The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-08
MYRA'S MI5ANDERINGS.

III
Churches and Pastors.
SAVANNAH, Ga, July I, 1882.
Ny DEAR AUNT CHAT:
We have frequently enjoyed surf bath
ing by moonlight, but never until last
night did we indulge in real moonlight
ride. We formed a party of twelve, six
ladies and as many gentlemen, and rode
out upon the famous Thumlerbolt road,
which is one Of the loveliest and most
picturesque drives / have ever seen.
think have told you in Il previous letter
of the romantic scenery skirting Savan-
nah, the picturesque glens, and rich foil
age Of the grand old forest trees which
stand like grim sentinels along the road
side, looking all the moro grim from their
abundant gdrapery of gray moss blending
with the green. If there ever existed !.
possibility Of generating sentiment in
our unpoetic and most matter-of-fact
party, surely this nlnonlit scene and the
favorable accompaniment Of Natures
enhanced charms would have proved
potent auxiliaries in arousiny dormant
f.ncies, or developing latent ones. But
some of us, ut least, could discover no
sort Of analogy in the soft beauty Of our
environment to what even remotely per-
tains to the province of the little blind
god, aud l rather think that we enjoyed
the evening all the moro for not being
sensitively (s) organized. What could
have been lacking to complete the enjoy
ment9 Pleasant comranionship, the
easiest and tleetest Of horses, II delight
full atmosphere, cooled by the Atlantic's
salt breezes, perfect roads, and the soft
moonlight. When we returned to Mr..
Gorton's, an elaborate supper was found
awaiting us, to which ample Justice was
done, as our appetites were beautifully
sl,arpened Ivy the exercise.
After supper We begni!ed the "wee
sma' hours" away playing games, dane
ing aud chatting merrily, and it was
almost dawn before we disbantlel and
ended the festivities. You will be sur
prised to hear that we completely laid
aside the dignity of our position and age
and actually condescen.led to the child
ish sports Of long ago! It was such fun,
and even in the years of early girlhood
did enjoy hide and seek as much as
l dill npon.this occasion. We lowered
the gas to q dim, religious light, and the
two1arge drawing rooms, library, sitting,
dining and billiard rooms, besides the
hall and piazza, afforded us an ample
play ground
AS this is probably my last letter from
Savannah, can hardly conclude it with
ont saying few words of the city itself,
and not dwell altogether upon the pleas
urable events of the past six weeks.
The Chief industry here is cotton, and
Savannah ranks second among all the
cities of the Union as a shipping port
aud cotton mart-our own Crescent City
taking the precedence. If a strangers
first glimpse of Savannah were obtained
from the river landing, he would be very
much impressed with the activities Of the
place, and form rather an extravagant
idea Of it's magnitude aud importance.
Nearly all the business is done on tie
street fronting the river. During the
past five years the manufacture of cotton
goods has greatly increased in the State,
and am informed by gentleman largely
interested in this industry, that during
the last three years the mills, OH an aver
age, have earned fully ten per cent. on
the capital invested. This city has a
very fine mill already, and another will
he constructed at an early day. The
Cotton Seed Oil Company here have
doubled the capacity Of their works dur
ing the past year, and the business is
said to be prosperous and increasing
one. A large snano factory has been
erected OF the wharvcs of the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway, and an
other is shortly to be built on the wharves
of the Ocean Steamship Company, the
plans Of which are already nlatured. A
company has been organized for the man
afacture of paper from the palm tree, and
a number of other small industries have
sprung up within the past twelvemontl,.
the river and harbor improvements have
progressed slowly during the year, but
what has been accom- pIishel is Of il per
manent character.
All the beacons which marked the
channel from Tybce to the city, were de-
stroyed by tho force of the hurricane of
August last, since which time only tenn
lorary structures have been i'll use. |
have heard that storm continually des-
canted upon since my arrival here, and
wherever l observe dilapidation [ am
informed that it was accustomed by the
tornado. Twenty-Five hundred tire.
We're blown down in the town itself, and
yet could not miss them, so full and
luxuriant are the avenues Of living green
that make Savannah such u fresh looking,
lovely place.
There is every facility at this port tor
the shipping, of cotton, rice, naval stores.
lumber and other articles that go to make
up the volume ct its commerce. The
cotton presses are the pride of the Savan-
nahians, and a grain elevator of large
capacity has been erected by the Ocean
Company at their wl,arves.
There are several churches of each de-
nomination here. Christ's Church is the
oldest III the South. 1t was built in the
old colonial times, and John Wesley used
TO ofhciate therein as clergyman If the
English Church. 1t is the quaintest-
looking structure yon can imag CINE, and
UU EGf H II,