The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-05
tBy CATHERINE ALRERTSON.)

ii'c, sumo I'VE or SIX miles from
Elizabeth City. there stood until :
Few years before the outbreak OF the
Civil War an old colonial mansion
knoNn as 'Elmwocd." the home for
many years Of the historic Swami
family. who We're among the earliest
settlers in our state. and played :
prominent part in the colonial his
tory OF North Carolina.
Mrs, J. u. Overman, of Elizabeth
City. whose father. the late Or. VIM
Pool. of ~Pasquotank county, spent his
boyhood days at Elmwood, then the
nom" OF his father, has gwen h
writer = description of his historic
house, as learned from her father
The house was situated on the right
hand bank Of the river, and was set
some distance back from the road.
IT was built Of brick brought from
England, and was a large, handsome
building, for those days. As | recall
my fathers description OF il, the
house was two stories high: a
spacious hall ran the full length of the
house, both up stairs and down, and
IN both the upper and lower story,
there We're two large rooms in each
side OF the hall. \ broad, massive
stairway led from the lower half TO
the one above. The house stood high
from the ground, the porch was small
for the size Of the building and the
WIZ = III HdItoN. itt
ceilings Of the rooms on the first
noor had heavy. carved beams of ce-
dar that ran the length Of the house.
On the lett Of the house as you ap-
preached from the river road,
stretched a dense woods, Astounding in
deer. and in those days these animals
would venture near the homes of
men. and feed III the fields"
} The great planters in those early
GAYS IN North (4rnliro %Ia;~
working hours looking after the af-
: iafrs OF their estates, settling the dis
! puteS OF their tenants, and attending
with their fellow-landed
, the sessions OF the General Assembly,
: ana OF the courts. Their pleasures
: We're much the same as those of their
.. klnsmen across the sea in merry Eng
. land. foX-hunting, feasting and dane
= 1ng. Though to these amusements OF
the Old country We're added the more
: exciting deer chase: the far more
: dangerous pastime of a Dear hunt
0 when bruins presence near the home.
stead became too evident for comfort
t and often the wild screams Of tn
herce American panther would cal
he planters forth into the dark for
ests at their doors. and then it mus
be 2 hunt to the death, for until tina
cry vas stilled, every house within
shadows of the forest was danger
AoA &AAS ASA4N w AAC II
in the ancient counties Of Pasquotank
C~urrituck. Perquimans and Chowan
was noted for the hospital
ity Of its earliest owners, the Swans
and the long list OF prominent familie
who afterwards lived within its walls
kept alive the old traditions OF hospi
tality.
On many a clear. crisp autumn da,
the lawn in front OF the mansion
would be filled with gentry on horse
back. dressed after the fashion o
their "neighbors" across the sea II
hunting coats Of pink, ready for
hunt after the cosey fox. III maste
would give the signal for the cage
creatures to be Embossed. the bugl
would sound, n the cry "of an
away echo over the fields, and tn
chase would be on. A pretty rul
would reynard give his p%ursuers, an
often the shades Of evening woul
q, be falling. ere the hunters would re
turn to Elmwood. a tired. bedraggle'
but hungry group. Then at the hos
{. pftable board the days adventure
would be related. n after the din
ner 4 merry dance would close tn
day.
At Christmas. invitations would .
~ issued to the families Of the gentr
in the nearest counties. to attend
great a at Elmwood. The old hous
would be filled from garnet to ce.iol
and the h~ospitable homes Of nearb
friends would pen to take in tn
o. overflow of guests. Danes and maid
"a ems coy. clad in the quaint and pc
ia turesque colonial costume with pow
.n dered hair and patches. In rlchi
10 brocaded gowns and satin slipper
A made stately courtesy to gay dandlt
and iovial squires arrayed in coats {
,st many colors, broidered vests kne
m breeches and silken hose. brilllar
he buckles at knee n on slippers. the
so long hair worn ringleted and curle
. or ,ied in cues. In stately measu.
:" the graceful minuet would open II
ball. Then the gayer music stralI
r. Of the old Virginia Reel would eau:
.r. even the much dignitied dame {
sober squire to relax: n JOIN
laughter and merry-making the hou
would speed, till the sudden palir
IF the stars and a flush in the ca