The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-30
PLANTATION LIFE BEFORE THE
WAR.
BY DavisiOn H. Smith.

Southern plantation life before the war.
On the cotton plantations of Arkansas,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and
South Carolina, the tobacco planta-
tions of Virginia, Kentucky and Ten
nessee, or the sugar plantations of
Louisiana, was lived life that, what
ever its faults may have been, for pro-
digallty and careless ease has hardly
elsewhere had a parallel.
In Virginia, plantation life, if not so
luxuriant as farther south, showed
some of its most of its attractive
sides. The house of Virginia plan
ter often stood on a slight rise of
ground, shaded by great grove of
magnolia and pecan trees, and over
looking the broad acres of the planta-
ton, while pine forest or range of
green hills shut out the distant views.
| The house was rarely more than
two stories high, if that, and was re-
markable for Its wide verandas, high
ceilings, and large, airy rooms. 1t
often affected the Greek style of
architecture, having portico with tall
wooden columns, and was invariably
painted white, with green shutters.
The chimney, usually of great size, was
built outside the wall to avoid the
heat, and spacious hall ran from the
front door, which had massive brass
knocker on it, straight through the
centre of house to door at the back
opening out on plot of ground,
around which the house, stables and
numerous out buildings were grouped
in the shape of crescent.
! On the walls hung faded portraits of
English ancestors, and the furniture,
though scanty, was OF solid old fashion,
ed mahogany, while the beds were so
high that it was necessary to use
small stepladder to get into one. There
were few carpets, and the floor was
either covered with mating or the
planks left bare, for the Southern did
not pride himself so much on his house
as he did on his hospitality and abun-
dant good cheer.
| Few Southern houses had cellars
and consequently were built on high
supports to keep out the damp. This
made them look as though they were
on stills, unless, as was the case with
| the more elegant, t.4lre space under
meath was shut off by lattice work,
which was covered by all sorts of
creeping vines,-honeysuckle, wisteria,
clematls, jasamine ; while running roses
sometimes spread their beauty over the
entire side OF the house.
The negroes quarters were usually
log cabins, and around each was a
small patch of ground which the slave
| was allowed to cultivate for his own
use. When visitors came to stay at
the mansion they always made tour
of the quarters, and everywhere receiv-
ed respectful greeting from the slaves,
who greatly enjoyed having equality"
come to see them. This admiration
for gentility was universal among the
slaves. In one case | have that an old
negress belonging to my great grand
father made him promise that only
"quality'' should come to her funeral,
for which occasion she regularly saved
portion of the money given her. so
that she might be buried with the
splendor beftting such an aristocrat.
On a large plantation the quarters
were often a considerable distance
from the house, and every morning
the master would mount his horse ana
ride over to see his people, accompani-
ed by his overseer, with whom he
would arrange the work for the day.
If ever any disturbance arose in the
quarters the master would lay the mat
ter before some old uncle or auntie,
whom the negroes held in great res
pect, and order would soon be res.
tored.
The mistress also made her daily
rounds administering medicines and
delicacies to the sick, and attending to
countless details peculiar out with her
own hands the amount OF bacon, Indian
meal and other ratons which were al
lowed to each family. As the negroes
are very improvdent race these pro
visions would often be gone before
the week was over. But here the
negros genius for stealing stood HIM
in good stead, and he would always
manage to purloin enough from the
kitchen and chicken coop to subsist
on for the remainder of the week.
As may be imagined, the kitchen be-
fore meal times was scene of dread
full pandemonium. Some fat old Aunt
Chloe, the genius loci or head cook,
with her red turban and snow-white
apron. would be bustling here and
there among her numerous pots and
pans, now giving directions about some
important dish, now smartly rapping
the woolly head of some little plcka-
ninny for some act of carelessness,
now sending one on a message to the
house, for the kitchen was generally an
ou,building connected with the main
house by covered walk; or bestow-
ing with a benevolent smile a dainty
morseI on some of her relations who
swarmed everywhere and got into
everybody's way, till at last she would
lose patience, and, making frightful
gesture with her wooden spoon, would
say: "Hi now, yous chilluns, jes git
out o'heah," which command would
be promptly obeyed, for Aunt Chloe
was as much feared in her domain as
the Great Mogul himself.
But do not let US pass by the dear