It would be difficult, indeed, to find anywhere a more remarkable contrast in contemporary folkways than that presented by the two great community groups of the South--the inland or piedmont settlements, called the Back Country, and the lowland towns and plantations along the seaboard.
The older society of the seaboard towns, as events were soon to prove, was not less independent in its ideals than the frontier society of the Back Country; but it was aristocratic in tone and feeling.

Its leaders were the landed gentry--men of elegance, and not far behind their European contemporaries in the culture of the day.

They were rich, without effort, both from their plantations, where black slaves and indentured servants labored, and from their coastwise and overseas trade.

Their battles with forest and red man were long past.

They had leisure for diversions such as the chase, the breeding and racing of thoroughbred horses, the dance, high play with dice and card, cockfighting, the gallantry of love, and the skill of the rapier.