Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-11-15
ISLAND HOME.
The Farm of Perez Dickenson.'
Sunday Journal.

Sunday Journal,
On an island in the Tennessee river,
almost in sight of Knoxville is one of
the most beautiful farms of the world,
the property of Perez Dickinson a
wealthy and enterprising citizen of
East Tennessee. Passing over the
great bridge that spans the river near
the city limits, the drive to the island
is most beautiful one-along the riv.
ersde beneath the great trees. A fan
cy bridge leads from the main land to
the island and an avenue of beautiful
chestnut trees winds through the mea>
dows around the lawn to the grand old
fashioned brick mansion that tops the
hill amid fruits and flowers.
From the front gallery is a most
magnificent view of mountains, mea-
dows and sky. From the side porch
the eye ranges over the rich yellow
stubble the harvesters have left. The
drive over the we'll kept farm is like
driving through a princelY park. Be-
tween the clean clipt hedges the gravel
led roadways lay. Through the val
legs and over the bills, through the
forests and the open fields the feet
horses passed, pausing now and then
at the roadside wells. that the pleasure,
seekers might have draught of the
cool crystal waters. This farm is ele-
giant and perfect in all its appoints
ments.
The farm mansion of which an En-
glish farmer and his tidy wife have
care, is commodious and elegant. The
smaller farm houses here and there,
where the laborers reside are the pic>
lures of neatness and comfort, with the
schoolhouse on the hill and the church
not distant adding to their pleasure
and contentment. The stock is exceed.
ingly fne-the focks of sheep, and
jersey herds roaming over the mea-
dows, while in the large stable the
magnificent horses feed. The stable is
two stories high with an observatory
on the top commanding a view of all
the surroundings. In the upper story
the grain and hay are kept, below are
the stalls with long Railways between /;
at the end of each deep cool cisteln
stands. On the top of the cupalo is a
large wooden horse which tells the use
of the unique building before it is en-
tered. Near it are some huge stacks
of hay, so artistically put up that, the
straw seems combed to its place and
polished by brushing. 1t is water
proof, turning the rains like shingled
roof, reminding one of the straw
matched homes of the peasants in for.
eign lands.
A little distant the swine have Their
home in long building so arranged
that it can be easily flooded with wa
ter for refreshing and cleansing, thus
relieving the attendants of a herculear
task, almost as great as one of the
"Twelve Labors, for hog will be 9
hog still, it matters not how he is sur
rounded, for he is a respecter neither
of place, persons or himself. He pre-
fers his muddy bed and must have it
In small yard beside their neal
house were two immense oxen, thu
largest in Tennessee, which the pro
prietor calls "The babies"
The henery with its beautiful poul
try is most pleasing sight-of every
species from the coal black Game tt
the spotless Leghorn, from the TIM
Bantam to the huge Shanghai, theI
have their comfortable houses, coop
and yards. The ApiarY, with all it
delicious honey and busy bees, is
sight most pleasing and one seldom en-
joyed.
Near the house is a quaint and beau
tiful building on the top of which
the model of a COW. Around it is
garden of rare flowers, passing throug
which we entered the dairy. Tn
rooms above ground are devoted to tn
dairy work, while in those below, rest
ing on marble tables, the vessels {
richest cream, milk and butter wer