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


ness. Why cannot our Charleston Chamber OF
Commerce or Board of Trade. or both OF them,
have such rooms2 It would not cost much
more than the usual annual dinner, and would
be far more useful.
On Monday the members Of the convention
were invited to lunch with the Board Of Trade
and right royal lunch IL was, and at night
they attended special performance at the
Mobile Theatre, fine building we'll equipped
with oil dramatic paraphernalia. In the after
noon the members Of the press inspected tho
steamers OF the fire department Of Mobile.
There are five steam engines in the depart
mont, hlI drawn by horses, and it was evident
that the companies were thoroughly organized
and ready for any emergency. An invitation
to visit the Chickaeabogue 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 sumptuous one, fine wines flowed
hike water, and nothing was wanting to make
the members of the press desire that they
might be eternal delegates TO an eternal press
convention with an eternal banquet at the gay
Manassas Club. After the feast some short
and pointed speeches were made by members
Of the club and members Of the convention.
OF all the speeches the refrain seemed to be:
s'The South for the Southerner."
DOWN THE HARBoR.
! 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 the party the gra-
| tuitous use Of his feet little vessel. A number
Of ladies we're aboard whom the gentlemen of
| the press did their best to entertain. The
brass band Of the Fire Department played
throughout the trip, and by the time that the
Annie reached the shipping in the lower har-
Dor the party was as bright and as Gay as cour-
tesy and kindness could make them. The
Altcar, steel ship, was visited by the excur-
sionlsts, enthusiastic visitor proposing
that the whole party should at once take o 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,
the grand harmony of the day, to which the
laugh of fair women, the cank of knife and
fork, and the crack of the sudden cork formed
fit and fitful accompaniment. The trip came
to an end, more sorrow to it, and at night there
was more work in the convention, more jun
ketting and more harmless mirth.
ON THE TRACK.
On Saturday morning the press party, with
delegations from the Board of Trade and the
Jockey Club, started from the hotel in car
riages and drove down to the Magnolia Race
.Conrao. Tia road WIS smooth and even; the
teams were good; on the left was the placid
bay; on the right were handsome private resi-
dences and gardens Of public resort; overhead
were the limbs OF the dark magnolias archng
the picturesque road; on every side the eye
was filed with the flowing tints Of the blooming
flowers; the whole atmosphere was laden with
perfume! Twas glorious sight to see. Then
came we to the Jockey Club building, whence
we were trotted out to see the horses breezed.
The Magnolia track is probably the finest in
the South. It is level as die, never exceed
inRly heavy, and the trainers recognize it as
the one place where their stables may winter
well and prepare for the work Of the season.
Among the fine horses which we saw we're the
following: BayOnet, Of the Lexingt ton and
Yorkshire Stock who won the prize in the late
State post stake at the Metarie Course. He
was accompanied by several other horses, be-
longing to Captain Moore's stable. In Captain
CottrilPs stable were the Jennie Cottrill, two
year old, Molie Ingersoll and Puss Brodnax-
all Of the Daniel Boone family. Then follow
ed the chestnut, James "A. COnolly, OF Pen
nocks stable, the son of Vandal by VAR
grave dam. Connolly was victorious at Ford
ham and elsewhere, and In his company
was colossus flly Of the same stable. There
was also Moores Privateer of the lightning
stock and his half-brother Stonewall Jackson,
the first out Of Edith and the other Of Hennie
Farrow. There were in al about thirty-hve
horses, all in fine order and galloping by in
way that gave promise Of many and many
victory. After the breezing the party adjourn
ed to the Magnolia Hotel in charge Of Captain
William Fl. Williamson. A substantial yet
delicate breakfast was at once served MP, and
the party after gathering flowers in neigh
boring garden Of japonicas and roses rode
back to town.
ct. ELMO.
In the evening had the pleasure Of calling
on Mrs. Wilson, Miss Augusta J. Evans) the
author of Beulah, Macaria and st. Elmo. Mrs.
Wilson is tall slender lady, with brown hair,
pale face, 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 new novel, for which she
is said to have been offered sl5. 900 by an enter
prising yonng New Yorker, The nams OF the
new novel is not known, and I have some curl.
osity to see q work written in the middle OF
such racket as that made by rooster, chicken
and guinea fowl in Mrs. Wilson's beautiful
home.
THE LAST DAY. t
On Sunday some OF the members Of the Con-
vention were entertained by their friends, and
at night dinner was given to the party at the
Battle House, by the proprietor, Captain God
fcav ko kLnx oo'