Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-10
an OLD-TTME PLANTATION.
A Day On an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Farm Ia
Southwest Georgia.
EUUNNWNEF )" "FEFf

[From the Macon Messenger.l
"Woud you like to see the buZzlrd
| danceyv said the gentleman whose lavish
hospitality was enjoying.
.Wbat Is that? ' said L.
await minnie and I'll show YOU" he
replied.
we were seated on The broad yeranda Of
a southern country house. built some fifty
wears ago. In front Of us row oil giant
maopollas. large IS oaks, seemed in the
dim starlight ireighted with balls OF per-
fumed snow. To our right vast grove OF
pines were softly souging in the summer
| breeze. and beyond them the glare OF the
blazing knots, which lit half a hundred
cabins, proclaimed the presence OF the
a negro quarter" We were on the HUI
guenin plantation, in Sumter county,
modest .brm Of 5000 acres, at present
owned by Mr.. j. N. Johnston aud man-
AGED entirely by Mr.. &. &. CLAY. Ere the
minute had elapsed Mr.. Clay walked to the
end OF the verGnda and gave wloop
which would have invoked the envy OF
Comanchc Indian and the prompt attend
ance Of Macon policeman. IA answer
Ing shout was heard, and in a few minutes
n lcnr line Of dusty forms came stealing
through the shadows OF tie pines and
ranged themselves in front OF where we
sat. The song began and the musicians
commenced 10 pat. Suddenly into the con-
ire Of the open ring leapcd the sable
dancer who was 10 pcrsOuate the buz-
zard Though dancing in periec; time to
the wild but musical accompaniment. he
vet managed 10 initiate with marvellous
eXaciness every movement OF Che uncouth
bird be had chosen for his model. rs tot
tering. tip-toeing gait was faithfully de-
lircated, as was also it, sudden springs
from RIGHT 10 left, ITS tiUid approach, it.
raycnous peck and sudden retreat from tho
c-avcd but dreaded carcass. which, in his
homelv drama, was represented by hlt
that looked indeed like the buzzards had
been after il.
After the dance debate was held. Sides
we're chosen, and the relative value - tie
world Of the farmer and the Inecha1ic were
discussed with ShrcwdneS aud wit M
excclled by the tariff debate in Congress.
There are as many as 500 negroes on this
plantation. They constitute a society in
themselves, and their number satisfies that
instructive greealiouSneSS which from
smaller places have drawn the negroes
10 town. While the dance and song were
progressing, a quarter OF a mile away there
were. from a church on the same plantl-
fion. the PRAYERS and anthems oi those VINO
found their pleasure in religion. And ~
| listened TO the minglinc echoes OF the
sacred and secular songs, thought that the
" old plantation" dear 10 southern memo
~, had not vanished from the earth. The
marvellous management OF Mr. Clay has
preserved the same implicit obedience, the
same lcht-hoarted reliance upon a common
master, which characterized the days OF
slavery. was curious 10 see the results OF
free labor managed as the days OF yore.
The next day | looked from the window
az a lofty clubhouse and saw them. Be-
fore NE in one unbrOken body lay four
thousand acres in u high state OF cutiyl.
ton. Leagues q cotton and miles OF corn.
green and grasslcss. The bare spots which
ever and anon appeared in this broad pam
Drama told whence had come the 5000
bushels Of oats, which, even in this plugl-
an wear, had been cut and housed without
q drop OF rain. 1 saw ocC acre Of corn
planted for the premium AZ the stat" Fair.
II is so luXuriant that al distance Oi twcn-
~ steps man on horseback IS compile ely
hidden from sight. The great bulk Of this
farm Il run upon the tenan'-sYstem.
I'll the tenants, however, being sub
jcct 10 the complete control OF the
manager. 4 tweyc-mue farm only
is run by hired labor. With these
twelve mules there has been virtually
made this year, for it is all in roasting-ear,
5000 bushels OF corn. and cotton crop
which. ALREADY Standing waist high over
three hundred acres, gives promise OF at
least $50 bales. Every thing on this man
moth plantation is perfectly systemzed and
works with the precision Of clOck-wOrk.
Yet Mr. Clay manages it all with apparent
ease. and with far greater success than the
average farmer runs a four-mule farm. lie
has a muscular clOQucnce which carries
conviction TO the negro mind. an unlag-
ging energy which wreSts success from
unpropitious seasons, and q quick and COM
prohensive judgment equal to all the
emergencies OF his position.