The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-10
SAVANNAH SCENES.
Graphically Described by One of sn-
yannah's Winter visitors.

One of Savannah's visitors during the
month of March was Julia Morgan Hard
ing. on her return north she wrote for
the Pittsburg Post a charming letter de-
scriptive Of our beautiful city and its
chief attractions. The following are brief
extracts from it:
"All cities by the sea make more or
less impressive appearance, and by vir-
tue Of their surroundings have an advant-
age over inland towns. Savannah is not
actually on the sea. but its broad river
and docks at which float ships from all
over the world its salt marshes and wide
estuaries give it a picturesqueness which
no other town in Georgia can rival 1t
was the first settlement IN Georgia, ana
made a narrow escape from being the first
in America, for the caravels OF Columbus
were headed straight for the savannah
river, wl&nL a flight Of birds to the
southwark attracted the navigator's eye,
and he changed his course and followed
them, leaving the way open for Ogle-
thorpe to found the colony of Georgia, and
bluff b R.'"' the A"S''S" nag ." ''-'a'i q ="
When Oglethorpe made his plan of the
city he was assisted by Col. William Bull,
and for him the principal street, and now
faVorite promenade, was named. 1t eX-
tends from the city exchange, overlooking
the river, right through the heart of the
town 20 Forsyth park and the parade, and
beyond to the White Bluff shell road. 1t
passes through I'VE squares, in which are
the Greene, Gordon, Jasper and Pulaski
monuments, and leads to the confederate
monument in the parade ground. Some
of the most beautiful residences
While " South Broad, Liberty and
other wider avenues are even more at
tractive with their esplanades and four
rows of overaching oaks.
The monuments of Savannah are worth
more than passing mention, not only for
their historic value, but because they are
artistic and creditable to the city, and add
greatly to its beauty.
It is to oglethorpe that Savannah is in
debted for its most striking and beautiful
feature. the alternating open square, de-
signed originally as places of refuge for
the cOlonists in case of attack, but which
are now charming little parks, shady and
filled with flowers. where Violets, jessa-
mine and the stately camellias for which
Savannah Is famous, bloom all winter. 1t
well deserves its name of Forest City, -
every street being lined with huge water
oaks, interspersed with dark green magno-
las, conventional palmettoes, catalpas and
banana trees.
Savannah has an air of cleanliness and
prosperity not often noticeable in the
south, and its proximity to the sea, while
il has been accused of causing some damp
ness in the air, certainly contributes to-
ward its celebrating effect. Here and
there, as one drives through the smooth
and shaded streets, one comes upon Quaint
and charming old colonial houses many of
which occupy an entire square, the squares
by the way, being considerably smaller in
certain old parts of the town than they
are in others.
Some Of these relics of old days have
been restored to their early splendor, and
nowhere could one find more stately homes
than they make. Others are falling into
decay, as for instance, the old Habersham
house, owned by the descendants of James
Habersham, a friend and fellow-colonist of
Oglethorpe, and whose portrait hangs in
the rooms of the Georgia Historical So
ciety
Its architecture is purely colonial the
front of the house occupying the entire
length of the square, and high walls con-
Meeting i with the stables and servants
quarters fronting on the street at the rear
These brick garden walls are one of the
delights of savannah; they are high and
thick, with arched gateways; but their
peculiar feature is that there are alter
mating spaces between the bricks just
such as children leave when building pyra-
mids and walls with their blocks" and
through them one catches a glimpse of
trim-set, old-fashioned hedges. and low
ering bushes, and little watts of perfume
from 1essamine and roses.
Hopknson Smith. who recently visited
Savannah. was enthusiastic over its pic
turesque beauty, and especially pleased