The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
SOME MEMOIRS OF HOME
 LIFE IN THE OLD SOUTH
By CAROLYN BRANDON ELLIOT In Three Parfs--Part Three
''The old order changeth, yielding to the

''The old order changeth, yielding to the
 new,
 And God fulfills himself in many ways. Lest one good custom should corrupt the
 world. -Tennyson.
 Every age brings with it it's own prob lems of evolution, and each successive period of history is but a fuller revelation of Divine purpose for the development of Amankind.
 There are dark ages, and lights of a renaissance revolutions and reforma- tions; and all the time the world grows better as 1t reaches out toward fuller comprehension of truth.
 A glimpse of its light shone upon America, when roundhead and cavalier sacrificed wornout tradition for the sake of a newly realized principle, as old as humanity.
 Twas only the beginning when that first faitering conception of liberty finally found expression.
 It meant centuries of doubt and conflict 10 revolutionize the thought of people. It meant sacrifice, and an ever increasing win to overcome. for it was through the giving of life itself that these United States came to be.
 Virginia at last grew weary of the self ishness of self, and with the spirit of New England which came over in the May flower, to gather with that of other col onies in which had developed the same ideals, she "declared the united colonies free and independent states
 With the waning of the 18th century the voice of prophecy was hushed, and the arms of the soldier were laid aside; for in the year 17ss Patrick Henry's spirit was forever freed, and Washington passed beyond the conflict of the battle field inta last long peace. The mission of the old century had been accomplished through the followers of the statesman and soldier. The victory was theirs, for the new century dawned with new thought when the Apostle of Demoo. racy'' was made president. So 1t hap pened that the powdered wig and the buckles, and the ostentatious ceremony were all packed away in. the garret with his excellency's august dignity, and the title of the Honorable Sir. There may have been descendants of the old planters who lived in the past, but as such are ever bound to be. they were useless, and had no part in the constructive work of the new.
 The traditions of the old regime had passed away forever, and the time-worn garments in the attic were only fit for those who, like little children, indulged in play life.
 Plain clothes were more becoming to a citizen whose watchword was democratic equality.
 Surely ole marse must have felt more kindly, and more like a human being. when his toilet was burdened with fewer accessories.
 And I think meh lady was glad to for get that the old hoopsSirts were accum- ulating dust, and the roses on the huge hat were wilting with age. So much more simple were the dainty short bodied gowns, the little poke bonnets. the long ~fingerless mirts, and the one rose worn at her throat. With the same grace, the old homes were rid of that over-abun- dance of luxury, and suggested more ele- gance and simplicity: while the landed estates diminished from thousands to hundreds Of acres.
 The classic old Arlington house, which was the brilliant scene of the marriage of Robert E. Lee and Mary Curtis. is 9 type of the most beautiful southern homes of the 18th century.
 Even today the music of low laughter seems to drift through those wide mem ory halls, warm glow seems to light the heaped up logs in the open fireplace, and all the gladness of Ole Billy's fiddle seems to thrill with the wild delight of the Virginia reel
 Again the old spinning wheel seems to