The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-24
IS. c..
Sunday Morning, July "a. 1905
A Glowing Picture OF Columbia--Its
Present and Future.

"A Glowing Picture OF Columbfa--Itf
Present and Future.
It seems that q Mr., Duncan Stewart
has been giving to the Hamilton AdUer.
Scotiand-a glowing view Of Co.
lumbia and its surroundings. No one
aere will read it without copgsatulating
himself upon the fact. thatAis lines have
fallen in such pleasant. places: The
writer says, rs to thelocatioR and beauty
OF Columbia:
Columbia is most magniacentlK,loeatad
eon the Congaree River, which IS here, q
broad and rapid stream. Sherman hav.
ing destroyed the old city, the, present
buildings are mostly of recent erection.
It was fondly hoped that ut this point
the Confederate commanders; could make
8 successful stand against his farther ad-
vance. The width and rapidity of the
Congaree River was considered sure
defence. In forty:fre minutes from the
time the head of the columns had reached
the right bank, he had tried the range Of
his guns on the gable end of the State
Capitol, and established his advance
pickets on the left margin of the river,
and the proud and wealthy city of Co.
-lumbia was at his mercy. What the
-mercies of war are, can be seen in blocks
;andsquares given to the fames-in heaps
of mouldering bricks, filing up cellars
or lying ia heaps above ground-in the
'chimnies Of the mansions of the rich,
standing in solitary state, amidst the
charred and blackened timbers Of these
,3esolate homes-in the empty spaces
where oaee stood the houses OF the work
ling peoRle-alli I'LL, impress on the minds
Sf ievery beLolder the mercilessness Of
the mercies Of wpr.. This great destruo-
tion was the combined work of tire Fed
cral and Confederate armies. Verify,
the tender mercies of friends are cruel
z,urishments in war. Before the wer,
this was one Of the most wealthy, polish
ed and aristocratio cities Of the South.
Columbia. is still beautiful amidst its
'auins, and is fast becoming once more a
centre of trade, wealth and pleaeure.
The country around it is of most gor-
geous character, tee'ning ariM everything
that makes life a pleasure. The banks Of
the river are from fifty to $50 feet high,
and everywhere within sight of the city
'smGowered in an Eden of fruits, flowers
and foliage. In the distance you hear
the sound of the rapids of the Congaree
This sound is something between the
soft murnur of mountain stream and
the rear of cateract; it fills the mind
with delight. Then add the songs of
birds, the fine park.-th streaming foun-
tains it contains, The fine, well-kept
walks, the charming drives, the cheerful
appearance of all you meet, white and
black, the splendid open country, its
high state Of cutiration, and you have O
picture equal to that which Mira be-
held while viewing the happy islands
from the ramparts Of Bagdad.
1 think hear my readers exclaiming;
This is an overdrawn picture; you are
OVERRIDING it. Did John Milton over
draw Paradise? This sunny land can
not be overdrawn. The most gifted pen,
the most graphic power of word paint
ing could only produce faint outline OF
its capabilities, its resources, its extent,
ITS unrivaled magnifccnce and eplendor.
The day will come when the oriental
splendors of Delhi, Agra aud the holy
city OF Benares-nay, even the tales OF
Aliadin-will in many respects become
realities ia this future home Of untolt
sue,1llh, cultivated taste and extravasant
desires.
Now this We have to say, that we have
a high appreciation OF the beauty of our
city, but candor compels us TO say that
our culogist lays it on rather thick. A
great deal can be claimed for our city,
out it is not necessary to mako it q
perfect Paradise. There is room for i'm.
i1rovement, and whilst we don't know
exactly what "Mirza beheld," we don't
think 'our correspondent" saw precisely
what he processes to have seen. Ours is
pretty picture, but it does contain
some ugly spots.
The enthused writer next visits the
State Capitol, and contends that when
finished it will be zone of earths orna.
ments." The Legislature was in session.
This body pleased him greatly, and very
much to his surprise, "order, decorum
and cleanliness" were apparent.
He next gives US his views OF South
Carolina, and says
South Carolina-the cradle of sedi-
kio,, on1 raho11icn 10 nou, fl,o or;o4o.k