Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-02-07
Strips 1T gutal Ai5torg
"REMINISCENCES OF YORK.
BY DIR. MAURICE A. MOORE.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.

ons, Kings, Normans, Pierces, and Cotru-
riers. Some of these came up prior to the
Revolutionary war-some after its close.
They were wealthy, and brought with
them into the district, large number of
negroes. Being high liuers and poor mana
gers, they soon scattered among their thrift
ty up-country neighbors, number of their
slaves, as it was quite common rule with
them, to sell one or two negroes each year,
to bring in revenue for next years eX-
penses.
Although they were not enterprlslng or
money-making citizens, these families were
valuable accession to. Y ork district. They
were people of high tone. of character,
warm hearts, genial hospitality and courtly
manners. This mingling with the earlier
settlers, had softening influence in social
life, and introduced a gentler element OF
modes and means. I distinctly remember
old Capt Joseph Palmer the very embodi-
ment of an old-school gentlemen-always
wearing the beautifully plated ruttled shirt, IT.
we'll blacked topped boots, and riding fine
horse; with bow of grace and elegant
dignity, old Sir Charles Grandson could
not have surpassed. During the war he
was, part of the time, Commissary for Colo
mel Edward Lacey's Regiment of mounted
Infantry. After peace was restored, he
held, for many years, the office Of Magis-
trate. He was a Surveyor by profession,
and one of the most accomplished of his
kind. His plats were models for their ac-
curacy of measurement and neatneeSs OF eX-
ecution. He was universally looked up to
and respected; even a stranger was bound
to feel the power of his finished manner and
courtly address. 1t was really an advan-
tage to the youth of his vicinity to enjoy the
opportunity of initiating such accomplish
ments. These, too, heldhim good deal in
awe, for they we'll knew gaatcherie or rude
ness, would not pass, in his presence, un-
corrected. Over the broad mantel-board in
the hall of his house, during the Christmas
holidays, in plain letters, easily deciphered,
he would chalk the following quaint dis
itch
"Pray stand aside, sirs, it's every ones desire,
AS we'll as you, sirs, to see and feel the fire.
And the shivering little urchin who would
thoughtlessly plant himself in front of the
blazing logs, to the exclusion of others,
would hang his head abashed, and step
deftly to one side, when his attention was
pointed ''to the writing on the wall"
Some of these families after a few years,
sold their purchases and returned to the
low-country. Others made York their per-
manent home and their descendants still re-
side in the district. When l was a boy,
numbers of the Huguenot families Of Pine
vile would, every summer, travel up in
their carriages, spending the season in our
more salubrious climate, with their rela-
tives and friends, who were settled here
To Septuagenarian, nothing is more
striking than the change of social customs
with in his recollection. A young man
wanting to address GIRL in the Olden time,
would ask Of the father or guardian OF his
inamorata, the liberty of the house," This
being granted him, whether the attentions
were agreeable or otherwise to the young
lady, she was bound-by respect to her father
and every sense of politeness, to receive the
sNain's attentions with courtesy, till he
ca me directly to the point with her; when
she could give him a decided refusal or ac-
cEptance.
recall a practical joke played by a gay
and beautiful young widow, Mrs. NJ, and
her niece, Miss Betsy NJ, who was not far
inferior in attractions. 1t would be now
deemed a jest unreined beyond fastness-in
those days a merry humOr; though | can
not say would not now question its pro-
priety, if committed under my tutelage.
But those who perpetrated it, would have
shrunk, with bushes, from the indelicacy
of a round dance.
1t was Christmas week and hOg-killing
time. Two young, gents-Jimmy NJ. and
Mansfield G-concluded to go a sparkling,
and the charming widow and Miss Betsy
NJ. were, to each, an attraction. The CHEEKY
blazing fire inside, was a pleasant contrast
to the snow on the ground outside. so
cozily did the day roll round, they conclu-
ded they would remain during the night:
About the hearth, the circle gathered /; told
stories, asked ridG les, and the evening pass
ed right merrily. When the hour for retir-
ing came, the lad les made an excuse that
the candles were out and they had not yet
another supply--the fire light must serve
the gentlemen in their stead, and by it, they
bed. Jimmy NJ said he knew their quar-
ters, having occupied them before. Mr.. &.
was equally complacent. Good-nights were
exchanged, and all went to their different
apartments. G. dsrobed before his bed
fellow and ran and jumped into bed. AS he
slipped in, he hastily drew up the covering
to eS clude the frosty air. Out he bounced,
crying at the top of his voice, "Snakes
snakes !-snakeS in the bed" ''SNAKES!'
exclaimed the astonished Jimmy. 'Sndkes,
0ad snov on the ground 2" And sciZng a
bla zng pine knot, he ran to the bed, threw
down the covering and discovered, lying
alb bout the middle, coil of-expanded hog'
! e7at,uHs.
There had been larger amount than was
needed prepared for the sausages, and the
surplus was seized by the girls to blow up.
T and with them, perpetrate the joke. a
| burst of smOthered merriment from the next
! room-the domicile of the ladies-explained
! the affair to the young men. Jimmy M:
| was badly in lOve-toOk the trick in good
part, laughed heartily at the excellent coun'
terfeit and G.'s unreasonable snakes. The
latter, more sensitive, re-dressed, declared
he felt himself insulted and would leave
! The ladies, who were still in full toilet, came
out and met him as he was starting, begged
his pardon, assured him it was but a jest OF
the season, &C., &c. He could not NOW them
up, as they had the entrails, so he rode away
in cold dignity.
i Now, nv friend, Nat Marion, took hi:
modification more gently. He escorted
home, one Sunday, from the meeting house
one of old Col. Beckham's daughters. There
were, beside, going to Col. BIS hospitable
/ house, several young ladies. Each had an
escort, and the young men all accepted the
invitation of the old gentleman to remain
during the night. After tea a servant en-
tered to remove the boots Of the gentlemen
bringing pair of slippers for each to assume
while he was blacking the boots for the NOR
rows wear. AS it was customary, although
1 the ladies were present, the beauX, without
hesitancy, submitted to the pulling of their
boots and the comfortable substitute offered
Mntil Mats turn came. He declined. ellis
:. boots were not much muddied )" "were very
:. hard to get off," he said, ''and the servant
j need not black them" 6 Oh :" replied the
! Colonel, "this boy can pull any boot evel
i saw-let him take them off for you" NO
i | thank you," returned Nat, urbanely, "I'nl
i sure, he could not succeed with these. |
i have always to use boOt-ja or get to the
! crack of the door" Old Colonel Beckham's