The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-04-23
Correspondence OF Columbia Phoenix.
AUGUSTA, GA, April 81, 1870.

bians, and large delegations from other
portions of the State, as we'll as North
Carolina, we paid visit to this beauti-
full City of Oaks, to be present at the
annual meeting o. *he Charlotte, Colum-
bia and Augusta Railroad. We had q
special train for the occasion, every car
of which had been constructed in the
compapy's shops, and were drawn by the
locomotive Lexington" also the work
of their skillful employees. She is o
substantially built. perfect piece OF ma
chinery, and has been greatly admired
by the machinists of the three cities,
which our pet railroad connects. Owing
to an obstruction on the track, below
Charlotte, the Lexington received Sc
we're Jar, which somewhat affected her
working powers, 80 that the train was
delayed; forced to run out of schedule
time. and did not arrive in Augusta until
several hours after she was actually due
much to the annoyance of Conductor
Wolfe and Engineer Gay. On the in
vitation of Master Mechanic Kline-who
accompanied the excursionists-we ac-
cepted the engineers seat; but very soon
concluded, that "a place in the picture"
not quite 80 ''near the flashing of the
furnace-fre, and the smoke and roar of
the machinery" was suited to n nervous
temperament, and therefore took back
seat. The damage to the machine was
repaired shortly after the arrival of the
train. and the return trip was made s'on
time" and to the entire satisfaction of all
parties. AS the train crossed Broad
street, there was general skedaddle or
stampede among the males, and foot
race, in which short and tall, lean and
stout, We'd with each other in their en-
deavors to reach the various hotels, as
the opinion correctly prevailed that lodg-
ings would be very scarce. We succeeded
in securing the use of room, (merely
to mako necessary change of raiment,)
at the popular hostelry, the Planters.
This establishment is and has always
been regarded one of the principal ho-
tells in the South. The attaches are
competent and earnest in their endeavors
to please; the rooms are comfortably
furnished; the cuisine the very best, and
the servants attentive.
Augusta is certainly a charming old
city; the streets are very wide and many
of them have double rows of water oaks
in the middle, besides single rows along
the side walks; the majority of the houses
are built of wood; but there are many
elegant private edifces, constructed of
more durable material, which compel
the beholder to diverge little from the
tenth commandment. Summerville-ac-
cesslble by horse-cars-is o perfect gar
don-spot, and many of the wealthy citi-
zens of Augusta have palatial residences,
with magnificent surroundings. There
are excellent roads in the vicinity, and
fast horses and snowy vehicles are by no
means rare. The weather, during our
trip, was particularly fine, and as the
trees are now fully decked in their
spring livery of various shades of green,
the attractions may be conceived.
Girardey's Opera House has been oc-
cupied for several nights by really fine
company of comedians, under the ma
nagement of Miss Laura Keene; and on
Wednesday night, there WAS O particu-
larly brilliant array-the boxes being
filed with ladies in full dress, who, at
the conclusion of the performance, at
tended the Convention Ball" This
ball was given by the liberal-minded aud
hospitnble citizens OF Augusta to the
stockholders of the Charlotte, Columbia
huu fAubuStb 1SaliTOAu, AC MaSODlC dnll,
and was, in every respect, success. This
city is famous for handsome ladies aud
ugly men. (Col. Meredith, of course, is
al exception,) and on this occasion there
WAS rally in force, and as there were
extensive reinforcements of fair creatures
from South and North Carolina, the
bachelor attendants at the ball occupied
fearful and very precarious position;
bright eyes flashed in every direction,
rivaling the diamonds, which were worn
in profusion. We attempted to obtain a
list of those ladies who, from the ele-
gance of their dresses, or the beauty of
their faces, attracted special admiration;
but, after circumnavigating and sailing
across the room several times, pencil and
paper were thrown aside-the Job being
found too difficult of accomplishment,
from the superabundance of material;
we, therefore, merely mention few
without specifying whether looks or ap-
parel were the magnets: Mrs. General
Wright, of Augusta; Madame LeVert, of
Mobile; Miss Collier and Miss Russell, of
Augusta; the golden haired Miss Wylie,
of tho Palmetto State; the belle of Char
lOtte, Miss Myers; Miss Daniels. Mrs.