The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-10-18
PR rTY SOUTHERN STORY
IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF
MRS. DOUsCHKA PICKENS DUGAS.

here from the south and is beng told by
Southern people; story of scene IN
South Carolina, which will possibly
ne, ne witnessed again in the south. a
tale OF slave devotion and Shareholders
appreciation which sounds almost like
fc n. and deserves place at least in
ne paper literature.
EAt Edgew00d, the ancestral home OF
Governor Pickens, South Carolina, there
lately died his daughter 'Douschka,' who
W as well known in the south at her
dea as was her illustrious father at the
cl # his career. He was celebrated
for wo things before the war, being
m lister to the court al st. Petersburg
and possessing the most beautiful wo-
man in the South as his wife. The
dan tier was known as the ''chi,d OF
tn 3eople." She was born in Russia,
and he Duchess of Olga and the Ouch
es Neya, whose names she bore, stood
as mothers to the little American.
Het aristocratc names were soon lost
81 of in the gay court circle, and TO
al he was "Douschka," the Russian
fo DAZZLING
e was several years old when her
fl sr was recalled, and on leaving the
Z ire she was the recipient of many
vaulble mementoes, but the one she
van d most was a miniature likeness of
the old Gar, framed in gold and hung
all nut her neck by the veteran Alexander
hi self. She brought to her beautiful
Sou hern home her Russian name, and
in e entire South there is possibly not
rson who has not heard Of DOuschka
p ems. She was friendly with all;
fl to enter any household and welcome
in all.
Before the close of the war Gen. Pick
ems died Learning his approaching
ia e he summoned all his slaves at mid
nj. It from their cottages and being lift
ed from his bed to the window around
W eli they were gathered, the dying
q yernor called upon them to stand by
Il 7 mistress and their ''ittle missy
d lschka,' no matter what the war
MI Int bring about, or what temptations
might cross their path to tempt them
aws V. He died as the moon rose and
tbe oldest and of his slaves were his pail
be 7rers. Since then not one of the men
whom he addressed thai night has left
Il service of his widow, and at the close
OF The civil strife, when negroes were
hastening to seek work in towns and
clues. the Pickens plantation almost
alone rem ned intact.
t is almost the only plantation where
l. orer is paid bonus in addition to his
salary according to the season or success
of the crop. This plan of giving to the
tiller his per centage Of the fruit of his
toll was instituted by DousCh "a at the
ase of eighteen. She WAS the pride
E igefeld county, and was renowned as
b tn a good woman and a good farmer.
II the fox race she always took the lead
and generally the fox, and some Of her
d ring ats gave her the title Of "Di
Vernon" In tie ball room she had her
fathers brillancy coupled with her
m others beauty and cOurtlY graceS, and
it was in the ballroom that she met the
man she married, Dr.. Dugas, of Angus
II. Ga. At her marriage she received a
silver tea service from the present Car
H. token of his fathers love for her. and
some of her handsorest wedding gifts
came from her mothers friends in
Russia.
She was buried from Edgewood and
her funeral services were without a
p1ralle in Southern history. AS related
by prominent South Carolina lady who
was an eve witness OF the services it was
a memorable scene Her pail bearers
we've the ex-slaves Of her father, some Of
'. HON had borne him to his CARVE over a
score of years ago. The spectacle was
striking in its antithises The coffin
was white velvet profusely covered
with white flowers, and around it iii the
palatial ball room of the homestead were
grouped the white haired negroes. The
scene was impressive enough itself, but
was almost startling in its solemnity when
Mrs. Pickens, the courtly, beautiful
mother, stepped To the head IF the casket
and facing her faithful servants address
Ell them:
Il have sent for you to do this honor
because" and here there was break 10
vCi.e, II wish to make a public ac-
acknowledgement of your faithtulness and
devotion, through all her sweet life, to
this, your yoI ng mistress. When your
master died Won will remember, he sent
for you and contided to your faithful
care and protection his wife and his lit
tie child. You have been faithful to
that trust In ali the dreadful times OF
riot and thieyInG you have stood by us
and projected us, and | thank you now
in the presence of all these friends fol
your loyalty and devotion. That sweet
young life is now over, and you VIII
carry from TINS room hef precious oo'y'
Her spirit is with God. lSNe is now an
angle in heaven, and | now ask you tC
continue your faithful devotion and pro
lection to your desolate mistress and to
these little children of you youn4
mistress whom she loved better than hel
life. -
II was a strange sight this little speech
and appeal of a mistress to her eX-slaves
at the casket of her daughter. The ex
slaves, weeping and awed, bore theil
young mistress to the family burying
ground and laid her by the side of hel