Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-02-21
A GHOST OF A PLACE.
THE STORY or ASHLEY HALL AND
HosPlTABLE COLONEL BULL.

sT1SoriIA6IE COlONEl BULL.
How tho Planter Kept His Household
Goods From the Hands Of the .sRaijlers.n
Pictures of . Beautiful suburb That All
visitors to Chsrleston Admire.
Woodlands thick with underground; i
tranquil country stiffness, the stiffness
If a Bit Of country comparatively un.
titled and unpasturedj roadways lined
with tall and stately trees --suoh the
scene as The CHATTER OF horses hoofs echo.
ing on the hard flooring o. the river
bridge dies away into noiseless footballs
and the Wheels tnrn without sound in
the yielding soil Of ST. andrews. The
-fnurmured chorus Of countless pines
charms us into forgetfu1ness Of the city's
close proximity atfoss the river. Ahead
the way unfolds to US. broad and smooth.
winding between long battalions Of an
cient oaks, mufaed up to their chins in
gray; on through miles Of the century old
trees, their i1assivs trunks bound with
hbrous scarfs. rs If to veil the scars of
Successive seasons; every twig and
branch and spray hung with streaming
moss. Grand old oaksl A1tumnal
storms and April airs in turns have
tossed and kissed their rugged boughs,
yet the giant trunks stand firm. Scarce
q gap in the uniform line shows where
d erenadier has fallen out Of ranks, and,
elbow to elbow, they guard the ancient
highway from encrtachment Of forest or
| field.
Here IS an old gateway, the entrance
to the grounds Which once surrounded
Ashley Hall, one Of the proHdest and
most spacious of the ancestral homes in
this parish. We pass through the use.
| less massive portals into the driveway
beyond. IN the shaded light the avenue
seems dreaming Of the past, for these
great oaks stand guard over the wreck
Of all they were intended to adorn. OF
the stately home to which their beauty
formed q at approach nothing low re
mains but the crumbling marble steps
and tail, apitelike chimneys. Little
pickaninnies play hide aid seek where
once the flowers in my lady s garden
grew in trim luxuriance. Only the Ash
Icy is unchanged as it ripples by on its
way to the sea, it's waves as blue and
sparkling as when it bore many boat
Ing party FROM the mansion house.
Ashley Hall was the scene Of munifi
cent and lavish hospitality in antebel
lum days. It's owner possessed immense
plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana
| in addition to his Carolina estates, and
the great halls and spacious drawing
rooms of the st. Andrew s mansion We're
frequently thronged with gay com.
| pany Of the most distinguished people
of the state. The bost was passionately
| fond of the chase and delighted to as
semble about him those who shared in
his love Of sport. Deer hunts, partici
! pated in by famous sportsmen from all
over the south, were features Of every
season. The same open handed generos.
ity that dictated hospitality so marked
obtained between master and slave, and
the large retinue of servants at the hall
were Happy, care free set. It was ira
ditional that no one was ever sent away
| empty handed who applied for aid at
the doors Of this plantation home.
This old hall, in which seven genera.
tions of the same family had dwelt, liy
ing almost ideal lives, met with tragic
fate The organized struggle between
the north and south was at an end, but
the raiders" were in possession of this
country. They had already sacked and
destroyed every house In the parish,
with single exception, and that plan.
tation was occupied by an enemy more
dreaded even than demoralized soldiers
namely, smallpox. That frightened
even rough handed rapacity away, and
venerable Drayton Hall, today famous
for its wonderful gardens, was preserved
inviolate The knowledge of the fate
that had overtaken the homes Of his
neighbors, and which he felt that q few
hours more would precipitate upon his
own, determined Colonel Bull. Calling
for kindling wood, surrounded by his
awestricken servants. he himself applied
the pine torch to his household gods
!, Pictures, plate, antique furniture, val
ned heirlooms-all were sacrificed save
the small number which could be has
tily secreted by trusted slaves when they
learned of his intention. It is related by
an eyewitness that the stalwart planter
Tept tears of infinite sorrow as the
sounds Of falling brick and crumbline
woodwork smote upon his ears. Just
Jack of the house is an ancient monu
snent erected to commemorate one o.
Cardinals colonial governors, an ances
1or Of the doughty colonel 1t was OF
s the base Of this shaft that the master O
Il the manor sat and watched the destruc
tion of his home. 81. {
We retrace our way along the rank!
Of rare old trees, passing through th'
ancient gateway, fit subject for poet
theme, into the open road, where we ar
greeted by procession Of oaks as sym
metrical as those we left behind. Mile
Of moss fringed trees, their somber cur
tains swaying far above, and agai,
dropping so as almost to touch the eartl
about their feet, continue even to tn
cleared strip Of land Immediately il
front Of the bridge. Opposite lies tn
city, her cluster turrets and slende
spires outlined against the evening sky
Asked how we like the oaks. we sa
that they are beautiful, = but all til
while we are conscious that they have
charm Of their own not to be interprete
in words. ~ Cor. New York Post.
y A Great Landowner.
"A tourist was being driven over
part Of tho country in Ireland where h
Internal majesty appeared to have give
his name to oil the objects Of intere!
in the locality, for there was the De,
sIil's bridge, the DEVILS oaldron. tt
DEVILS glen. etc Said the traveller:
The devil seems to be the create!
landowner in these parts :
"Ah, sure. your honor. " replied Il
jarvey. "that is SO, but he lives in Enl
land. think he's what they call q
absentee landlord in Ireland "-Londc
,4entlewonlaa.
Women Can't Hold Once In Washingte
Judge McC Clinton Of thesuperior cor
of Clallam county has virtually decid