The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-29

s,ritRDAY JANUARY 90, 1870.
- For the Dispatch.
"a Southern Cities.
81 Aiken, South Carolina, is q delightful
place for invalids. Far above the low,
nalarious lands Of that State, it has always
been great resort in the summer months.
Situated among The pines, untouched by
the keen northeast winds that often invade
Charleston and Savannah in the winter
eason, free from excessive dampness, high
and dry, in fact, yet with an equable
climate, with railroad passing through 1t,
it 10 mth accessible, pleasant, and healthy:
Many northern invalids resort there and
spend the winter: consumptires and rheu-
MATES especially find il beneficial. The
latter experience so much relief for their
complaints that they, with one voice, pro-
nounce that it by no means deserves its
name. Aches and pains fly away on its
pleasant breezes, and its balmy balsamlc
air. filled with piny odors, is delightful to
oil who breathe it. Thus it has become
more and more popular resort during both
summer and winter. You find coed COM
pany and pleasant accommodation.
Augusta is also beautiful city, we'll laid
off, and inhabited By thriving, active
population.
charleston looks as though dead or asleep.
It's beautiful sea-front, its antique appear
ance, its historic renown, and its courteous
people, render it both pleasant and interest
ing. I was very much pleased with it,
although there is an air of dilapidation, OF
misfortune, and neglect, about it that sad
dens one. Every house stands alone, SOL
idly built, and isolated, the sea Dir giving
an aged, moss-covered look even to one
newly erected. The general style is to
build endways to the street, and to have
small garden enclosed by high walls; the
entrance is by o gate under portico run
ming alongside the house, the lower floor not
being inhabited, but used for Offices or store
rooms; the parlor is always on the second
floor.
All this has advantages in warm eli
mate the outside world is shut out, the
sea-breeze admitted, and the ladies of the
family can watch their flowers, attend to
household matters, or sit in dishabille in
the cool wind-swept porches invisible to the
street-passers. Ii includes sufficient pri-
vacy, and yet allows the world to be seen
and entered into, when necessary, without
restraint. like the style, and should wish
to see it introduced among US. 1t is far
better than the northern custom we have
adopted in our cities for with us no mans
house is sufficiently private, every neigh
Dor knows what you are about, and is per-
fectly familiar with your inside. These
high walls and frmly-fastened doors are
also q protection against theft. You re-
move temptation from the eye of thief
by shutting up thus whatever you possess.
Every mans house is thus indeed his own
castle, within which he is lord supreme, and
no entrance, no Interruption, can take
place without the knowledge and consent OF
the inmates. 1t is true, the street has
rather mournful look as one passes along
by these jail-lke fronts, but the house Is
built for the inmates, not for the passers-hy,
and within his own house the man should
be Mt home, apart from and distinct from
all the outside world.
These nigh walls serve also to protect
flowers from the winds, and thus enable
finer and more luxuriant growth to be OBJ
tanned. say nothing Of the long walk on
the point opposite the bay, nor OF the beauty
of this bay itself, with Fort Pinckney near,
and ruined Sumter and Moultrie in the
distance. The marks of shot and shell are
still visible on the houses. The defence OF
Charleston against an immense force for
80 long o timc-an attack, united with
skill and endurance, that render 1t
marvel in modern wartare-will yet find
suitable historian. The people are defeat
ed-they do not look ut ell Subdued. They
may well be proud of their Spartan con-
duct.
If Charleston has heroic past, Savan-
nah has busy, life-like present. No
where have seen q city that looks more
full of business and active life. The con-
trast between the two cities is striking and
painful. Charleston gives you a gloomy
feeling, while in Savannah you are OPP
dressed with life, hustle, and business the
liver, the auays, the streets, seem filled
with activity. The city is beautiful ono,
and beautifully though singularly, laid out
Generally where two streets cross, you lad
small square, the carriage-road passing
round it, covered with trees, and in the
midst a we'll Sometimes no square and
trees, but always the well. Of course,
punster will say that, rs to water, it is
eoell-supplied city.
1t is LAID out on high bluff, broad and
level, while on the opposite side of the river
the widespread, fiat and marshy land ex-
tends us lar as the eye can reach. There
are many stately houses, and the appear
ance Of much prosperous wealth in this
place.
It's beautiful park, of many acres in ex-
tent, covered with trees, and having noble
fountain in the centre, is a place Of great
resort. 1t is refreshing on sultry evening
to pass within the spray of its waters, to
enjoy the cool air, and watch the various
groups gathered among the trees.
One evening there was grand turn out.
Some wag had advertised that there would
be prize for the finest baby, the exhibi
ton to take place within the park, near the
fountain.
It was soon taken up seriously, o commit
tee appointed and a day fixed. 1t was o
fine display, we'll worth seeing. Every baby
in town, in every variety of costume, every
sort OF baby carriage, and every colored
nurse, was present. Every baby IS mother and
grandmother, every baby's sister, every
baby's mother and sisters female friend,
was also present to see fair play, and show
off the attractive points Of the unconscious
young racers forthe prize; all were present
and eager. Besides this, every baby's IA
Their, with a sprinkling of brothers, to see
the babies or the young ladies'; numerous
old bachelors, who wanted to know what
babies were made of and looked like, also
came.
Beside these good many other people
came just to know what was going on and
the rest of the city turned out for the sake
of the crowd. Then the negroes were all
there, and a good many dogs, to say nothing
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