The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-25
AN OLD THE SCENE.
Slavery as 1t Existed In the South Fifty
Years Ago.

One of the most interesting exhibits
that will be presented from any portion
of the entire world, at the Columbian ex'
position, at Chicago, so says the presi'
dent, Mr.. Higgenbotham, will be from
the South.
We all should feel proud of this grand
presentation, as it was created and will
be fully ard truthfully presented by one
of our best known citizens and neighbors,
Major T. q. Blacknall, man we'll and
thoroughly qualified to create, present
and thoroughly carry through such a
taking enterprise, the character of which
is historical, educational and national; /;
and we dare say there will be nothing
presented to the people from any portion
of the world, that will create so much
thoughtful investigation as it is directly
connected with the past history of our
Southern homes, also of the entire United
States and Africa. The subject is "Afri.
can Slavery as it Existed Fifty Yearu
Ago"
Major Blacknall in talking about the
enterprise yesterday said:
SIN the great change of events that
has teen enacted upon the stage of the
new world since its discovery by Colum.
bus, there is no single ling more inter-
esting, important and instructive than
that associated with the institution of
African slavery, from its inception to its
destruction.
"The importation of the uncivilized
African from the jungles of his native
wild, of the Dark Continent, and the
various stages OF his existence in his new
home as he progresses under the dispen-
sation of divine providence from the
benighted condition of q barbarious say.
age, to that of free, civilized Christian-
lied American citizen are all of profound
interest.
"As q historical, national and educa-
tional feature, in the great calendar of
the worlds history the subject in rela-
tion to the past. the present and the
future, is of universal and paramount
interest. Viewed from the standpoint
of great results. no grander achievement
has this country accomplished than that
of civilizing, and restoring to liberty
these strange people.
"It is proposed to present to- this civil
lied world at the great Columbian expo
sition at Chicago in 1893, representa-
tion in vivid reality of ell the various
phases of African slavery from the be
ginning to end, embracing scenes of
overwhelming interest, as true to nature
as nature is to itself, and that will Incl
dentalIy convey to the mind an object
lesson of what, through the instrumen-
talities of divine providence, has been
done for the African race.
s'In presenting this important link in
the chain of historical events at the great
exposition, nothing will be done or said
calculated in any way to wound the feel
iugs of single visitor from any point of
the civilized world, our sole object being
to supply link, without which the great
chain of events connected with American
history would be incomplete.
1--WE propose to display at the Worlds
Fair complete ante bellum Southern
slave plantation, not on canvas, but in
living reality, consisting of the mansion,
ginhouse, cotton press, negro cabins, in
fact, every house and every equipment
that constituted the make up of we'll
regulated Southern slave plantation 6fty
years ago, together with its quote Of
negroes-about 100. The entire plsnta-
tion will be enclosed and concealed from
view from the outside by wire netting
fence ten feet high, closely covered with
green palmettoes from South Carolina.
The gate posts at the entrance and exit
will consist of palmetto trees twenty feet
high, transplanted and growing as in
their native cline. Upon entering the
first gate of the enclosure, there will meet
your view genuine African settlement
of men, women and children, removed
from Guinea, the native land of the first
slaves imported to America, showing
huts, mode of living, their working i'm
plements; and everything of interest
pertaining to their barbarous existence
will be brought over with them, demon
etratings their beuighted condition even
in this enlightened era of the world.
Passing to tae next scene in order, the
visitor will behold an ideal Southern
slave plantation with all it's concomitants
and appliances in complete working
order, as will be hereinafter explained.
After witnessing true and faithful ex-
hibition of this stage of slavery as it ex
listed for more than two hundred years,
you will, az you pass out of the second
gate of the enclo1ure, observe beautiful
modern cottage with all the comforts and
conveuiences Of Southern life, owned and
occupied by negro family, we'll edu
cated, cultured aud happy, and exhibit
ing high civilized tastes and habits of
life, who will receive you with as much
dignity and pol.teness as could be ex
hibited by the most cultured white peo-
pie, thus demonstrating the wonderful
vicissitudes through which, in the ap-
pointment of divine providence, these
people have passed in the course of their
progress of two hundred years from sava.
gerry to enlightenment, and what this
great and glorious country has done for
the African race.
There will be 70 exhibit that will
compare with this great link in the chain
of American history, which will COM
mand the attention of all the multitudes
who will thropp to the Worlds Fair