National Republican., 1888-06-03
Under THE PINES.
Interesting Gossip About u Southern
Health Resort.


Especial correspondence of the REPuBMcAS.l
AIKEN, 5. c., May 30.-Aiken is well
known as one Of our most popular health
resorts, especially during the winter, for in
valids from the north. They come and go
with the regularity of migratory birds. An
article in recent number Of Hdrpe's
Magazine justly ranks Aiken as one of the
famous health resorts of the world.
The town is on an elevated pine ridge
about 100 miles from Charleston and seven
teen from Augusta, Ga, on the South Caro-
lima railroad, one of the oldest, II not the
oldest railroad In the country AS you
leave "the city by the sea" the country
gradually rises until you reach Aiken on
the above ridge, when It rapidly falls into
the valley Of the Savannah river, on which
the thriving town Of Augusta, Ga, Is stu
ated. So steep Is the descent from Aiken
that an inclined plane Of some five miles in
length was at first built here on which the
cars were let down or drawn up between
Aiken and Granteville, the site now OF one
of the best cotton manufactures In the
south. This has long since been abandoned
for u steep grade track cut through and
over the hills Near the top of the old in
Clined plane-Overlooking the fair valley
of the Savannah--has been built since the
war one of the best hotels in the new south.
This is crowded to overlooking during the
winter.
The face of the land is covered with the
fragrant pines from which SO much valuable
timber is made, while in the spring the yell
low iessamine, the crab. apple, and dogwood
weave their garlands in the shade. The air
is pure and light and. free from the malaria
Of the low country. No wonder the birds
of passage alitht here from MS far north as
Canada and blizZard-stricken Dakota to
spend the winter. Many people from the
north have settled at Aiken and made 1t Il
permanent home. Others have bought
farms and built houses, spending the winter
here and the summer farther north, while
still another class find temporary abode in
the many private homes Of the citizens,
which are open to them on very reasonable
terms.
The population of Aiken, | should say, is
about ,000, white and colored, scattered
over large area. The annual visitors
would number nearly as many, more, There
is Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist
Catholic, and Baptist church in the town, so
that the visitors are accommodated in this
respect. The bells are little too near, and
slightly discordant, but the focks under
stand them. 1t was my privilege to OIL
ciate for more than month at the Baptist
church, enabling the pastor, the Rev. Lucius
IutnDeft, 10 40 some important WORK III Ile
neighboring country. You may judge of
the cosmopolitan character of the Aiken
congregation, when tell you that had in
my audience people from Canada, Boston,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Dakota. On previous visit addressed n
colored jubilee meeting, where the visitors
from the north were entertained by the
weird spiritual melodies of the negro.
The town covers quite large area. The
South Carolina railroad passes by a deep
cut through the center of 1t. The streets,
parallel with or at right angles to this cut,
are wider than our spacious avenues in
Washington. The houses are generally Of
wood, with fine gardens around them.
Walking under the glorious pines, breath
ing the sweet, pure air, drinking in the
melody. Of the feathered songsters, com
muning with the dear circle at Glendale,
near Aiken, the residence of the Baptist
pastor, you will understand the inspiration
of the scene and place.
i ran down to "the city by the sea" for II
brief visit-Charleston Smitten by war,
fire, storm, pestilence, earthquake, but
brave, patient, and rising regcncrated from
the ashes. But more of this anon.
j. III. CuTuDERT.