The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
A Southern Woman.

A Southern woman.
We print to-day South Carolina ladys
story of her experiences as rice planter
on her own account, as the actual
manager Of two large plantations in that
State. 1t is story which is all the more
Interesting and instructive because 1t Is
told in a manner Of charming simplicity
aid without a trace Of self-consciousness
or self-assertion. Independently OF the
information it conveys it has attraction
for every reader by reason OF that man
ner and as a revelation OF a feminine
chai 'acter in which are manifested tender
susceptibility and womanly sympathy no
less than rugged courage in assuming an
arduous task and persistency in over
coming heavy practical obstacles.
Mrs. PENNINGTON is OF the type OF
Southern womanhood which reflected so
great honor on that part Of this country
during the period Of slavery and may be
said to have been a generation peculiar
to the social system at the base OF
which slavery lay. The executive and
administrative experience acquired by
Southern ladies' at the head Of house,
holds on the great plantations gave them
a distinction among American ladies
which since the overthrow Of slavery
has been demonstrated by many Of them
in the practical management Of large
estates like that presided over by Mrs.
PENNINGTON and in other fields OF enter
prise usually believed to be beyond the
sphere Of feminine ability. The mis-
tress Of a plantation. with many negro
slaves, umally 80 far removed from
considerable social centres that In its
superintendenoe Individual resource was
taxed to the utmost, was loaded with q
multiplicity Of practical details and duties
of administration, and In the discharge Of
these she recei we'd an education as an ex-
ecutive officer which distinguished her
among her American sisters.
Accordingly, when the Civil War. with
its incident tf negro emancipation, left
the South impoverished and its social
system uptulned. some Of the most
efficient and most important agents in
developing the new prosperity now %
WCiO bcd1tOhh WV
had passed through that severe school Of
training, had bean reared under its infiu-
enoes or been moulded by Its traditions
-resourceful, courageous, well-poised
women, accustomed to command. tactful
and self-reliant, yet at the same time en-
dowed with the gentlest feminine graces
and tho most engaging feminine qualities
of character ard disposition.
The readinets with which Mrs. PEN
NINoToN assumed the heavy practical
responsibilities, the risks, the vexations
and the cares involved In her rioe-plant-
ing ventures, and the sagacity. practical
skill and indoinitable persistence with
which she has pursued them, are not less
impressive thai, the beautiful spirit Of
womanly humanity and religious devo-
ton to duty which is exhibited 30 un-
consciously. 50 spontaneously. In her
simple narrative. No trace Of resent
ment against the negroes from whose
shortcomings she has suffered % grew
ously appears in the story. The feeling
she manifests u rather sympathetic in
it's tender consideration OF moral defects
apparently inseparable from their inheri-
lance as a race aud from the conditions
produced by the sudden revolution in
their relations to those employing them.
1t is to such spirit as Mrs. PENNrNGToNs
that the welfare OF the negro race at the
South can best be trusted.
Mrs. PENNINGTON closes her story with
the expression Of fear that this il a
dull letter.; but she may be sure that
every one of the thousands Of people
who will read her story will find in it a
human document of touching interest,
and will see in il revelation Of char
acter in which are illustrated the best
and highest virtues and graces Of
vomanhood,