The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-27
REsuRREcrIoN OF CoIUMB1A--o opEN1Na
OF THE New HOTEL IAN INSTITUTION


WORTHY OF OUR CTTY.--At forenoon, yester-
day, an event occurred which we take great
pleasure in chronicling, not only because it
furnishes another proof of that feeling of
enterprise which has lately been kindled
anew IN our go-ahead community, but be-
cause, in its refreshing and inspiriting cha
racter, it far exceeded our most sanguine
expectations. We allude to the formal
opening of the Columbia Hotel.
When it was announced few weeks
since, that the hotel, formerly known as
Davis Building" so called after the
owner, was to be devoted to its present uses.
on scale of grandeur heretofore never
known to public houses of entertainment
In this city, there was excited in the minds
OF some of our citizens feeling of mistrust
that such scheme would fail, because the
proper persons would not have its execution
IN charge; whilst others, who had the plea
sure of knowing the worthy gentlemen who
originated and have now successfully per-
fected the good work, openly declared their
CONVICTION that the hotel would be q success.
The latter have proved correct, and now the
whole community rejoices in the luxury of
hotel which, in none of its appointments, is
e1celled by any South of the city of New
York.
The building itself is, next to the unfinish
ed State House, the most imposing struct-
ure OF q private character in the city; its
noble three-story front and long array Of cor
niced windows presenting a peculiarly plea-
SAINT effect The first floor, with the excen.
ton OF the centre portion, which constitutes
the audience hall and clerks office, is occn-
pied as stores; our jolly little friend, Hardy
Solomon, being on the right wing, fianked
by Messrs. Duffie & Chapman; whilst the
left wing IS in charge of Mr. w. d. Love
and Mr..
As one enters the spacious hall, the first
thlng that strikes the eye is n handsome
semicircular counter, on which lies y,; ren;s.
ter OF the latest style, under the charge and
supervision of that prince of old clerks. Mr..
Robert Hamilton. On either side, if we
choose TO SIT down, we nre invited to do SO by
the most luxurious fauteuils, the very ap-
pearance of which tempts a quiet snooze
after the splendid dinner we are sure to get.
we pass on, however, and elect to enter
either the cosy reading room on the left or
the comfortable parlor on the right In the
rear of the former, we find verv bnsy cen e
tleman, whose face we remember to have
seen porlng over the ledgers and cash books
OF more than one hotel-more lately the
Charleston--and whom VIC have never
known by any other name than Bucky
DAVIS. He Is comparatively stranger in
our midst, but his reputation MS one of
the most companionable, accomplished and
agreeable gentlemen to be found in the
whole range of the Palmetto State has
preceded him, and we instinctiyely claims Io
him as welcome acquisition to our COM
munity.
After hearty shake of the hand, we pro-
ceed, under his escort, to the rear of the
audience hall, md, after being conducted
through a reception room flanked by ample
accommodations for dusting and washing
the faces OF the travellers of the sterner sex,
we enter n spacious apartment "to see
man, and lind that it is made lusciously
at.rac.iye by brilliant display of glassware,
perpendicular, semi-cylindrical and conical.
all OF which glistens with fluids of varied
hues and suggestive perfumes. We pause
moment-''see man"-and proceed with
q grateful appreciation of the genuine phi
losphy exhibited by Paul in one of his ten
derest admonitions to his son Timothy.
Alter a visit to the snuggest and cosiest
OF barber-shops, where we meet our expe-
rienced colored friends, Haynesworth,
Heese and Carroll, we retrace our steps as
lar as the clerks Office and ascending
broad. winding stairway enter on the
second floor, and passing a long range of
chambers for families or single persons,
htted up In the most luxurious styIe, with
French furniture, Brussels carpeting, and
all the modern convenienccs that are essen
tlal to perfect comfort, we are ushered into
suite of drawing rooms, which are unex
celled in grandeur by any in this country.
Words fail us to tell of the full-length mir
rors the glistening chandeliers, the magni.
ficent divans, the soft arm chairs, ornate
with brocade silk, and tho thousand and
one charming eoncomitants of fully appoint
ed parlors. With these one can only be-