Day In Natchez, A (ca. 1940s)

[Music] I'd like to tell everyone about natch's Mississippi particularly about natches during the month of March when the city plays host to thousands of visitors during the annual pilgrimage now if I only had a little Southern bell here someone to talk to about these antibellum days would I do well uh who are you I'm Jean well won't you be seated thank you I was thinking of someone who knows Deo the burn elm's Court to those of us who've made the pilgrimage these are familiar names do you know them of course but you've mentioned only three of about 30 fine old mansions that hold open house during the rest of the year old natches families like the marshals the trimbles the statens and the Kelly lead their usual lives but during pilgrimage months the clock has turned back about 100 years to the time just before the war between the states ladies of the household their servants even the little children dress in the fashion of that bygone day that's right and the social activities which believe me are many repeat the pattern of an era when Hospitality was exceedingly lavish and the life of a Southern bell was tremendously gay and exciting it takes 3 days to see all of the homes mhm and do you know that in some cases the descendants of the original owners are there to display beautiful jewels of Art in their original settings they really convert an entire city into what amounts to a Living Museum I thought I knew about natches in the pilgrimage in our limited time let's take a look at a few of the highlights let's have a modern natches Bell and act a day in the life of what might have been her great great grandmother whom we'll call Nancy all right let's pretend it's 1861 Nancy's up early ordinarily she sleeps till noon but this is the morning of the hunt and she's excited trained to ride expertly she's planning to give her escort of Merry Chase in more ways than one 100 Strokes of the hairbrush m not one more and not one less and there's her escort waiting in the garden I suppose no popular southern Bell would dream of being ready on time men had to wait then as long as they do now well here she is and in the traditional hunting costume Mammy won't let her appear until she's SP and span but if her escort is impatient he hides it well those Charming manners Mark him as a typical young gentleman of nachas he's been educated on the continent and trained to manage the family Plantation and to carry on social tradition the setting of The Hunt breakfast is dunleath spacious home of the Carpenters the guests assemble and they toast their success that's a rousing hunt song and with glasses raised on high shall we propose a toast here's to the hunt May the bugle call ring clear and the Bing of the Hound spell disaster for Renard and while The Hunting Party pursues the fox let's visit some of the Magnificent old homes thrown open for the pilgrimage natches is is built on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi and from The Gallery at bontura we have one of the best views of the river Steven Foster Mark Twain and other noted people visited here in by gon days from the gallery fascinated Spectators once watched the nates and the Robert E le steam up the river in a race from New Orleans to St Louis now where Jean on to early built during the Spanish occupation more than 160 years ago it's owned by The Heirs Merl family yes one of the three sisters tells us that the rot iron fireplace fashioned in one piece was brought to Naes from Portugal when the house was built these medallions are unique heirlooms which have puzzled the most astute Authorities on China although the question of whether their Dresden me or some other wear has not yet been settled there's no question of their delicate loveliness certainly not I am told they were brought here about 1840 by the American ambassador to Belgium great grand grand father of the present occupants I'm intrigued by this chaperon sofa as functional as any of today's furniture on that uncomfortably low back drove away the unwelcome third party the extra seat could be used for chess or other games how we do get around now we're arriving at Cherokee family and friends are gathered in the drawing room of Mr and Mrs Charles J burn the mirror reflects the beauty of the French crystal chandelier unspoiled when it was wired for electricity children are a welcome part of every gathering at an early age they learn the social behavior which will be expected of them later Charming curtsy from a Southern bell not a day over four is already won us over each family cherishes the hope that its home and heirlooms may never pass out of the line of descent great sacrifices have been made in many cases in the Valiant effort to hold a beloved ancestral mansion and well worth the sacrifice let's take a quick look at a few of the other homes which hold open house the Briars beloved Shrine of the Confederacy where Jefferson Davis was married to Vina how Richmond home of the John Shelby Marshalls houses a piano which accompanied Jenny ly when she sang in aches glennfield relics found here are evidence of the successful struggle to prevent Union forces from invading matches Rena built in 1836 in the Bayou Country through which food was smuggled to the the Confederate Army Longwood never completed after workmen in 1861 suddenly exchanged tools for guns Glouster home of Mrs Lennox Stanton once occupied by the first governor of Mississippi Territory we must stop at beautiful Lyon where the ladies gathered in the dining room were discussing great grandmother Connor's tablecloth and also a desk made by slaves from fruit Woods on her Plantation what's that contract over the table a fan oh you're partly correct it's a punka the punka created a breeze and also kept the flies from joining the dinner guest these custard cups with tops are a French China more than a century old Mrs fonty our Hostess says that they have been dubed syub cups oh haven't you heard the family joke about them uh it seems that at a party one night a couple of the guests insisted upon too much seasoning in their cups and then had difficulty pronouncing their syllabubs I mean syllables as we make the pilgrimage we travel the historic natch's Trace which links many of the Mansions Trace I've discovered means beaten path and in this case it was a path beaten by the Hooves of the Buffalo following this course the Naches Chaka and Chickasaw Indian tribes developed a trail which stretched from Nashville to natches its miles have been traveled by Andrew Jackson John James ottoman Aaron Burr the Marquee de Lafayette Jefferson Davis Henry Clay and Maryweather Lewis today it is a winding sunken Road in places some 30 ft lower than its wooded Banks but soon we may travel a modern Parkway for the trace to is being restored stately montain is our next stop Romanesque columns and rod iron ballustrade survive the ravages of War although its ownership by a confederate general brought rough treatment troops stabled their horses in the drawing rooms and used a costly piano as a feed box it is now the home of the kendles baby Kendall Hobson represents the fourth generation of the family to live at Montaine among the works of art that escaped injury is a Queen Anne clock dating back to 1700 this beautiful antique shows the day of the month and the position of the Moon as well as the time of the day and the clock reminds us that much as we would like to ter at Montaine there are other places to be seen Twin Oaks peaceful slopes B the Indian battles fought here and its occupation by Union troops Arlington built in 1816 contains its original Furnishings as well as collections of paintings books and fine Glass Mount Repose occupied continuously since its construction in 1824 by descendants of the bisland family rosaly owned by the Mississippi Society of the D built in the shadow of of fort rosaly by Peter little whose bride filled the house with visiting ministers Mr little built the parsonage for the use of the clergy Deo built in 1840 you saw this mansion in the old silent movie heart of Maryland here we are at Scenic Green Leaves built before the War of 1812 it has been in the same family for more than 100 years the fifth generation now occupies it it's tea time and like goldilock you may have your tea from a big cup a medium-sized cup or a tiny wee cup all are found in the set of Chelsea China used by Mrs malier Bel Hoover sev's vases Adorn the mantle a European import the chandelier is a French bronze and Crystal at each end of twin parlor oval Gold Leaf mirrors reflect the handcarved French Rosewood furniture on display is a Priceless set of china believed painted by otan himself it boasts a different bird on each of the 225 pieces which remain of the original 300 since there was no kill in Mississippi the three sets otan painted were sent to France for firing well and who is this I believe it's Mrs Edwin J burn in her slightly outdated fetan doin finds himself an appropriate parking spot and Mrs burn Dismounts gingerly takes a bit of energy I'd say to climb those steps of Conley's Tavern on elet's hill in 1936 the Nach Garden Club bought this in restored it and made it into their headquarters a century and a half ago the trace was infested with Highwaymen Bandits that is who came riding riding up to the old IND door their signatures remain etched in the bullet scarred bar tradition has it that Aaron Burr blenard hasset and their accompli met here to hatch their scheme for setting up an independent Southwestern Nation a plot for which Burr was later tried for treason just below the tavern is the hill where the American flag was raised for the first time in the Lower Mississippi Valley well on to landown at lown built in 1852 we meet the owners Mr and Mrs George M Marshall III and his sister Mrs James holler Ward descendants of the original owner Mrs Marshall and her daughter will entertain guests as they might have when their house was new draperies cut in one piece and known as lamerens ADD distinction to the room the original wallpaper French hand block Zuber is still in use the matle is an imported White marble did you know that the bronze chandeliers were once supplied with Illuminating Gas from the private plant on this estate this was the first gas plant in Mississippi but dear as these possessions are and revered for their Antiquity the prize Treasure of the household is quite new Margaret Catherine just 5 months old is held here by her mother baby Margaret is wearing a dress made for her great great grandmother perhaps these are the children who will carry on the Proud possession of lown by the Marshall family the Rosewood bed is still equipped with a cord used to pull up mosquito netting as demonstrated here by Mrs Ward what about the foot of the bed the post at the foot can be raised to keep the netting from encumbering the feet of the sleeper what no mosquitoes today it looks as though we've caught up with our Southern Bells here they are at the Elms more than a century and a half old and now the home of the Joseph Kelloggs this curved rot iron stairway at one time LED from one gallery to another on the outside of the house it is believed to have been imported from Portugal but who can talk of architecture when Southern bells are in view with their bows they are about to leave for a formal dinner party at Hope Farm we wonder if any of these girls will find a romance as exciting as that of Nancy Thornhill who lived at the Elms during the war she married a handsome Union officer stationed there as a guard during hostilities Nancy and her friends are greeted at Hope Farm by their Hostess Mrs balfor Miller the largest part of this home built in 1775 anti dates all of the Naches houses one of its attractions is its provincial atmosphere highlighted by beautiful Crystal silver and China and the quiet Taste of its authentic Furnishings Mrs Miller founder of the natches pilgrimage is always ready to to discuss her beloved City both its past and its future in 1932 it was she who suggested a tour of anti bellam homes instead of gardens when state garden clubs convened in Naches her idea caught hold but it took a lot of persuasive talk before families agreed to open their homes for a full month to visitors from all over the nation through her leadership the entire city was induced to participate today the city's two Garden clubs jointly sponsor the pilgrimage strive to live up to their slogan Where the Old South still lives pilgrimage headquarters is the Elks Club each of the 30 Mansions is open for a half day every third day and the complete schedule of Tours requires 3 days at headquarters may be seen cars bearing licenses from every state as visitors recapture the glory of the city which has lived under six different flags and here's Elgen plan ation once a small settlement within itself materials were prepared here for construction of the House elm's Court occupied for Generations by the serget family famous as the house of a Thousand Candles dunleath built in 1847 and occupied by the carpenter family for five generations Monmouth for many years the home of John a Quitman United States Senator and governor of Mississippi and now owned by Mrs Hubert Barnum Hawthorne the home of the car a McGees typical of the Elegance of the Old South the burn built in 1832 the house and Gardens have been restored by Mr and Mrs SB lob Melrose owned by the George MD Kelly family for five generations house and Furnishings are practically unchanged since antibellum days inside is the original otan panoramic painting of Naches painted while the ornithologist Liv in natches teaching music and painting a never to be forgotten part of the pilgrimage is the Confederate Tableau the camera did not catch the lighting effects which enhance its beauty the youngsters love the fun but they know that this is serious business for they have been rigorously trained for the parts they play in this pictorial history of matches presiding over the festivities are the king Splendid in his officer's uniform and the queen chosen from the beauties of Naches the whole town cooperates to make this celebration a success those who can't find antibellum costumes in their attics hunt out the local dress makers to create replicas here down through the arch of Swords comes Our Queen teenagers get a real kick out of dancing the paa a dance popular during the gay days before the war training for the queen ballet begins when girls are four or 5 years old and the dancers are all of high school age the color and the pageantry of the Tableau unfolding the exciting history of nachas makes this a most thrilling spectacle climax in the day of our Bell Nancy is the elaborate ball held at Stanton Hall and Stanton Hall is headquarters of the pilgrimage Garden Club you know the 72t Ballroom of the century old mansion Comes Alive as gay picturesque gowns blend with the settings of handcarved Italian arches White carara marble mantel and elaborately carved bronze chandeliers dancers whirl to the veins of a sedate Waltz but look at that poker that was a Snappy dance a century ago back in her room and the ball over Nancy p for a moment the rumors of War which were the only dark spot in her day but surely nothing will come of this tonight she's young and happy and getting kind of sleepy she reads her daily chapter from the scriptures then she falls asleep and dreams of mansions and hunting mths of bows and parties we have been able to show only a few of the highlights during the pilgrimage natches is easily reached and can be included in a general tour of the Southland each home is a treasure Trove of antiques some imported some made from materials on the grounds of the Estates architecture is some of the most elaborate to be seen in any American city wouldn't you agree to that Jean where did she go back into the past I suppose just when I was about to invite her to dinner why not come down yourself and enjoy the whole spectacle a vacation in nches during the pilgrimage will not only take you to another place but to another era [Music]