The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-15
Correspondence OF tho phen,x.
ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL,

lAuAuooipuio | thoos piodSHuStjs
q fne team, we traversed the paik-a
oompact body of land lying on both
sides OF the river, ana containing
about 10. 600 acres of land. a large
portion Of this area once belonged to a
Mr. George and his two maiden sis
ters. The oldest Of the three died;
the brother and other sister proposed
to the city, "Maintain us till death,
and you shall inherit" our magnificent
domain. The proffer was accepted.
The sister died, aud about year ugo,
The brother died. The property was
received, aud daily is being improved
by the city. Nature has done much
for that land. Rivers, creeks, noun
taina, bills, valleys. all are within it,
and art il rapidly improving all of
them. Already the beautiful river is
spanned by the handsomest bridge in
Americas beautifure structure of
iron, 1850 long, 100 feet vide and per
fectly level, resting upon four granite
piers and two abutments. Fifteen feeH
| on either side are for pedt strians; the
remainder for vehicles. l saw seven
carriages abreast crossing it, and there
was room for more. Within the con-
fLes of the park are the centennial
grounds, where everything is activity
and life. Hills are being levelcd. daLcs
are filed up, rough plnces made
smooth and the whole area beautitied.
Grand anticipations are buoy ing the
Quaker City, and the whole world,
with the rest of mankind, are expected
to be in the city some time during the
year 1876. In the park is public art
gallery. visited by everybody that goes
to Philadelphia, and which contains
some very remarkable paintings. One
of them. about thirty feet long una
fifteen feet high. represents tue battle
Of Gettysburg. where the two liues ure
so close that bayonets are freely used,
and one Federal sergeant, prominently
in tho foreground, is seen clubbing his
rifle and whaling away at johnny
reb. While standing looking in silent
astonishnent at this exaggerated apro-
duc;ion of the artists Imagination, u
man aud his wife came up neur me,
aud looking for moment in mute as.
tonisnment, be suddenly exclaimed.
"Jane, Jane, look there is rebel shot
down, and after lie is down he has de
liberately pulled out his pistol aud is
shooting at an American we'll. we'll. !"
That genius would have been nstonish-
ed If he had seen pay roll of the na
| tlonallties OF those two armies. /
rather think the rebs were the best en-
titled to the distinction of Americans.
But there is another large aud equally
as attractive painting in that gallery,
called the New Republic" Upon u
monument stands the Goddess of Lii
berty. On the pedestal to her left is
Lincoln holding the emancipation
proclamation. 70 his left is an Ame-
ricau welcoming bevy of cheerful
aud happy foreigners to this "happy
land of freedom" On the opposite
side Of the monument stands Washing
ton. and near by the Rev. 81. w.
Beecher instructing soma lis:!o da:-
kies, and near him a man aud wife
caressing each other, as Indicative of
their joyous release from slavery. The
man Is copper-complected. the woman
three parts white, and has no clothes
on above her waist, without shoes
Two other figures are large muscular
negroes, one upon his allfours with
heavy chains upon his wrists, and the
other with the Chains broken bat dan
Cling from his upifted hands, which
are holding spade up towards Mr.
Lincoln, as an assurance to him, that
though free he does not intend to be
idle. Both figures are naked to their
waists. and barefooted. These expla
nations are given upon placard that
haogs near the painting.
During the summer OF 1876, if the
South IL expected to participate in the
centennial happiness, it will be lovely
to have this false representation of ap
institution which Yankeedom entailed
upon the South, haunting her sons.
while, doubtless, every day tha air will
be redolent with sweet songs and
speeches CON nemorative of the eman-
cipation as the browning act of the
nineteenth century. Verify our
thoughts are not AS their thoughts.
and the days of complete recon
struction will never come lille such
paintings are exhibited as emblems of
d one nationality.
The PhiIadelphians are pushing
people. Tho city is now constructing
q reservoir to increase the supply OF
water. It covers los acres and has
been literally dug out moro than ten
feet deep, and tho excavated earth
hauled to an embankment that sur
rounds the basin. The whole bnsin is
to be laid in brick aud cementcd. Had
I not seen this work with my own eyes
1 would consider this Mupchuusen
story. It is true, every word Let
Il t=-- t,,r H.,