The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-07-12
Misfellaneens.
Fyoa tile Southern Christian Adrocote.
Rides About Camden. No. L.
KIREwOoD.

Some tor pleasure, rs lnat ndpPy SouP'e ii lhe
Sociable. Some, for recreation, rs that pale
mechanic, who, by dmt Of hard saving, has
been able to hire cab for himself and wife,
and means to take short excursion into the
country, and see, once more Gods green earth
fresh from his own hand, and breathe the pure
air of heaven, unadulterated by the myriad
breathed saias,na of the city. Some fcrhea!th,
as that asthnla,c old patient or consumptlve
young one, that the Doctor has ordered an air
ing, every morning aud evening. None OF
these things move me, in the particular, per-
haps all in the general. confess to my pro-
pcilinc motive, a wider range for nay eye ''no
pent up Utica" bat the whole unbounded"
country or town, and how to get at this my
rioeamic, ever changing ever new amplitude OF
prospect, but by ride, brisk ride in an open
buggy, Of 4 breezy summer morn or eve, with
one, by ones side, to whom to exclain "Lo!
what a goodiy prospect swells around, of hills
and daes, and woods, and lawns, and spires"
with whom, to reciprocate the enthusiasm, at
every springing up beauty of earth and sky
and water: 1t thas been my happy lot to en
10y such rides, in various places. may go to
a place an entire stranger, and, yet in short.
time will have become much more familiar and
imbued with its interesting localities ti:ap per
chance that venerable referee, its oldest inhabi-
tant, and observe and note down many things
of Importance, that for want of this birds eye
vie,y, had likely remained unnnticed aud un-
known by the tenants of the soil.
Providence has given me, in lieu of what
some utilit.rian might deem more profitable
gilt, an eye for the beautiful natural and moral.
If there is any, anywhere within my range, and,
it is never circumscrbed one, Lam sure to
find it out, and appropriate at least, with my
eve and ear and heart. Wlo, taen, can deny
my great riches, despite the few pennies in my
purse No earthly principalities and powers
could prevent me adniiriug aud loving, which
with the power OF an autocrat and wealth OF
Croesus, they are not always competeat to
themselves, and as loving and adnlirng make
my happiness, more than Il sceptre, or many
pieces of metal or shining stones, SO am not
only as happy, but, far happier than a Queen,
if she is, after ALL nil admirari, aud, lives not
to love.
Reader, come, you were of yore, mine ~
dulueBt companion, in Rides about Colum-
bie.' | would discourse you, now, about the
classic shades of Camden, where, as usual
rae Suu IlucS wv N"u, Nv" W.
Camden, though not with the reputation -
possessing Venus Cestus, like her younger and
fairer sister, Columbia, yet, is size not without
her charms, unostentatious but attractive, as
shall, presently, prove to the satisfaction Of her
incredulous oldest inhabitant, or you. ''ut
advertise you, to see Camden, you must first
see Kirkwood, for wait to take you by coup
de main, at once, ard kirhwood will do it.
Well, then, kirkwood, hO!
Camden proper becoming rs was supposed,
sicky, in the Southern end of the town, most
exposed to malaria from the river colonized IA
healthfui sandhill region at the extreme North
of the town, and extending out some miles in
the country, which has Within Il few years,
sprung up blooming young Hebe Of daugh-
ter, in whose freshness and energy the old
mother lives her youth over again. and rejuve-
mates. to her hearts content Beautiful, in.
deed, and healthlul is Krkwood, the houses
built with all the tasteful improvements OF
modern architecture, the style graceful and
light and Grecian, to suit our Southern latitude.
Some of the residences arc really elegant.
That of Mr. John Nj. DeSaussrre, palace.
The retreat of DIR. Boykin, with mi'rorcd lake
and sparkling fountain and outrageous shades,
fit haunt for nymph or nalad, is a perfect ro-
nance, not like SCOTS Abbotstord Gin mans
brick and mortar" but in Gods trees and Wa
ter Miss Mci'ae's cottage ornec is claborately
terraced, from the piazza to the road, some
three hundred feet and ram brings, from
neighboring brook, an abundant supply of wa
ter for fountains, fishing ponds, and jets. Mr..
w. E. Johnson's place is, perhaps the most
picturesque Of any Of these beautiful homes.
ne has twelve acres, laid off in correct and Gle
giant taste. Art and Industry have done much
for this lovely place. but nature more. In ono
part of these grounds we have 4 landscape soft
and gentle enough for Claude, in another
part one rugged and wild enough for Saliva.
tor Go to the front and you arc in italy, 90
to the Gar and you are in Switzerland. That
placid lake below sleeping 50 quietly, unrufiled,
save by the pinons of the water fowl upon its
bosom was once, an impetuous stream fed by
a gushing spring. There in the war of the
revolution the army of Green encamped, for
the convenience of procuring water, and, here
all over the sand hills, was the sharp skirmish-
ng between the two hostile powers. Many
relics of the battle have been picked up on this
classic ground, and on the very site OF General
Cantey' residence, on that neighboring hill,
some of the trees ieled to give place to the
house, were found perforated with bullet holes.
That is the veritable" Hobkirk's hill, so called
from the old gentleman Hobkirk, who owned
It at the time Col. Kirkwood, the American
officer in the battle of Hobkirk's ILL., for whom