New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
OLD SOUTHERN HOMES.
WITH THEIR TRADITIONS AND AsSOClA-
TONS.

changes wrought by social and agrarian feNoiu-
ton since the War 1t is the best heritage "a
slavery times and Is treasured aliKe III INC
stately mansions which were built long aso anu
in the snowy and artistic residences Win VIM"
the architects Of the day have adorHeu INC
fourshing cities Of the New South perhaps J.
is in the Oldest houses that the choicest naVor Vi
refinement OF courtesy Is retained. I"a' -
natural for the splendor OF the appointments vi
the palaces built for the tobacco miiilohalfes anu
the merchant and railway princes encourages
ostentatious display and that lessons the o''''"
Of simplicity. The old-time hospitality was uh-
affected warm and gracious. 1t counted not us
own resources. 1t was not pulled up with
sense of It's own social Importance. IL opeheu
without pretension household to a stranger or
a visitor and by simplicity OF entertainment anu
absence OF restraint made him feel at nome as
soop az II. had crossed the threshold or taken
seat at the table. That Is stu the
feature OF Southern hospitality
Eronchman has said that the best-bred man
g., tho company is the one who makes the fewest
oorJa uncomfortable II Is the pleasantest
charm or an old-time Southern house that
visitor is at once put entirely at his ease ana
roleaeed from embarrassment and sense OF
s,rapqeness He is entertained without having
the uncomfortable feeling that either hoSI Ut
hostess Is making any EFFORT or 'dN''e any
trouble on his account. Introduced III the Va
iug-room he is unconscious at dinner Oh pe'"s "
new acquaintance There are no pauses j" O'
- ,ior and there are no artificial exped!ents
,or directing or shifting H. The visitor - prous".
auicLly into touch with everybody ana enao'eu
To forget that he Is not In his own mousse an"
among his lifelong friends. When ne leaves 'He
housa he may not be able TO remember inc
furnishings OF the drawlnS-ro0m or the ue'''i'
Of the table service but he carries away WI"
him A distinct impression OF warmth oi co"-
genial fellowship with those VINO hau peo"
strangers but are now frlends' INC "e"''
,orsos may have finer rooms. more elaborate
decorations and greater refinement Of socia'
etiouotte. but what are these in comparison with
a.. ,.,affac,ed simplicity and naturalness OF old
time courtesy
The old mansions in Richmond 'har'es'o"'
savannah Montgomery. Mobile ana Ne"-Oriea"S
have an air OF distinction about theW VIM" '"0
,o,ror architecture can never acquire. They were
huit bv men who desired 10 live IN comfort anu
- or,or,,in their friends in an open-handed way
I'm, who did not find II necessary to attract az
,sntion and 20 advertise their wealth and social
1T, Tho exteriors are still massive and
,a,ol, with their unbroken. rectangular SIDES
,,eir Dorlc columns and colonial porches' ana
On. intariors are unrvalled for comfort ana con-
vo,ience OF home llfe and social entertainment
with these fine models or CLASSIC sl'"P''O'' "
town and country. Il Is 70 be resre'leu t''' W.
nov, houses on fashionable driveways anu S.','''
aro not designed by architects content To 'o''o"
tho old lines The colonial architecture "as N.Y.
,.t.,,,, i,s effect upon the character ana tastes
- tho peop!e who lived in the houses. II 'aue''
,t,,, :, ho simple in their social Pleasures ID DC
Natural and unaffected in manner ana 10 aNoiu
.'.,.,.,,s disnlay OF wealth and dignity
There has been reversion 10 cooi'a' ms "
,.'.,t.r, houses. Perhaps there will be SIM
liar uovemen, in the direction oil pu'e' '"'''
na1 moro refined feeling in Southern towns.
n,.., ara many fine things to be said about
.,cse Southern houses but the choicest trou'e
nc, no reserved for the lovely old ladies' VINO
r, :, no found in most OF them. The young
- lies and the midde-aged wives and mothers
co., ,barning too with their sensitive, hiSh-
I'D faces and their soft. melodious voices; ou'
cha cld ladies' are exceptionally well preserved
IN figure and feature. and delightful in conVersa-'
,iou Nontaigne said OF Cceros De SehaC'ute'
",, gives one good appetite for growing ou :
arI the same impression Ia produceu pS inc
cheerful genial. yet calm and serious ta'K oi inc
host representatives OF the passing eehe'""o"
~ Southern women. They do not anect 70 DC
| voung vet have not lost their ahlnldUo" ="
-. ,or their interest IN life. They are en-
| pertaining. womany and bright as QUICK d.
| ,bor granddaughters to perceive good point
! In ! story and as fine IA choice Ola lace III INC
! thread and texture " their homely simplicity
! anil cheerfulness There are good PORTRAITS o.
! famous ancestors in some Of the old houSeS' out
| there are no better studies OF the Hs"'S anu
shades OF advancing age and OF the co"pe"S1-
tions attending increasing inhrmity III 'he even
! ir. Of life than are to be found In the 'h'r'''"H
/, old ladies Of the Caronas. Georgia ana le""eS-
| see
There are old planters throughout the cotton
| holt who appear TO less advantage IMAM tn'"
v.ives and mothers Advancing years nave
| f,und them overburdcned with dept ana WITHOUT
capacity for adjusting themselves 10 he" con-
| ditions and extricating themselves from hhahclAi
| embarrassment. These are the men VINO were
largo s,ave-owners before the war. and have
| continued To raise cotton under uhpIoH'aple 0oi'-
! ditons rather than part with a portion of their
| land or nut any ~ il 70 other uses. GA age mas
stolen upon them unawares. and they are sullen
| poevi4h and morose; yet they are not reauY ID
proGt by experience. nor 70 emancipate them'
| -. fro., traditions Because their fathers
aud prandfathers planted cotton, they consider
I, boneoth their dignity To do anything else ana
,hc merchants from motives Of self-interesi have
| encouraged them to persevere In iatal po!cy
These unfortunate old men are living on the
plantations where they were once rich ana sur
rounded with slaves. and where they hlish
again he prosperous II they would only consent
to become farmers instead Of planters But ina
is what they cannot do. They are con''"ceu ina
any occupation except accompanying VIII ue
grade them in the estimation OF their he'shoor'
by identifying them With negroes anu poor "i,'
trash. who have always been truck farmers
These forlorn and morose planters are the ex
cantion 10 the general rule of adaptability among
Southern men. At the close OF the war an easy