The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-25
COrNTY. March. 1883

old settlement. Long before Governor
Snoltswood entered upon his explora
,ons westward it had felt the point OF the
pioncer plough and the neighboring for
ssts had rcsOundcd with the ring Cl the
voodman's axe. In The reign Of the first
George Of England, the ancestors Of its
present owners and occupants had been
allowed royal grant of forty thousand
acres. The latter now retain about two
thousand OF these, and can point with
bride 10 pairiarchal oaks that date back
,esIlv one hundred and fifty years In
the olden-time it was typical country,
haronial seat. a community in itself when
ali the appliances of life common to the
reriod were kept in active operation.
Pew Of US have any idea of what great
plantation Of the year 1852 (for instance)
VAS The dwelling, generally called the
nrrcat house" Was for the most part
suib OF the best seasoned timber, two
storIes high, with brick chimneys, one at
either end, and standing out sliHy from
che house. The roof was ornamented
u,ifb dormcr.windows, and covered with
wound ended shingles calculated to last at
least hundred years. In the pres
eDt instance the grounds spread
f,r and wide about the mansion.
remains of the ancient park
and us venerable trees now stand Is eyi-
deuce Of IL dignity and the extent Of its
limits. Double rows of clms enclosed
ESQ sides OF this space, while rows Of
horse chestnuts added beauty aud variety
% tie other Grouped in appropriate
,laccs. stood fruit trees Of al kinds The
writer we'll remembers many years ago
pucking from the twigs Of several an
Client cherry trees three varieties Of this
frut from a single tree while riding horse
hack under its high and spreading
branches These trees had been planted
end grated nearly q hundred years be-
fore.
Around ;he buildings occupied by the
amily were grouped and arranged at
convenient distances the several depart
men,s which made up the community.
On one side were the private stables,
where the coach, and the chariot and
chair with the stables for their apprO-
ornate horses were kept. On the other
.ldc. al more remote distance, were the
uules' stables sufficiently near the cabins
OF Che slaves, whose duty it was 10 tend
Che plantation, 10 enable them 10 begin
work al an early hour, and TO pay due
attention 10 the teams Then came the
paldocks in which the thoroughbred colts
Were allowed 10 gambol and exercise
thIr fleet young limbs. and other lots
where the masters riding horses
trowsld upon the rich grass,
and chafTed their warm hides to
Gle cool surface after having been ridden.
e. quite another direction, and a. still a
greater distance from all these, were the
racing stables Here dwell the grOOms
all To- themselves with their horses and
stable boys, proud OF their peculiar privi-
ieres They looked with contempt upon
che other dependents, especially upon the
common or ordinary tenders of the farm
animals They were 10 be seen In their
peculiar costumes OF caps and small
clothes exercising their pets, gailoping
and careering over the track OF the pro
S.ietor's race held twice day-in the
carly morn and late at evening There
was always something Of mystery con
uected with these stables and the habits
OF their Cust0diaus Ordinary people
we're not allowed to look upon the arislO-
cratic animals Of whom so much was eX-
percd when their educations should be
completed 10 was only by special per
mission that they were exhibited 10
strangers during Tie heat of the day,
when they were kept cool and quiet IN
tL.;r darkencd retreats. AT this very
cine the present owner OF ------- has
hanging I'm his hall several fine English
m.rayings of horses imported from
abroad. and which, at the time TO which
We refer. decorated the sleeping apart
mynts Of these grooms. AT greater dis
lance still from all these was the
trewry. This was al important appendix
60 the entire establishment. Barley was
gs necessary crop al that time az corn Is
now. The horses were fed upon II Dul,
above an, from its malt was brcwed
tbe family beer the use of which eX-
tended To- the entire household, servants
aud ALL The thick glass bottles IN
which it was secured were brought from
England. The writer has seen fragments
Of these ploughcd up IN the neighborng
fields and bearing the initial capitals OF
the proprietOr's name, which had prob
ably been there more than hundred
years. ltu kAtit WIZ thN oH"fo "''N
weaving rooms In the blacksmith shops
where the majors" a few expert slaves
taught to make wrought nails of all sizes
anu for all purposes The reader must
r.,ollect that cut or manufactured nails
were not used until a comparatively
recent date; hence he will find in some
of tie oldest houses now standing all
Gle interior work fastened either by
wooden pegs or wrought nails Out
uDon the remote confines OF the kitchen
garden or orchard was the cotton patch /;
and, strange as it may appear, this
feature of the establishment has not yet
entirely disappeared. The aocient and
YES less weaving beam and whirring
sDinning wheel would have been silent
without the patch OF cotton. 1t formed
The necessary wool to the coarse but
com orlable domestic manufactured cloth
which often covered every human being
On their old plantations. Many times
even the rich proprietors, disappointed in
TIE expected arrival OF the vessel, which
was to bring their supplies of linens and
yelveis and taffetas, they were therefore
forced 10 don the cloth made by their
slaves
We have referred shove to the stables
for the race-horses, and the track upon
which they ran. At this day crops OF