The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-26

nation necessary for conducting their busl-
ness. Why cannot our Charleston Chamber OF
Commerce or Board of Trale or both OF them,
have such rooms? 1t would not cost much
more than the usual annual dinner, and would
be far moro useful.
On Monday the members of the convention
were invited to lunch with the Board of Trade,
and right royal lunch it was, and at light
they attended special performance at the
Mobile Theatre q fine building, well equipped
with all dramatic paraphernalia. In The after
noon the members of the press inspected the
steamers Of the fire department OF Mobile
There are five steam engines in the depart
ment, all drawn by horses, and it was evident
that the companies we're thoroughly organized
and ready for any emergency. Al invitation
| to visit the Chickasabogue Paper Mills was de-
clined on account of the press of convention
| business. At night, however, after the theatre,
the convention assembled in the handsome
rooms OF the Manassas Club, where they were
received by the President, Colonel D. E.
Huger, and by the members of the club. The
supper was q sumptuous one, fine wines flowed
the members of the press desire that they
might be eternal delegates TO an eternal press
convention with an eternal banlue at the gay
Manassas Club. After the feast some short
and pointed sp; echcs were made by members
Of the club and members OF the convention.
Of all the speeches the refrain seemed to be:
s'rhe South for the southerner."
DOWN THE uARBoR.
On Friday morning the convention went
aboard the steamer Annie, and steamed down
the bay. The invitation was given by the
Board of Trade, but Captain Murphy, OF the
Annie, promptly offered 10 tho party the gra-
tuitous use of his feet little vessel. A number
OF ladies were aboard whom the gentlemen OF
the press did their best 10 entertain. The
brass band of the Fire Department played
throughout the trip, and by the time that tho
Annie reached the shipping in the lower har-
Dor the party was as bright and as gay as cour-
scsy and kindness could mako them. The
Mtcar, steel ship, was visited by the excur-
sionists, ono enthusiastic visitor proposing
that the whole party should at once take trip
to Liverpool, or the Isles of the blest, amid
the four thousand bales Of cotton which the
Altcar slowed away. This motion was unhap-
PLY negatiyed, and with three cheers the party
turned bomeward. Then came the luncheon,
tho grand harmony OF the day, to which the
laugh of fair women, the clank OF knife and
fork aud the crack of the sudden cork formed
fit and ftful accompaniment. The trip came
to an end, more sorrow toit, and at night there
was more work in the convention, more jun
kettins and more harmless mirth.
ON THE TRACK.
On Saturday morning the press party, with
delegations from the Board OF Trado and the
Jockey Club, started from the hotel in car
riacet and drove down TO the Magnolia Rec
Course. The road was smooth and even; the
teams were good; ON the left was the placid
bay; on the right were handsome private resi-
denccs and gardens of public resort: overload
we're the limbs of the dark magnolias archlns
the picturesque road; on every SIDE the eye
was filed with the flowing tints of the blooming
flowers; the whole atmosphere was laden with
perfumel Twas glorious sight to see. Thon
came we to the Jockey Club building, whence
The Magnolia track is probably the finest In
the South. 1t is level as die, never exceed
insly heavy, aid the trainers recognize 1t as
the one place where their stables may winter
well and prepare for the ,rk of the season.
Amous the fine horses which we saw were the
following: Bayonet OF the Le1ing ton and
Yorkshire stock, who won the prizo in the late
State post stake at the Motarle Course. He
was accompanied by several other horses, be-
longing to Captain Moore's stable. In Captain
Cottrilps stable were the Jennie Cottrill, two
wear old, Molie IngersolI and Puss Brodpax-
al of the Daniel Boone family. Then follow
ed the chestnut, James A. Conolly, OF Pen
nock's stable, the son OF Vandll by Var
grave dam. Conolly was victorious at Ford
ham and elsewhere, and in his company
was q colossus fiiy of the same stable. There
was also Moore's Privateer OF the Lightning
stock aud his half-brothcr Stoncwall Jackson,
the first out of Edith aud the other of Henne
Farrow. There were i'll all about thirty-hve
horses. all in liue order and galloping by III o
way that gave promise Of many aud many
victory. After the brceznS the party adJourn-
cd to tho Magnolia Ho:el III charge of Captain
William H Williamson. Substantial yet
delicate breakfast was ut once sclved up, and
the party after gathering flowers in 4 neigh
boring garden of japonicas and roses rode
back 10 town.
ST. ELMO.
In the evening had the pleasure OF calling
on MIS-. Wilson, Miss Augusta j. Evans) the
author of Boulah, Macaria aud st. Elmo. Mrs.
Wilson is tall slender lady, with brown hair,
q pale face, q rather long nose and small eyes.
Her forehead IS high and her expression
somewhat grave, but when she smiles her
countenance lights up wondrously and becomes
almost beautiful. Mrs. Wilson is now copying
the manuscripts OF a new novel, fer which she
is said 10 have been offered $4,000 by an enter
prising young New Yorker. Tho name of the
new novel is not known, and have some curl
osity to see work written in the middle of
such racket as that made by rooster, chicken
and guinea fowl in Mrs. Wilson's beautiful
home.