The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-05

4
cash, way up in the thousands, is re
CURED to run plantation like this
for year, and everything about the
ovcrsccr's premises and the farm lots
bctokcn intelligent supervision. Te
drive from tho sunny opcnness and
activity Of the fields and laborers
quarters in under the oaks Of the old
family place is TO come face to face
with the past. There are acres OF
these great live oaks, originally planted
and trimmed at the will Of a master
gardener, who loved his task. And
the royal trees have kept their trust.
Not one has given way or grown rough
or scraggly. Their intcrlaced boughs
have made shade too impcrvious for
grass to grow in, SO the carefully
planned walks are as orderly and trim
to-day as their originator could wish.
The place is eloquent. The romance
and tenderness of generations Of fami-
ly happenings seem garncred there,
and time has flung soft veil over it
all, misty, gray filmed veil of the
trailing moss, and stolen off about
other business.
1t does not need the stone urns and
massive ornaments at the gate, the
marble steps and circling carriage
drive to tell that this was proud
place once and home that stood for
refinement as much as substantial
ness, and with care for the amuse-
ments as we'll. The billiard room a
stanch little building to itself, far
enough of from the dwelling to have
escaped the confagration, testifies to
this; also the big stables and dog
kennel, where pack of hounds was
kept, the ample accommodations for
the house servants, and everywhere
provision for a large hearted hospi-
tality.
Driving round on the further side
OF the grounds one comes upon the
quaint little church built for the
slaves to worship in and for the ladies
Of the family to hold their SUNDAY
School classes.
There are things to prove the degree
OF integrity that these landowners of
the old school managed to instill into
their working people. When the
wrench came after the civil war that
so materially altered the planters
fortune. Jehossee, along with many
other estates whose very vastness
crippled them, was left to the mercy
OF its blaok population. The fsuuily
had retired to their town house in
Charleston, and the islands tillage
was conducted by fits and starts.
The house on Jehossee was left just
as it was, the family plate, china,
paintings and housekeeping appoint
monts all in the several places where
they habitually stood. 1t had never
been the custom to lock up things in
that house. The house was not origi-
nally designed with any burglars de-
fences, and the widowed mistress
thought it not worth while to have
bolts and bars affixed, doubtless partly
because having lost 80 much she had
little heart to look after smaller mat
tors. Besides, moving things was ex-
pensive and nobody had spare money.
10 the praise Of those hundreds of
black folks be it recorded that moth
ing was touched or taken out Of the
house. Things to eat. now, might
have been tampered with, but certain
tru3ty souls formed volunteer guard
over "Old Miss's sings and had any
daring spirits elected to mako raid
they would have found difficulty.
The house was destroyed by an acoi-
dental 6re only year or two ago,
after thirty-6ve years disuse.
For several years after the emanci-
patton cdict no white person set foot
on Jehosseo save the administrator
who went occasionally to see after
affairs, and the few sportsmen who.
gained permission to take their autumn
or Christmas shooting there. They,
too, could walk in and out Of the un-
locked house and see the treasures.
They marked the state of things, the
trustworthiness Of those troops Of cx-
slaves and marvelled, and came away
and talked about it. The snortsmen,
with an eye to the picturesque, talked
about another thing-the wonder
full services and scenes enacted in the
old plantation church and the mourn.
fully beautiful singing &c &c heard
there. Services free from all oonvsn.
ton, conducted after an emotional
ritual improvised by the partioipa.
tors and punctuated by individual