The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22
DoUsCHKA P1Cn EMS BURIAL.
A Pretty Romance of Post-slavery Time .
in south Carolina.


in South Carolina.
There is an interesting and a pretty
story that comes here from the South
and is being told by southern people;
story Of a scene in South Carolina, which
will possibly never be witnessed again In
the South: a tale Of slave devotion and
shareholders appreciation, which sounds
almost like fiction.
AT Lakewood, the ancestral home OF
Governor Pickens, of South Carolina,
there lately died his daughter. Douschka,
who was as well known in the South at
her death as was her illustrious father at
the close OF his career.
Before the close Of the war Governor
Pickens died Learning his approaching
fate he summoned all his slaves at mid
night from their cottages and, being
lifted from his bed TO the window around
which they were gathered, the dying gov
ernor called upon them TO stand by their
mistress and their Little Missy Dousch-
ka," no matter what the war might bring
about, or what temptations might cross
their paths to tempt them away He died
as the moon rose and the oldest Of his
slaves were his pailbearers. Since then
not one Of the men whom he addressed
that night has left the service Of his
widow, and at the close Of the civil strife,
when negroes were Fastening to seek
work In towns and cities, the Pickens
plantation almost alone remained iatact.
IL is almost the only plantation where
the laborer is paid a bonus in addition to
his wages, according 10 the season or sue
cess of the crop. The plan of giving to
the tiller his percentage Of the fruit of his
toll was instituted by Douschka at the age
Of IS.
She was buried from Edgewood, and her
funeral services were without a parallel
in southern history. AS related by a
prominent South Carolina lady, who was
an eyewitness of the services, II was a
memorable scene. Her pallbeares were
the ex-slaves Of her father, some Of whom
had borne him to his grave over a score
Of years ago.
The spectacle was striking in its an
tithesis. The coffin was white velvet, pro-
fusely covered with white flowers, and
around it in the palatial ball room OF the
homestead were grouped the white-haired
negroes. The scene was impressive
enough in Itself, but was almost startling
in its soemnity when Mrs Pickens, the
courtly, beautiful mother stepped 10 the
head Of the casket, and facing her faithful
servants, addressed them:
II have sent for you to do you this
honor because" and here there was a
break in the voice, 81 wish TO make pub
lie acknowledgment of your faithfulness
and devotion, through all her sweet life,
to this, your young mistress. When your
master died, you vii remember, he sent
for you and confided to your faithful care
and protection his wife and his little child.
You have been faithful to that trust.
"In all the dreadful times Of riot and
thieving you have stood by US and pro-
tected us and ] thank you now in the
presence Of all these friends for your 10y
atty and devotion. That sweet young
life is over, and you will carry from this
room her precious body. Her spirit is
with God. she is an angel in Heaven, and
! now SIX you to continue your faithful
with marked social MISUNDERSTANDING
mirtress md to IN )se little children Of
your young mistress, whom she loved
better than her life"
1t was a strange Sight this little speech
and appeal of a mistress to her ex-slaves
at the casket Of her daughter. The slaves.
weeping snd awed. bore their 'oung mis-
tress TO the family burial ground and laid
her by the side of her father. whom they
had buried thirty years before. The tomb
stone will bear the name by which she
was known, "Douschka." Mrs. Governor
Pickens Is the vice regent OF Mount Yer
non from South Carolina, and enthusi-
astic over the old home OF Washington
always at the meetings. and upon all Of
her visits to thic city has been received
devotion and protection to your desolate
ton Post