The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-09-05
Correspondence Of the Herald


CHARLESTON, S. c., Aug. 18th, 1872
Dull Tmes-Heahh-New Bmildings-Clean Streets
-Itmpyanee--Nf Mutual Insu,ancc--Ladies' Fair,
&c.
DEAR SIR
You may have as many correspondents for your
widely circulating paper as you care for but not
withstandng that, | am determined to be one Of
the number. I" The Queen City of the South is at
this moment in one of her dullest moods, and it
only needs a visitation of her "yelow" enemy to
give all the horrors" Of this, however, there
is no fear for this season Our friends now absent,
and all others interested in the natter may rest as
sured that we are and shall continue to be shock.
ngly healthy" as the Doctors say Indeed we
have at this time fewer of sickness than ever
before.
The city is much more open than it was previous
to the great fire of '3s. We do not follow the ex-
building before the ashes are cold Of the squares
and blocks consumed. Oh, no. We are wiser !;
our squares are left open for the good of the
nifty, and more especially for the good of cows
goats, horses &c. This has an excellent effect upon
the healthlness Of the city, inasmuch 1t tends to
promote tree circulation of air, thus destroying
pregnant cause of sickness. Our streets cleansed
and kept in tolerable good order by the unceasing
vigilance and watchfulness of our officers, especial
ly our worthy Mayor, Gen. s., who seems to
keep sleepess eye on all matters under his jurs-
dictlon. But more powerful than all besides in the
work Of removing causes of sickness, is the infu-
ence Of temperance. Here is the secret of half the
difficulty in our southern climate. We have been
toe fond of good old wines and brandies. Many an
excellent you,h-aye, and men Of mature age, too,
charged with their lives, when in reality it had only
a secondary hand in the business. But total abst-
hence is working wonders, and after while "ye-
" use up that il has had in days gone by. Some
tough chaps" even among those who call them.
selves gentlemen, and are in reality, as well as
some "loaers' have been brought to see the "error
OF their ways" and to repent in soda and cold wa
ter may, some time or other. furnish you with
" an DER true tale" about some Of these folks.
Our merchants and business men generally, have,
within a few days past, been endeavering to get
up excitement the subject of mutual insurance
Everything here is done by means Of an excitement,
and this is the worst feature Of our character No
thing can be done calmly and deliberately every
thing and every bodys forced into complete state
when the paroxysm is of, we are PROSTATE In this
matter of the mutual insurance, there seems TO be
more deberation and caution than usual and Tor
that reason there may be some hope OF success we
present we have not insurance capital enough To-
Gated in our own city. The Charleston Insurance
and Trust Company Is the only one, and that has
the held There are, however, three agency offices
established in the city, which tend to keep the rates
of premium somewhere in the neighbourhood of
reasonable though Is to so per cent higher than the
risks would be In New Ork or Boston, and at
least that much higher than they were previous to
the "grcat fire." That calamity gave them an ex- |
cuse to advance rates, under the plea that as it once
occurred, SO it may again. This is reason enough |
when men have the whole control in their hands, |
but there is about much real foundation for such
advance, as there is in the prospect that the CITY
of London will again be DESTROYED by fire 1t may |
occur to be sure, but the probabilities are all against
it.
In the way of amusements, we are as bad off as |
people can well be- The only recreation we can |
boast is fancy, fruit, flower and cake fair, held in
the hall of the South Carolina Society by the ladies'
IN aid OF the funds necessary to support the asylum
for reformed drunkards One part of the entertain
ment consists OF tabledm puants by little masters and
misses, rugged out in stage attire, legs and arms
bare, faces chalked, &c The whole thing very |
was Justly remarked by an old gentleman standing
behind me, " would not let my daughters so cxhi-
bit themselves" However, we are all apt to let the
" end Justify the means" ASHLEY.