The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-11-14

saw. 1t is no longer the place [
once knew it. One might we'll
fancy himself in some California
town Of twenty years ago, when he
sees the numerous small booths
and shanties with their wares dis
played to attract customers, and
to think that the stores there were
almost palatial two years ago. The
State House looks like premature
ruin, with the air ofneglect around
| it added to the dismantling effects
| of war. AS sat on one Of the
granite blocks in front Of it, I
thought of Marius at the ruins Of
Carthage. The most ruthless act
| Of vandalism in the destroyer was
| the mutiIation and shattering Of
the carved capitals and marble
entablatures, which had been
wrought by the chisel at % much
pains and expense, for the adorn-
ment of our beautiful and magnif-
cent State House, There they lie
a confused heap Of beautiful ruins,
| the work of vruel and fanatical
iconoclasts. During the first
part of our peregrinations through
the desolated town we had a most
interesting cicerone in the very
pretty daughter Of our landlady,
whose style Of beauty, softness Of
tone and languid manners is very
italian, and her intelligence with
her little out-bursts of patriotic
indignation, rendered her quite
Invaluable as a guide, We went
through Sidney Park which, even
in neglect, is still beautiful. Nature
has done much for it and its capa-
biities Gas a landscape gardener
would say are considerable. There
are several springs. fountains or
wells, (whichevcr the reader may
choose to call them,) and the
principal one is beautiful in its
square granite and marble basin,
covered over with a high arbor
with grape or muscadine vines
trailing over it, which makes one
think of Italy, with her vine en-
bowerd arbors and the light
saracenic style Of the pavillions
generally gives them an oriental
look. The walks and banks or
terraces are still beautifulin many
places. We walked through the
new market on our return from
the State House. 1t is in a new
locality, and is a more attractive
place than the old one, with its
neat, we'll filed stalls.
Amongst the very best the Cali
fornia lookingbooths or mushroom
stores Of Columbia, as it is, is the
store Of our former townsman, E.
z. Jackson, whose superiority as
druggist is well known. His store
is handsomely fitted up and is we'll
filed. How different have l seen
Columbia look in such beautiful
weather as this soft, Indian sum-
mer, on occasions Of former visits.
I was not prepared however to see
so many new buildings erected on
Main street, although inferior,
most Of them, to former structures.
But to proceed on my journey,
there was nothing Of the slightest
possible interest to chronicle be-
! tween Columbia and High Point,
except the beautiful and luxurious
sleeping car for the use of which
the occupant pays extra. [ mere
ly walked through it to look at
it's arrangements which are very
inviting with its plush-covered,
elongating seats with neat linen
caps tied atop and with each panel
between the seats lined or ceiled
with poIishedmirrors. Thestaging
from High Point to Salem, dis
tance Of eighteen miles, was per-
formed during the small hours Of
the night, and we reached the
quaint old place shortly after sun
rise. / found Salem almost the
identical place I left it twenty
years ago, without the shadow Of
change so far as I remember, ex-
.eept the erection Of a fine new
Academy in addition to the origi-
nal buildings which have 50 much
the look of convent or nunnery.
The new one is built in a line
with the others, but is handsomer,
and higher, and with more i'm
posing facade. The visit to the