The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-20


comprised thousand acres of cultivat-
ed and forest land, surrounded by much
that had not been cultivated since the
Civil war, and made an ideal place for
enjoying field sports, and game was
most abundant.
| The negroes were the real old-timers,
many of them having lived all their
lives on that or neighboring planta-
lions, as had their ancestors before
them, proudly bearing the names OF
many f. F. vs. My advent had neces-
STATED preparations that had put the
darkies on notice, and they had ques-
toned little, surmised much, and fin
ally concluded thus: my Lady's young
man is comm from the city to visit us
all No one visits exclusively the fam
lily in the big house, on plantation
where the old-time darkies are found,
and he comes to grief who attempts it.
weighed and found wanting is the
verdict returned by the loyal attaches
against the visitor who, like the frog,
'a-wooing goes" laboring under the de-
fusion that his suit is won or lost in the
parlor, and needs only to be pressed
there. Every darby on the place that
could be spared from his or her work
was peeping around one side or the
other of the house when the carriage
that had been sent to meet me at the
station drove UP to the front gate.
They made no effort at concealment,
but simply went through what they con
slider the proper form on such occa-
sions, standing far enough out to see
well, while pretending to make an effort
to hide behind the angles Of the porch,
corners of the bay windows or con-
venient shrubbery
Southern born and knowing my au-
dience, stiffened up like drum major
and strobe up the walk with as near
the air of "conquering hero" as I
could command; feeling sorry that my
silk hat was not on my head, where 1T
would have made me almost as assured
success, instead of in my hatboX.
Uncle Ben, the driver of the carriage,
came in for almost as much attention
as myself, as he struggled along in the
rear with heavy load, composed of
my baggage, gun and shell boxes; his
profound dignity an exaggeration Of
my own. To have shown by word or
sign any knowledge Of the fact that the
crowd of servants were watching, and |
ouoipiy SilliSioihG liC NOdiu IoNC peSh |
in their opinion--a serious breach of |
etiquette, and would have resulted in |
grave doubts Of my being real quail |
ity." So, with bold but discreet looks |
to the right and left, I mounted the !
broad front steps, struck the old fash |
toned knocker, and tut ned to dismiss
Uncle Ben, who had followed and |
placed my baggage on the porch. The |
old fashioned coachman does not enter |
the house where there are house SER |
wants, but stops at the entrance, If. in
deed, he leaves his team at all, which |
he only does with those to whom he |
wishes to pay marked attention.
AS he backed down the steps bowling |
his thanks, and showing by unmistak-
able signs that my genuineness was
firmly established in his mind, the door
opened and my fair hostess welcomed |
me to THE Elms."
Within twenty-four hours of my ar
rival l was acquainted with all of the
'boys" and girls" and "unces" and
"aunties" as there are there classified,
on the place; all of the male darkies
being boys until they reach the stage
Of uncle, and all Of tile female girls I'M
til age and dignity put them in the
class of aunties.
All Of the field hands learned my
name at once and never failed to show
their worries to the remotest molar as
they bowed and pulled at their old hats
when we met. The oracle of the big
house on the plantation is the cook.
She moulds and forms the opinions of
the other servants, and influences in a
greater or lessed degree that Of the
family she serves.
She is nearly always an "aunty," and :
is aggressive, bigoted, Incorporating,
kind, faithful and efficient. A dear old
alternately beloved and fear
ed by the entire household / knew her
well, and respected her accordingly,
and always sought an opportunity to
propitiate her as soon as possible after
my arrival at the various hospitable
southern homes it had been my happy
lot to visit--From Forest and Stream.
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