Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-26
AT ATLANTA.
Second Paper of Series by
Mrs. Anna Sargent Hunt.
First Days Experience of Woman's
Press Association at Hotel.
More Pleasing Experience at Exercises Of
Association in Assembly Hall.

ton great prestige to be SO nearly opposite
Gen. Sherman's headquarters and the
governor mansion
1t was something for even four days to
consider ourselves residents of "Peach
Tree street" the Fifth avenue, the Mich
gan boulevard, the Euclid avenue of
Atlanta, and to breathe its very exclusive
atmosphere with the city aristocracy but,
we verify believed that the one who
informed US that such and such houses
were the only ones that escaped in the
destruction of Atlanta had told us
deliberate falsehoOd. Did we not see
against the ceilings the self same Cobwebs
| that waved their iuDilant adieus to the
Federal troops when the scene of opera
| tons was changed? Were there not upon
the staircases the veritable atoms of
Southern soil which were shaken from the
feet Of the tIampiDg hosts? Had not the
lint heaps looking out at us with curious
eyes been accommodating ever since the
chairs were set against the wall in the
days Of the Rebellion: We looked aghast
at the s0ilcd carpets, at the SCOT and smut
spotted furnishings decorated by the
clouds of smoke pouring from the tall
chimneys into the upper rooms by reason
of Atlanta 5 foe to cleanliness-the baleful
soft coal-and then we said again, ''What
shall we dog Some said, I'VE will go
elsew here" and they did so without
farther parleying, while Others agreed to
carry out the plan made as our president
had supposed for the best Of good of all
concerned and resigned themselves to
their fate. determined to exercise stoical
indifference to the lack of system, neat
ness and thrift which was noticeable in
all things The table groaning under it's
load of side dishes with contents neither
tempting nor nutritious must have been
source of waste and imp0veriShmen t
Northern devotecs to the idea of prompt
service could lily brook the delays which
brought the matches ordered before day
light, after the sun was well up, the hot
water after the cold had been used and
the need forgotten, and which caused the
blankets desired in the first nights cold
to he among the missing quantities even
at this late date. Everything was behind
hand, even the clocks and the sun himself
seemed to have fallen into most indolent
habits. Understanding that our first
lunch was to be served at l O'Clock
and having made ourselves ready for the
occasion, we were surprised at the appar-
ent Indifference of those already estab
lished in the house and who coolly in
formed us that there was an hours
difference in the time and notwithstand
ing our sharpened appetites we must wait
an hour, for it was then but IL o clock
We cannot dismiss the Atlanta hotel
matter without mentioning the fact that
where Northern men have invested their
capital and their characteristic energy, rs
well appointed hotels exist and rs efficient
service is offered as in any Northern city.
An instance of this was our neighbor the
Aragon, named after the royal house Of
Aragon of spain, its crest being adopted
for its stationery and its monogram for
the furniture. 1t was built in 1892 by a
New York gentleman, and is managed by
| a Pbiladelphian. 1t is Il striking example
of what can be done even in the South.
| Its reception rooms, dining loom and
| sleeping apartments with their decora
| tions and furnishings are like those of
well ordered home, the menu Is excellent
! in the superative degree, the walters have
caught the contagion of brlskness, and
accurateuess and never fail to respond
with alacrity The roof garden with its
crest and towers ablaze with electric
| lights. offers unlimited enchantment with
| its palms and flowers and orchestra to the
guests who avail themselves of the restfui
chairs. rockers aud settees which abound.
At home or abroad the interests to
which we are committed have always n
fascination paramount to all other attrac-
tions and while the Ballard remnant Of
our party discussed the relative attrac-
| tions for the afternoon, of rest or sight see
| ing. we mentally settled on our own course
| If action regardless of any one else choice.
We decided to find our way to Spelman
| Seminary. the largest institution for the
education Of colored women and girls IN
| America (u-e found it, and will tell the
| Journal readers of it later but before
setting out on our expedition we WILL
| from an upper window. get bird eye
view of Atlantis, the Chicago OF the
| south" And now we believe what we
have read of her crazy topography OF
tangle. W.
m NOT doubt the assertion of the pioneers
that the city was laid out along Indian
trails and COW paths.
The serpentine windings OF the
thoroughfares and the net WORK OF street
RAILWAYS gives the place checkerpoaro
aspect, and we have glimpses OF palatiai
residences, which are few iu comparison
70 the humble homes and almost lost
si,bt of as far as numbers are concerned
when we count the little cabins OF the
colored people in the outlying districts
ye see her churches. public buildings,
ard ware houses. her state capitol, the
suburban parks, in the distance the ex-
nosition buildings, and like great grim
sentinel dozen miles away stone
mountain. which gives largely to Its
wealth of granite for the paving OF the
city. We cannot help venturlhg the
oninion that Chicsgo's resurrection from
he asbes of 1871. is not more wonderful
than Atlanta new existence after the
rain Of fire which followed in the wake OF
Sherman,s march to the sea. When the
citv fell in 1864 the population was less
than $1,000 when we contrast 'ness
figures with the present loo,ooo ana
remember that Atlanta mas now ie ~
,;1,;ona;res 100 churches, 100 miles OF
/ -. r.;lxravs nearly 100 miles Of paving