Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-03-25
Playing
Hero
A Story OF q Virginia Manor House
Just Before Its Ruin
BY WORTH WOODBURY.
Copyright by American Press Assoc !.
citation. 1911.

I
Os-s-s-s-s-.-s-
There has never been and never will
be again any such life as existed on
the southern plantation up to the Pc
Rod when the system Of slavery ceas-
ed TO exist. In many respects II was
an ideal life. Its pleasanter features
were more pronounced In Virginia than
In any other state. 1t having been
by the cavaliers of England. Two
hundred years later their descendants
formed a unique people. The planta-
ton was patriarchal institution. The
planter stood In the place of the pa.
triarch. his children constituted the
next grade, the negro house servants
the next. and lastly came the field
hands
The children of the planter were ed
ucated In accordance with the some
what lofty ideas of their English an
cestors who lost their cause at Naseby
some two centuries before. The young
men lived an out OF door life and
mems duties consisted largely In visit
ing the negroes on the plantation and
ministering to their wants. There
was no actual work done except by the
negroes. and they were not overwork-
ed. The plantation supported every
one on 1T and was administered usual
ly with Justice TO all.
saw the end of this system not as
a part OF II. but as a participation In
the military struggle by which II fell.
The plantation on which the incidents
narrated in this story occurred Is now
divided info thirty parts. Even the
beautiful grounds in which the manor
house stood and still stands. slowly
rotting away. are covered with potato
vines. and the immense trees that
shaded the roof from the hot southern
sun have been cut down for firewood.
One afternoon II was in 1921 car
ried from battlefield TO this manor
house brother officer who had been
wounded. It was then as It always had
been, but was not to he in future
Two soldiers carried the wounded man
on n stretcher through an avenue OF
trees to the front veranda and set
down the stretcher. while stalked in
side A quadroon house servant re-
ceived me I asked for the owner of
the premises.
''what IL II. Clarice"
The voice came from person on the
second story and seemed to roll melo-
iiously down the great winding stair.
case. When first heard the opening
strains of annie Laurie" ! fell in love
with the song. and when I heard these
words. what is 1t, Clarice?" fell In
love with the unseen voice
81 have brought a young officer"
said. "from the fight going on over the
river He is badly wounded. Can you
not find II In your heart to take him
In? He would die If left on the field
As spoke girl of twenty. perhaps.
cume down the staircase Alas! she
was the last of long line of refined
danes who had passed up and down
that same staircase. built In England
hundred and Atty years before. Her
complexion was that olive white mixed
with vermilion which was often to be
found among these highborn women
of the south She cast quick glance
at the limp form. the pale face lying
on the stretcher. and her features were
TRANSPORTED TO express profound pity.
"This way" she said and. turning
opened a door that led 70 a chamber
on the ground floor. We followed.
ordered the men to set down the
stretcher and one of them assisted me
to lift the wounded man on to the bed
Then. telling the invalid that would
be back as soon as possible. ! left him
We were members of the same stan,
and I went at once to our general and
reported what ! had done. He directed
me to find a surgeon II possible and
take him with me to Kirkwood-my
wounded comrade--and remain with
him until he was out Of danger or
dead. | reminded the general that II
would not do TO ask q surgeon to go to
one from so many who needed him.
and he said he would send me one as
soon as he could be spared.
1t was week before we could
form any opinion as to Kirkwoods
recovery During that time my gen
erals headquarters were not far from
the Rutledge manor house where Kirk
wood lay. and ! was with the invalid
ROOQ uehf Oh Lue tliue MY pTeScuct
there was really unnecessary. for the
women Of the family-the men were
all lin the Confederate army could not
have taken better care of a son or a
brother Lillian Rutledge. who had
thrilled me with her voice before ! had
even seen her and afterward by her
personnel. was unconsciously leading
me TO fraudulently let the general be-
lieve that Kirkwood needed me. |
fear wished my friend might lie
there hanging between life and death
till the war was over. but unfortu-
nately for me the surgeon at last said
he could he moved. and was obliged
to move with him.
While he was there a medical dtrec
TOR looked at the house with view to
taking II for hospital. Miss Rut
ledge showed him through the rooms.
accompanying them. One room Miss
RrtledRe Mt first declined to open and
IN being pressed to do so told the
medical officer that II could not he
used. II required deal OF prodding to
induce her to tell why The reason
finally drawn from her was that the