The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-31
sarks an Epoch in Change from
Old South to the New.
AN HISTORIC PLANTATION
Its Roof Has Sheltered Distinguished
Visitors, and on its Blue Grass Have
Fed Kings and Queens of the
Turf-Priams and Knots.
,n.o,,, correspondence of The Times)

tpecial Correspondence OF Inc linesl
NASHVILLE. Tenn. August Swim
sster Of Belle Meade, the famous tho
Iouehbred racing farm. near Nashville,
from active life. one OF the last types OF
Tho old ante-bellum South goes from view.
General Jackson is still vigorous mentally
blu. his health one so robust, has gone
from him. and he will within few
weeks offer for sale every thoroughbred
stallion, brood mare and colt en- his place.
belle Meade is historic. Under its
spreading trees or in its spacious rooms
presidents. soldiers, philanrhropists and
men Of affairs have talked. and from
its fields and paddocks have CONC queens
and kings Of the American turf. Beneath
Its grass are inferred the bones Of the
sreat Iroquois, the only American horse
lhot ever won the English derby, and
on the running OF the get of its paddocks
hundreds Of thousands of spectators have
thrilled, and hundreds of thousands, prob
ably millions, OF dollars have been wa
Gcred-
TYPE OF TIE OLD SOUTH.
Belle Meade is one Of the few remain
ing types of the old time Southern plan
fation, and there are few left for the
energetic, pushing small farmer is rap
id,E c,nting them UP, with its great
house, its quarters, its old MarSter,
who is a man OF consequence in his com
munity, in the State and in the nation.
Fer years II has been ono OF the great
show places OF the South. and no visitor
cones 20 Nashville whether he be Prince
or Admiral, that he does not go to see
Its horses. Its deer parks. Its stately man
sion, its life within itself, servants and
masters, father and son, grandfather and
grandson living on its broad acres as
their forefathers have before them for
hundred years in peace and happiness
and quiet content
CLOSES AN EPOCH.
SO the dispersal of the Belle Meade
horses means more than that. 1t marks
the closing Of an epoch in Southern life.
The ways, the customs. the life of an
old ante-bellum plantation will be
wrested by the ever changing current
Of time to newer conditions. General
Jackson himself is a representative Of
the Southerner CT the old school, and with
the passing OF him and a few more of
his compeers scattered over the Southern
States none will be left save in song
and story.
Perhaps too easy life they led, four hours
af1eld, and ten abed.
The other time they talked and read, or
else made merry.
With some planter friend to dine. to
drink his health in fine old wine.
MADEIRA that twice had crossed the line,
and gold leaf sherry
But 1t was an age that bred men Gen.
eneral Harding is said to have regretted
deeply the decline in manners and Gus
toms which made it necessary to take
a mans note, or enter into a written
contract, 1t was the type that possessed
and chung to the old notions of honor,
personal courage. personal integrity, Sc
clusion and dignity which characterized
the old time Southern gentleman. Is It
thar f,f Ma CHI
Tenn, and the whole South feel that in
the sale of the Belle Meade horses a Pc
culiar Southern institution is passing
away forever.
CLEVELAND AND ROOSEVELT.
Here in the immediate post-bellum
days Confederate generals and leaders
were wont to come to talk of the battles
they had fought and Of the yet sterner
battles ahead OF thefn-those to be waged
for the upbuilding of the country that
had been laid waste. When President
Cleveland and his beautiful WIFE then a
bride. visited Nashville IN the fall Of 1856
st was at Belle Meade that he was domi-
ciled, and within its walls learned much
OF the life and the aspirations Of the
Southern people. NIr. Roosevelt long be-
fore he was President, was a guest at
the historic mansion. He and General
Jackson are great cronies. both hunters
of the Boone and Crockett Club re-
auisite for membership in which is that
one must have killed one of the three
biz game of A,nerica-the bear. the baf
falo or the elk. Years before Roosevelt
became a national figure General jackson
spoke Of him as a man of grit and prom
ise It is said Mr.. Cleveland often refers
to his stay at Belle Meade. short though
It was. He and Mrs Cleveland saw a
deer drive. and We're charmed with the
quietude and freedom Of the place and
the sincere and genuine hospitality Of
their guests.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
For 100 wears, lacking one, Belle Meade
has been in the same family, and has been
n stock farm. In 1903 John Harding, a de-
scendant of an old Tueuenot family, came
from Virginia. purchased some 1000 acres
on The banks Of Richland Creek. which
clear and sparkling stream waters Belle