New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
LOVELY CHARLESTON.
QUAINT SOCIAL CUSTOMS OF THE CARO-
LIMA TOWN.
MILES DRAW TIE STREET CARs-TRAN0U1L
pposprRITY - HOW DANCES ARE con-
prtTED -sERv ANTs-B
AFFAIRS.

'harl. sfO =
T. certainly utterly unlike any other American city
-, ouoin, leaf out OF the past. In age Of uni
,ersaI nrogress Il seems To be alone unprogressive
=, electric or cable cars hurry one along her state
IA e,ree,s or out to her suburban precincts. No
Gland and Improvement companies have cut mp
her adjacent territory into eniiclng lots No mod
,rn imposing hotel offers luxurious delay to
FIoril, travellers. And yet Charleston casts a
! notent and abiding spell over every Northern Wis
ltor Travellers stop prepared 20 take meal and
perbaps n drive to the various points or interest;
tbev begin by lingering and end by staying in
definitely: in many cases by renting house on
the Battery" and spending the winter months.
and writing their friends come at once and enjoy
with them the serene beauty of the town and ell
mate.
I, IA only necessary to cross the 81. Lawrence
River AT Polnte Lewis and enter Quebec and stay
there an hour to feel that one has IN reality
stepped out OF the busy rushing. nerye-tiring
world Of the day into sweet ana quiet spot
where one can rest and dream undisturbed over
the romantic past In equally romantic present
II IL the very same repose that descenls upon the
visitor here. on the South BATTERY. under the
historic oaks the air Is warm and tempered with
faint breezes from the sea. blowing up past Fort
Sumter which lies hazy in the distance on either
side flow the Cooper AMI Ashley rivers Behind
are the stately and venerable mansions or an
ar,istocracy which has permitted no infusion OF
new blood for over 2Oo years. Le8are-st. Is only
cool pathway between flowers and green lawns
The air ~ heavy with the perfume OF roses ana
Jasmine The curtains Of hanging moss sway
family anl drowsily. The Magnolia Gardens up
the Ashley are gorgeous with azaleas and japoncas
OF thousand hues. The cemetery on the Cooper
affords not only qule, and tranquil resting place
FOR the dead but q most inviting and care-dis-
ve.rg retreat for the living.
| Charleston Is "A most prosperous and opulent city.
Cyclones and earthquakes and tidal waves may
d!sfgure her fair homes AMI sartle her people, but
they have meyer been able 10 interrupt her pros
yrrity or discourage her fixed purpose TO succeed
and 10 hc comfortable.
Like tho "O.d Lady OF Threadne"die Street.
Charleston Is yet firm believer IL things which
do not change II VIVA: has been is good and
profitable. why ESSAY the cares and doubts and I'M
crrtalnties Of innovation! Ever since her hTst
settlement the city has maintained her oil English
and IIurienot traditions. Failures few; va
grancr Is almost unknown; hospitality properly
secured. Ia unbDunl"I; confidence once gained ~
Indefinitely extended. II disasters overtake her
n"lghbors they always rely upon Ter for prompt
AMI adequate relief II hurricanes overwaclm the
Sea Islands Charleston is the first To respond with
clothes and food and shelter. II financial ruin
threatens columbia AMI Augusta AMI savannah.
their bankers know where most money. quickest
obtained IT lowest rates Interest. he secured
Knowing his prosperous and solid status. the
Charleston who says. III this or that change
is progress | want to progress bdcl war1," can
readily b. forgiven.
one fins 10 IND ihe peculiar AMI subtle charm of
Charleston any other pac- In tn" country. and the
moment that Charleston opens her gates to modern
progress Will lose entirely everything that has
made her what she IS old landmarks disappear so
rapidly elsewhere Did houses are torn down. rem
nants OF the past Clipped of into relics or
hacked up into nrewood. Charleston has age and
sh" is protecting II rcso,utcly against all corners
In st Mlchacrs" graveyard The bones of her frs.
cipher their headstone. thos, pathetic and NOV
ing Inscriptions inspired OF simpler
The city has cmphatcaliy but one style OF archi-
.cture-l city ~ piazzas first. second. even third
and fourth story pllzzas-ail facing toward the
sun and the sci breeze Many homes and ware
houses bear sim unchanglng signs OF frequent
earihquales on their walls and carry In them the
shells - her hpubl rlmeni. The trees which cover
the "I;lttery" aal line Mc"ting-st are old. very
olI The carving AMI framework OF the houses are
mom.nips II time when soldity AMI dignity
wcr. sine qua mons ~ the builders art.
Society Is not AT all modern In Charleston The
front windows of the Charleston Club show drawn
blinds aIwa.- for x has never been the custom
there for men sit at them and watch and
criticlsc the women they pass IN the street.
Furthermore. II Is regarded a. an objectionable
breach ~ eiiquett. even t. mention IA womans
name IN the club The -. Cecilia Society contains
Oh m membership list all the nrisocracy Of the city
II ON. would be I'm society" In Charleston one
must belong t. the -. Cecilia. This society gives
three balls each winter and most enchanting and
delightful affairs they Everything proceeds
like ci,ckwork. The ban begins 1T o'clock. and
while the opening strains ~ music are swelling the
girls -ilul In groups beside and around their
chapnr,us ard III their cards for all the dances.
Some chlperons have a. many fifteen or twenty
vnung girls In their charge. Tn" ln1 II
imperative be- on hlnI during this first ten min
utcs. otherwise thcir chances for rartners in the
dtnces are simply all. Some Northern men. ac-
cusioineI To- drop In late nj the Philadelphia or
N,w-Yort balls have done 50 here once. perhaps.
bat only ONCE. The chaperons 50 around the ball
room In chairs arranged on Il raised dais. When
the music OF dance begins all the girls leave their
FARMERS anl gather beside their chap"rons. who
stand mp 10 receive thoih. and are there found by
their new partners for the approaching dance. This
ru!. IL ,uvil'it Music strikes up chapcrons
arise. dcbutantrs flock round them. partners come
UP dance begins. No girl ever be detained
with longer than one dance at the st.
C.cilias She may .ngage herself To dance with
him ~ often rs she NJ. but each opening
strain brings relief. She mus, leave him and go to
her chapcron. and IL the next dance bc.ongs To
the same man he must claim her there again
All the conversation and all IN" teton -tetes trans
Pie the room. There are no lcafy and flower
surrounlel bowers such as lovers haunt no stair
way seats "Why. this IL "A rite. not ball. exclaimed
4 lovely bud from some Northern city. The sup
pcrs always fall at the end Of the ball. and with
manlfes' good reason
Receptions. balls and progressive euchre parties
are frequent at the fine old houses during the gay
season The Oldest members OF society are OIL
GERS and managers of the St Ccclias. younger
set control the three cotlons which occur each
winter but the sam. precise rules OF decorum gov
ern them give the other functions their severely
local flavor and enchantment
AZ many OF the aristocratic and venerable
Charleston mansions set back in and surround
ed by large grounds. the visitor from the North
viii be surprised to lind the gate locked and "A bell
there which he must ring The servant comes out
to the gate and receives his card there and leads
the way into the reccptionroom. All OF the SER
wants In Charleston are coored and excellent ser
wants they make. No one has IA kcener perception
OF a real gentleman. from his APPEARANCE alone.