Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-08-12

WAS LIGHTED WITH A PAIR OF TALL.
WAX CANDLES.
than incomprehensible; they were
staggering ! tried to think about
the astounding story that Mr.. Dorion
had told me, after 1 had hidden
him good night, and had been lighted
with pair of tall wax tapers up
broad stairway to large,
square bed-chamber, where = great
high-posted, canopied and curtained
bel awaited me. / say tried to think
of it; but could make nothing of it;
! speedily gave it up, and lapsed away
into slumber.
Bodily and mentally, 1 was tired,
and | slept late. was aroused by
prolonged knocking at my chamber
door, through which ran a continual /
current of negro-talk-
please, young NAUSEA, would you !
get up an come down to breakfast? |
NAUSEA Dorion say, wake yo' up easy; |
an yo' pass out yo' boots to be shined."
When, an hour later, was seated at |
the planters hospitable table, it !
seemed as though had been at home
here for year. Mr.. Dorion, clad In n
loose linen suit, his wife and three
daughters, all pleasant, COOL and at
least one of them handsome, enter
tanned me with easy and agreeable
conversation 1t warns my heart
now to think of this, my first agree
able introduction TO southern hospital
ity. AS for the feast that was spread
on that board despair of conveying
an adequate idea of it's profusion.
! was the stranger within their gates:''
was therefore entitled 70 all that
| -. Ao(
: milk, bacon, eggs, white and corn
bread, fish from the river, hominy-
where shall stop? had an appetite;
, but it soon surrendered before the
) great supply that loaded the table
3 After breakfast. Mr.. Dorion took me
= out on the shady west veranda. and
$ smoked. l declined the weed. and he
y good-humoredly said:
You'll have to learn, youpgster, If
i you're going TO stay in the south. Like
the morning cocktail, tobacco is a
n social force here. And you've been
n here at my plantation fourteen hours
and haven't said a word about politics
\ or slavery. am beginning to doubt
!, whether you are northern born or not. "
= saw that he was bantering me, but
:. replied seriously:
II have never voted yet, and know
, nothing about politics. AS to slavery,
hope to get some information about
it. have very little yet"
:, He clapped me heartily on the shoul-
- der.
N You talk like a sensible young fell
~ low | wish all this noise in congress
- and in the press could stop, and that
- the northerners could come down here
- and see what slavery is like. Come
along with me, and I'll show you q
little of it,"
We went back to the negro quarters
:. a small street of comfortable white
- cabins. AS we passed through, the
% darkies ran out to see "Ole NAUSEA.
,f The young children. with hardly al
:, apology of cotton clothing to hid,
3. their blaclzness, laughed and chatteC
ls round him Withered old crones anC
" rheumatic ''uncles" hobbled to tn,
-, doors to see him. Lusty young negroe
=. and negresses gathered about him
IL eagerly discussing the prospects of ''th'
~ crop"
Here they are" said Mr. Dorion
iie Something more than hundred o
ay them. You see their disposition. Al
no that are able to work are aching t
get into the cotton field to save d
ed crop"
be- Would you sell one of these slaves?
''Seu one of them? BE? Why, l.
ad- as soon think of selling one of my ow
APP girls"
"Do all planters feel that way?"
-ou II can't say; likely not know {
APP many who de-"
l us it not true that at the slav,
ng. marts in New Orleans and Charlesto
young girls are sold on the auction
'es- block, and that mothers are separate
lad from young children"
are Mr.. Dorion answered with SON
ON warmth:
ich "You said you didn't know anythin
ned about slavery. my boy; your question
show me that you have read gre'
all deal about it. I suppose the thing
that you speak of do exist; / don
,wn know; they are just rs strange to n
as though my life had been passed
n Siberia. Here is my south-right hel
mas among these people who raise ba
one of cotton to the acre, and care for the
ne niggers as no white man at the nor
no could be eoaxed or driven to DO. I'VE
anu here we are, at the edge of the colt
ING fields. ] AXE look thereP'
looked, and saw the sight that
IN had already seen dozen times at
me distance on my way down the riv
hao Hundreds of acres bursting into
20 snowy bloom of the cotton; min
- snoyystorm, with the contrast of de
green foliage all about it, and an
ana, skies and unclouded sun above
csr~ e..