The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-10-01
A GLIMPSE AT SOUTHERN
LIFE BEFORE THE WAR
The Confidence Placed in the Body Servant Paper Of
Historic Value to Older Readers.

CThe following extract is from Miss
Sarah L. Jones Life in the South
From the Commencement Of the
War" which was published in Lon
don in 1863. The author was an En-
glish school teacher, who came to the
United States in 1859, and found her
self professionally engaged in the
southern states at the outbreak OF
hostilities. In 1861 she was engaged
by Governor John Milton of Florida
as tutor to his children, and the for
lowing extract relates some of her
observations and impressions in his
family. 1t will be noted that some of
her criticisms are caustic and portray
rather too graphically perhaps the
rude conditions then existing, but as
picture of. life in a prominent Flor
ida family these pages are not with
out certain historic value. The au-
thor expresses plainly her sympathy
with the southern cause, and on going
north in 1862, was openly considered
rebel" and did not deny the accu-
sation.-Editor Florida Historical So
ciety Quarterly
Gas no one knew when l should ar
rive at Tallahassee, of course there
was no one to meet me at the end IF
the Journey, and / repaired, bag and
baggage, to the best hotel aid forth
with addressed a note to Governor
Milton, to apprise his eXceltency OF
my arrival. The capitol, 2 tidy-lool>-
ing frame building, with flights of
steps and portico, was just opposite
the hotel.
"A negro servant soon appeared, to
say that the governor would be over
in a few minutes which were passed
in as great a furry of wonderment as
when had watched over the side of
the boat ON the Rappahannock river
for the approach of the Stakeholder"
"a very carefully dressed gentle
man was not long in making his ap-
pearance. His manner was not par
ticularly cordial, and my courage van
ished like a spark. His words ware
few; he had "a great press of busl-
ness on hand He did not make any
inquiries about my journey, excepting
to say that he had received my letter
from Charleston, and thought, PEI
haps, that being there, / might have
been tempted to run the blockade and
leave the country. / heartily wished
l had done so; but replied that sucn a
step had not entered my mind, as
had promised to keep my engagement
with him. How little the people SEEM
ed to be in the habit of depending OH
promises!
In the absence of anything else to
talk about, he asked concerning my
requirements. Did l teach this, tina:
and the other? Could l play? glancing
at an odd sort of chattel in the room,
as if expecting me to perform on it
before even my gloves were off. |
had heard that his family was very
musical. Soon he arose to depart,
without mentioning his wife auj
daughters, until leaving the room,
when he said, Would 1 prefer to con-
tinue the journey Immediately, wait
till after dinner, or rest, and procesd
the next day?'
Continue the journey-what could
he mean? l looked the question,
when he replied:
my family is at my place in Jack
son county; 1 have not brought them
here, because the city is not so agree
able as the country, where they have
everything they require. In case Of
an expected attack at st. Marks they
are safer there. My wife. and daugl-
tiers are accustomed to be where they
have plenty to eat and drink from our
own plantation; and as it is now very
difficult to obtain provisions here, l
think you will all enjoy yourselves
better in the country
with such tedious Journeys of late,
the night-traveling, and excitement,
felt so much worn out, that / propOS-
ed to proceed the next morning, and
rest at Tallahassee until then. 1t was
now about noon; the governor said
he would come again before dinner to
conduct me to the dining room, AMI
would desire his servant to look n
and bring the carriage
TO drive me over the town.
Tallahassee is built on rather high
ground, and billy. There is not the
slightest appearance of city scarcely
even village, for the roads are very
wide, bordered with trees. and with
trees also along the center, in some
parts. A few adjoining stores are on
one street, with another or two scat
tered Lere and there. There are two
or three churches surrounded with |
trees, and some very pretty residenc-
es in gardens of trees. Groves Of |