The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-20
THE SEASON.

The past few days have gone far to indemnify us
for the unusual gloom or the winter, whose re-
treating footsteps on the borders Of our land.
The landscape is bathed in sunshine the air is
balmy, the Buds are opening everywhere, and our
woods will soon be musical with those notes which
seem to have caught their mellowness from the
air in which they are breathed. Even now the soft
breeze is redoent with the jessanine, and, before
the sun reaches his burning point, our land will
lay aside it's dull russet hue, and become gay with
bright tropical colors.
Spring commences on the twenty-frst day of
March so the Almanac says. But this is a mis-
take, and we are prepared to prove it. The earth
the air and skies, birds and bees, trees and flow
ers-a volunteer their testimony to the effect that
the almanac man is behind the times. Spring has
already set in. About week ago our community
was taken by surprise, on finding that the winter
was gone, and that the year had entered on it's
vernal quarter.
Spring has ever been the fayorite, the preferred
season Of the year. Autumn with it's horn Of
plenty, Summer, with it's waving fields of yellow
com, and even Winter, each has peculiar charms.
But Spring appeals more exclusively to the sense
OF the beautiful. The enjoyment derived from
this season, the pleasure bestowed by it's generous
hand extends to every department of nature. 1t
is the morning of the year. In all ages and in all
climes, by people Of every degree of civilization,
have the charms Of Spring been sung. From
SOLOMON and HOMER down to the present Laureate
Of England, or the humblest Of the MUSES. sons
every poet in evry langr &c has burst into in
voluntary song, and celebrated the beauties Of
Spring.
We in the South enjoy milaer and much longer
spring, than our less favored brethren of the
North, where cold weather not unfrequently lin
gers until May, and summer follows close upon
the heels Of winter. Our winters are mild and
we not unfrequently enjoy soft and balmy breezes
in December and in January; and spring general
~ sets in about the middle of February. The
felSs and woods are covered with tapestry of
the most delicate shades of green. The plum
and the sweet bud are among the first Of our trees
to throw off grim winters icy chains, and burst
into joyous life Of fragrant bloom. The violet
and the cowsip, the buttercup and daisy here and
there make their presence known, deghting young
and old, the simple and the wise. IF we have not
the genuine English daisy, We have several little
flowers that resemble it, md some Of them are
popularly known here by that name.) The hedges
put forth their green leaflets and the buds on the
trees that have been swelling for some weeks, now
burst into leaf and blossom. The weeping willow
with us is one of the first harbingers of spring.
It hastens to don it's fairy mantle OF pale and deli
cate green.
The sombre hues Of the pine, the cedar and the
live. oak no longer delight the eye when con-
troo oto1u ~
The birds appear ito be the first to recognize the
return of the fayorite season, and to chirp its
praises. II robin sings his mathis with the dawn |
Of day; the noisy, chattering blackbird, the most
sociabe Of the feathered tribe, joins his hundreds
Of sable brothers in the grand chorus--and HAYDN
plagiarized of our own knocking bird his beautiful
solo, ''With Verdure Clad
We have no hesitation in saying that during the
months Of Spring this is the most delightful
climate under the sun; best fitted for invalids, and
for all who wouldrevel in the mere pleasure ofexs
tence. Persons afflicted with disease OF the
heart or Of the respiratory organs, and indeed of
many other forms Of disease, will find winter and
spring residence hore very beneficial. Our climate
offers to the dwellers of more Northern latitudes,
the same resort as Nice, Naples, Egypt or Madeira
to the people Of Northern Europe. Here they will
have the advantages of mild, salubrious air;
proximity 10 the sea; rural sports of every descrp-
tion together with all the. concomtants of an old
state Of civilization and society.
Charleston, for this same reason, also offers
great inducements to merchants from the interior,
% come he:e and lay in their supplies, in place OF
oreasting the cold and stormy cline of more north
,rn cities. We can recommend this course with
he mere confidence, US we know our wholesale
houses are fully prepared to meet the wants OF all
'isitng friends. Their stocks are large, carefully
elected, and are offered ut cheap rate as they
AN be sold IN New YORK or Baltimore.
The climate is now the only remains Of our herit-
.ge. Ar past history is being rapidly takcn from
ls, and even tradition is tabooed sectional and
lisloyal. Our political rights and principles are
il gone. Personal liberty is ours only by very
,recarious tenure. Our houses and lands are held
nly during the good will and pleasure Of those
vho love us not. Spring cannot be conhscated;
nd the song of the mocking bird, though essen
tally Southern, will not, we trust at least, be IN
erdicted as disloyal and reasonable. Let us,
therefore,, indulge in this altogether lawful p yea
urc, the only one now left OF a strictly Southern
haractcr.
We will close these random thoughts about
pring with the following beautiful lines OF all
poet:
"Oer tho moistene1 fields
tender green is spread; the baded grass
shoots forth exuberant; TIL awaking trees
Thawed by the delicate atmosphere, put forth
Expanding buds; WHILE with mellitiuous throat,
The warm ebulence of internal Joy
III r1o1 Fnr ra aSnrfy fynff linda