The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1888-07-26
ANTIQUITIES OF MARIETTA,
As Graphically Told by Pioneer.

distance thousand miles from
everywhere-but is interesting in
its chronology representing as it
does the spread and growth of Amer
lean civilization without the aid of
modern appliances, other than the
woodlands axe and the pioneers OK
carD for one century dating from
the birth of the Father of his
Country" and we may add that the
city is just the age of Georgia's most
eminent soldier and citizen Gov.
John B. Gordon.
If, in the early part Of the thir-
ties, a tourist had been taking notes
of the features of interest in the ris-
ing city, the humble fame" where
the steelyards of justice are suppos-
ed to be poised and presided over by
that "disinterested" female with
bandaged eyes, could not have es-
capped recognition, standing out in
''sweet solitude" in the great square
that appeared to our juvenile eyes
to embrace no small portion of all
"out- doors" There was modesty,
a rusticity, "a lonliness about it that
seemed to appeal for sympathy rs
memory recalls-after lapse Of
more than fifty years-it stood North
of, and near that large oak on the
walk going towards the southeast
corner OF the park, in fact the walk
must take in the site. We should
judge its dimensions TO be about Ia
by 10 feet, terra frma floor, roof low
of pitch, after the manner Of an
tique Greek temples, and resolutely
held onsby weight logs. AS to its
height we are not so sure, but are OF
: opinion that even a good sized horse
l If he did not, like some bipeds,
hold his head too high-could
have been comfortably sheltered
within it, and as it appeared to be
the oldest building in the place by
decade the reader is doubtless, con-
WINGED that, considering its purpose,
it was very antique" building in
every respect. Now as to whether
its presence, so early, was necesi-
ty, or merely intended as a gentle
reminder of what might happen I'M
der certain conditions, is an open
question. However, never having
heard of any use to which that "tem-
pie" was applied, we are OF the opin-
ion that its purpose was entirely or
namental. There is something
needed to relieve the extent and
monotony OF the view, hence that
hall was built and it afforded the
vision "half way belt" while trav-
cling from one extreme to the other.
TO illustrate the progressive ten
dency of the young bloods Of that
day, it may be in order to relate an
incident characteristic Of those
times. The reader will doubtless
imagine that nothing but the fertile
brain Of a scion of the future Gem
City could have conceived anything
so recherche, or execute it so occult
ly and at the same time so brilliant
ly. One fine morning the excellent
family carriage Of uncle Jimmie An
derson, and doubtless the only one in
the town, was discovered perched
upon the towering pinacle-aye even
astride the very ridge-pole of that
temple Of justice. What puzzle
to us urchins as to how it got there.
and how 1t was to come down Now,
lest some some adherent to the OAR
winian idea Of evolution may use
this incident to brace up his favor
tie theory, we will say that notwith-
standing it must have taken a great
deal of ''monkeying" to have car
ried out that project so successive
ly, yet we have it on good authority
that intent was entirely utilitarian
and not with malice aforethought,
but that the carriage was merely
put on exhibition, in conspicuous
place for the inspection Of those cit
liens who had hitherto only been
accustomed to ground-slides AID OK
carts, and from this first carriage
exposition" Marietta has steadily
: improved until she is now unsur-
passed in that line, by any city in