Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-06-05
Palmetto Loaeos.


CgARLrsrox. ). c., May % 1915.
Few af our large cities are given ncfc t'3a
one distinct title, and Sc, the brave ani DE-
voted sons of Carolina haze wrcaihe'i iir nc.
rfa,d cll Mother-tvan 40 less than iurf pvt
j-ai ianrels, with which 10 adoru her qp'snif
brnw. Charleston ,Cars the title OF The fen-
t,blo pac,nix. Tie Venice of America, il'e
City by tie Sea, and The Old City Lyine Con-
s,Engly On tho Waters. To strangers, -
couFse these names are rather meaningless,
bnt they have, In the minds OF Chsr!es,oniauS
and Caroinians, renerally--a quaint mean
inc and REGULAR application that renders their
si.,uificaIi,e trueoue Descending hntslishi-
ls from these sublime thoughts, | might give
this Grand old metropolis yet another appella-
tion: Tie City Of Clubs for were 10 un-
d,r,ake 10 give you 40 entire list OF the VAR
Gus organizations we have down here ,-besin-
ming with the dignifea Chamber OF Commerce
and passinq d0wa the eamut of religious, be-
nevolent. dramatic, social, military, and dan
cinc societies lnct 10 mention those odions
baseball clubsD-a full half column of your
iournal-and set close at ;hat--wouid bs
necessary. OF all these, will only mention
The Fire Companies, rs alone being Of real SER
eice to the city; they are banded together Ia
one brigade, OF course, aud Charleston owes
the preservation from the flames OF more thar
one building 10 It's admirable and efficient Vol
untoer Fire Department. The entire brigade
AS shown by It's last annual inspection one
month ago-cunsis,s Of i3 Steamers, G Hand
Engines aud S Trucks, and was, before he
death short time since. commanded by NJ. II.
Nathan. a respected citizen and tife-laddic
who had grown gray in service.
There arc but two frst-cass hotels here, Tbc
+ Charleston and The Pavilion. There is
( plaiucr but quite as comfortable an one, Tie
/ Waverly House. which gains large portion
( Of the travelling patronage when the rush TO
! Florida's orange groves is at It's height, Ne-
carding the two former mentioned hotels, they
arc situated at opposite corners, within easy
s,oncs-throw Of each other, and yet manage 10
/ drive brisk business. Between the two my
/ preference is The Charleston il is an impos
I ins building whose front upper poitieo, lined
I bv white columns, remind me o: the Treasury
+ building in Washington. ltscapaclty is some
thing over 1000. aud mine host, Jackson "A
most courteous old geBtlemqn-ncyer tires OF
nleasinc his quests Occasionally West Viz
oiuia tourist finds himself down hc7c, and 60
an such would recommend the cool and de-
nghtfu rooms at Tho Charleston Hotel.
The Academy Of Musc--our only Thespan
.enpe-is a cosy little theatre, furnished quite
luxuriauily. and--excopt during the engage
nent Of particularly bright stars, big enough
for us. Your correspondent las seen upon ITS
hoafds the young aud talented Barrett IN his
sublime roles the powerful .Iananschek. the
inimitable Jefferson aud Owens, The pretty
and pquant Katie Putnam, o'r o'rn little IA
yorite. Lille Eldrcdgc, the saucy Wallace Sis
,ers. Jennie. Minnie and Maud, that Horrible
Black Crook-in fact, the irrepressible Ford
who conducts the Academy, manages To swing
around the Southern circuit, every season, with
4 attractive stars, in every line. Last Monday
might. however, an unusually dull sea-sn wss
+ brought u close on this occasion, rrievc
10 state. those very wicked Female Ministries
which have been turning all Northern young
! fellows quite caazy with their iaclal-het to
I mention other charms, opened a brief engage
: -,ent Of one night. II was despainng sight
70 see.-iu defiance Of al Brother Tamaees
/ fearful warnings--thc front orchestra chairs
/ filled every one of them, with old, holry-hair-
ed. bald. patcd monsters watching with spec
,acled eyes and batcd breath the eyoluiionS oi
those reckless females. Ahertho performance,
questioned one Of these aged sinners as 10
the great nicres, he had evlnced, "Ab Sir,
saws he, with o regretful sigh, 81 know iis
naughty. but iudecd--i,s nice, aud the old
rpprobate left me aud stood IN 'front.' Of The
s.are.entrancc 10 see those damsels emerge
rom behind the scenes, completely transform
ed from bewitching amorous-cyed MINISTRIES
into closely yelled. seclusive lsdics Al
These women. these men Al Tboso mer,
these women
Though rather an incongruors switcb-od.
| want TO tell you Of our churches. Settled,
formerly. by English. Chareston's people afc
mostly Protestant, aud the Episcopal predcnl-
mates. Venerable st. blichaels, aud Christ
Chprch are the chief temples Of this faith
The former situate on Broad Street, was built
sometimednringtbesev century. It's
noble ediice crowned with 4 spire Of great
height. It's tower contains the chimes which
every Sunday and holiday ring out IN melody;
also the fire bells, whose tones arc peculiarly
suggestive Of alar1ms Retaining the old. cd
custom our city guardians have night watch
man s,a,iored in the tower
From The all Of the shade ill the maths do
chime"
and the deep striking Of each quarter, bali,
three-quarters and whole hour on the bells, Is
followed by It's loud, sonorous announcement,
by the watchman, ending with the reassDring
aud lengiheued words A-l--l-s W-e-l-l.l'
There are some five Catholic Churches orc Of
which is for the colored people, aud each pull
pit is acceptably filed RI. Rev. Bishop
Lynch Of this Diocese, ia an old, gray-baiTed
prela,e Of c0ur,ly manner, and great intellect.
Aside from lis Foreign commerce, Charleston
has a large domestic one, and the four pripci-
pal steam lines, 70 New York, Boston, Phiia-
dephia and Baltimore are taxed to their NJ
most. shipping cotton AZ ono season, and 10 tho
clrly Spring supplying the North with fruits
and vegetables matured more quickly by The
Southern sun. The Baltimore line Of packets
despatch a steamer twice every week, and tie
voyage. generally quite smooth and pleasant,
is usually accomplished in three days.
Every Spring there arc three different fes-
tivities begun b re, lasting from two 10 fouf
days. ! refer to the Floral Fair, the Boat
Races, and the Scheutzen Fest. This first one
-an original idea Of ours and very pleasing
in It's character, is over now. II consists Of
floral display on the Charleston College ground
10 which our ladies-all Of whom are flower
loyers-placc on exhibition specimens Of Gne-
" grown aud well cared for plants, fbTubq,
etc. the best growths receiving the prizes.--
A., ~ (,aiier---rhcrofa rare paintings etc.