei
when carried to point which we at thu
North would regard as absurdly sacrti
DIAL. No Inconvenience is too burden
some, no hospitality too unstinted to b,
refused a guest. The planters own time
his family plans, his horses, his guns
his fishing rods, must all be ut the visit
2 or's full disposal.
, Let me be absolutely Just to Southern
| character and say that the same courtes,
a extends to the stranger met on the roa
e or railway train, and that in less degrc
+ the same innate politeness is shown eve
!, by the poor Southern whites. | hay
j often been amazed at the natural courtt
v sy both Of speech and manner of som
l. unkempt native of the South whom, /
l. the North, We would set down rs con
mon tramp. Southern chivalry has il
I deep-rooted and detcstable faults, SON
d of which will be touched upon before til
20 letter closes. But among its best quail
ties must be cited graces of common s.
"a cial intercourse, extending down throup
No all classes. which the Northcrner rare
vi finds equalled in his own communities.
,d Personally speaking, this quality
In have described is most attractive. 81
a economically the kindly social habi
~ generated during the slave times, inheri
Il ed from fathers and still perpetuatcd, n
III a fearful bar to material progress, We
nj enough they were perhaps when u
ar planter had large surplus wealth i'll Ii
or man stock. and when the sale of one
N two negroes might fill the gap III the n
an, nuai interest on mortgage. But 4
M, system is fatal now, when lndustr
nj watchfulness and household economy II
IA the only conditions ON which the plant
to tion can be saved from the creditor
.or after seeing lately many plantations
eli the Mississippi Valley, were asked wi
ey is the chief obstacle to Southern pl
m. gress, the answer would be the wastei
,e. extravaganza caused by too much soc
ne blllty-hn extravaganza penetrating l
A." whole of heplanter's life.
,or The methodical Yankee, accustomed
md close and systematic management, wo'
md be profoundly amazed ut the way the
I dinary planter 'runs" plantation
say, n thousand acres, with n hundl
negro hands. 1t is II vast and ramii
interest, us intricate as big New FL
land factory. Yet the plauter scare
ho ever keeps set Of plantation books
bo costly implements Of cotton cultur
Ieao ploughs, harrows and oultivators-
sil constantly seen rusting in the fields, ]
han where the negroe hands have left til
'ery months before. He may be stagger
or under an annual interest charge, yet
of must have his horses for pleasure,
of costly guns, and expensive double W
d it ous, to be worn out quickly on ror
mi rutted roads, upon which Yankee l
lionaire would scarcely use buckboG
The younger planters, too, seem
not think it essential to human existence
-iyi- they should treat" frequently, ganb
little, and buy q few lottery tickets e