IN OLE VIRGINIA, a collection of negro dialect stories published by Thomas Nelson Page in 1887, is a revelation of the life of the ante-bellum South as it was found in the best homes of Virginia. It is not the whole truth with regard to slavery, but it suggests the social atmosphere of the somewhat feudal state of society as it existed among the better classes of Virginia. The medium through which this social life is revealed is the old-time negro as he looks somewhat wistfully back to the good old times when the relations between the races were kindly and gentle. Through the mists of the years he recalls in picturesque words the South ern colonel; the younger, more light-hearted young men, who threw themselves almost reck lessly into the festivities and duelling of that era, and later became the most dashing and in domitable soldiers of modern times; the various of Southern girls — the light-hearted, ten der Polly, or Miss Charlotte ecomin' down de grand stairway, lookin' like she done come right cloAn from de top of de blue sky and bring a piece of it wid her,' or Meh Lady in her bridal dress, ewhite as snow from her head to way back down on de flop behine her, and her veil done fall roun' her like white mist, and some roses in her hair.' These types, all
presided over by the dignified matron of the plantation — the gentle, classic, serious mother —are seen participating, in fox-hunts, tourna ments, weddings, harvest festivals, and above all the Christmas celebrations that have made Virginia social life famous throughout the world. Always in the background is the stately colonial mansion with its polished halls, grand stairways and noble porticoes. In eUtic Edin burgh Drownin'e we hear the infectious music of the banjos, the laughter of the dancers, the festive noise and merriment of the cabin and the mansion. In some of the stories, notably in eMarse Chan,* we see the breaking up of the old order and the tragedy of the Civil War.