Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-31
THE OLD PLANTATION.
a View of a Southern Home Past and
Prcsenr.

As one ascending Il mountain side looks
back upon fertile, smiling valleys and
peaceful homes below, we Of to-day may
turn from the nights of our advancement
and tenderly admire the old plantation.
Just behind the levees protecting line,
a massive gate and fence of heavy palings
mark its outer limit. At either post of
hewn oak stands a luxuriant arbor-vit.e,
with brood of seedlings clustering about
It's roots, while the parent trees arch grace
fully over the broad shell walk bordered
by towering shrubs, so abundant and gen
erous of growth they seem trees rather
than bushes of exquisite bloom AMI de
licious perfume. And vet the illusion is
but brief, for the eye quickly correct6 the
error and perceives the snowy, the creamy,
the golden and the crimson abundance,
while mingled perfumes rise and ell the
air.
Close by these, on one side, a large aloe
sits in circle Of tiny knots Of busy bloom,
ike mother hen among her puffy little
chicks on the other side iordly Spanish
dagger-the yucca Of the botanist-holds
aloft above It's keen-edged leaves It's spot
less snowy cone.
To the right clump of fig trees shuts
out the further view, and, at the left, q
row OF bananas gently wave their great
broad leaves fringed by the breeze.
Further beyond either of these, a grove
Of trees-the Pride of India-thicE with
vellowing berries, and another of oranges,
filled alike with golden fruitage and with
! hue and fragrance and melody In the
! i II Il,
Ing, passes to either side of the planta-
tons heart-the mansion Of the planter
As the big house." alone, it is desig-
mated by the negroes, 10 whom it is the
contamination of all in life worth the nav
| ing. Beside it, to their minds all others
/ deserve supreme contemplated promptly
receive it.
The dwelling OF the overseer, snuggled
down in It's flower and kitchen gardens, is
attractive to the eye and comfortable to its
occupants; but-well, the big house is
Just beyond it, and catches all the rays of
light that enter the negroes eyes.
Full miles quarter of floral beauty lies
between the mansion and the levee at its
front At its inner edge the very steps
and great broad piazzas spread out in such
friendly way that the expression of
feigned unconcern upon the face OF the
coming guest quickly gives place to Il
/ smile of pleasure, for =" Welcome" waits on
every step and is exhaled from each bud
and blossom studding the vines that
/ Chamber thickly along the entire front.
! Even hasty view of the grand old
! house with its galleries running entirely
around it above and below, supported by
massive round pillars of brick, and its halls
and chambers that seem almost limitless
would make one feel them ample assurance
of ready and profuse hospitality; vet, lest
! the assurance may not he sufficient, every
one-planter, planters wife and planters
ehildren-with hearty speech and act, put
I to it all the seal of authority, and, lest
shade of doubt Turks in the visitors
thoughts, the old nanny OF shining
| face and pompous air, secures the matter
| past any uncertainty, in tone and manner
saying without words that when she
/ bids welcome hesitation is treason.
Under spreading magnolias in the yard
! the toddling Titles ones OF the big
house." each attended by a bow-legged
pickanniny of equal age, play the hours
( away, rendering it no easy matter to deter
mine which color rules But, no; there is
a quick sound, like the breaking of twig {;
another, and then two fair-skinned pugil-
/ lists rush at each other as one demands,
What for you hit my little Niger ,"
To their early childhood the dividing
line Is scarcely perceptible; but yonder
hedge Of Usage orange MARKS for the seniors
Il barrier as inmoyable and unmistakable
as the colors Of their respective skins, Of
which 1t Is a constant reminder.
Ga the hedges farther side is "the quar-
ter that is, the slaves houses
Excepting several huge and venerable
live oaks and Grape myrtle here and
there, there is little adornment about the
double line Of cabins facing inward on a
/ faintly-detined road between. The little
company of whites composing the planters
! household rests secure and fearless, though
in number but As ten TO two hundred
down in the quarter For day after
/ day and year after year each morning
the quarter sends Its people to fields of
| faithful toll, and at nightlall receives them
again to unclouded ioIlity and mirth, lit
! tie knowing the deep significance of the
aurora trembling in the northern sky, and
/ soon to cover them with its roseate glory
! of a new-found freedom.
| But the mind has wandered 90 the past,
! and. dwelling in pleasant memory upon it,
| has forgotten, for the moment, that all
/ these are gone forever.
The world is now. to an extent, better
acquainted with the strange characteristics
! OF the old plantation, and so wonders for
/ it was an anomaly. 1t stood alone while
the world at large marched on and passed
it. Still there is much in lis belongings
! mankind, in the mass. never comprehcnded
or knew. To them and TO those who were
! not It's contemporaries. its mere name cx-
cites peculiar and pleasant conceptions
Of it,
A. the abode of wealth and luxury with
all of good and i'll that sprang from and
! accompanied them as the pride Of one
section and the adherence Of another; as
the circle mclosing people which were
not a people, and yet, because of that
| We're proclaimed the sole posse>Sors Of I'M
equaled happiness as the habitat Of con-
ditions at variance with the age, it has
ceased to be, and they are few who deny
that this Is well.
The great mansion is no longer the
source and end Of the plantations being,
but is deserted and silent. Its
broad approaches do not now stretch
forth their hands OF welcoming
to lavish inequalities, but are sepul-
chered among rank weeds and matted
grasses. The old affection between master
and slave, whose depths the stranger never
could fathom, are but a dry memory now.
The merry quartz" is broken and scat
tered, or reveals its few tenanted cabins rs
more sober homes, where freedom and its