The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-07
OLD PLANTATION WAYS.
Young Miss and Ole Mis-. of the Coco
Old Times.

Miss" and "Ole Mssus' constituted
beautiful types of southern woman
hood. so strong and picturesque that
both have formed prolific themes for
the poets pen or the artists brush. 1t
was Young Miss" to whom the darkies
went in all their troubles with 'Massa"
or de oberseer;" Young Miss" who
begged them out of their scrapes and
often well-merited punishment; who
slipped cakes and other goodies" out
of the cooks pantry for the little pick
aninnies; who planned all their frolics
and picnics, and helped to play chief
conductor at all the plantation we'd
dings. dressing the bride and cutting
the cake, and it was she who pinned the
tiny wisp of crepe above the cabin door
and fashioned the little white shroud as
she piIlowed ''Mammy's" head upon her
bosom and whispered words of hope
and comfort.
In fine, young Miss" was the idol of
the plantation quarters. while "Ole
Miss'-ah, me; she was something of
superior being, who lowered between
earth and heaven. acting the part of
guardian angel to their wants in health,
making the fragrant "tisanes" for them
in sickness, watching over moral and
temporal welfare, purchasing the great
supplies of summer and winter clothing
and bedding. attending to the sewing
and distribution, and of a Sabbath
morning gathering them all up into the
hall in the great house to read to them
chapters of the Bible or teach the pick
aninnies their catechism; these were
only few of the thousand and one
ways in which, by gentle thoughtful
ness and care, Young Miss" and "Ole
Miss" unwittingly won the position in
American literature of which even the
severest critics of ante-bellum southern
history cannot rob her.
The old days are gone forever, and
the note of modern progress has long
since sounded from the old plantation
bell. But ever and anon, in the busy
rush of events, one catches a glimpse
of the old days, and life revives in some
gracious chatelaipe, who unconsciously
reproduces the unforgotten types of
Young Miss" and "Ole Miss of the ro-
mantle old days.
These lines were suggested by the
Iuiet thoughtful work of two gentle
listers. Misses Florence and Helen
0ymond, at Belair plantation. and the
BEAUTIFUL earnest work of Mrs. William
!. Behan in her old plantation home
Alhambra. Belair, as every one knows
one of the finest sugar plantations
IN the lower coast, and hundreds of
lands are employed by the company,
If which Mr.. John Dymond is the prin-
,ipal stakeholder; Gen. Behan's planta-
ton stands for itself among the sugar
producing acres of Louisiana.
To supply the wants of two such
mammoth establishments requires
force. energy and executive ability 1t
transpires that ever since Miss Helen
Dymond matriculated from Newcomb
college she has kept all the books of Be
lair plantation for her father, and in
other ways assisted him by her good
judgment and sound advice. Both She
and Miss Florence illustrate in their
daily life in this old mansion on the MIS-
sissippi the beautiful qualities which
Young Miss" in the olden DAYS has
woven into song and story.
Within the beautiful shades of AL
hambra plantation Mrs. William j.
Behan is the Lady Bountiful to the sick.
suffering and sorrowing for miles
around. She is the typical chatelaine
OF the old days, and personally superin-
tends the purchasing and making up of
immense supplies of cotton goods and
WOODEN material needed by the planta-
ton hands for daily wear; she herself
comes to town burdened down with
commissions and selects the warm
jeans pants and overcoats, shoes and
mats for the plantation hands and their
families, not to speak of the number
less little fripperies with which the
younger generation of women charge
her when coming to the city for sup
plies.
She is the refuge for the distressed
old mammies. who mourn the old days;
the soiace of the present generation of
women, when they have trouble with
their old men," the chief physician in
all minor illness. and the comforter in
those sad hours that must come to all.
whether In palace or hovel. In all her
work she is readily assisted by her fair
young daughter, Miss Katherine Be-
han; both mother and daughter are
very fond of the old plantation life and
their goodness and gentleness of heart
have won the love of all the darkies.
who know that they have only to go for
comfort and help to Young Miss" or
"Ole Miss" in sickness and distress. and
both are given from the charity that
comes from the heart. And what is true