The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-12-02

Healthy.
During a recent visit to Aiken I was
much impressed with the evidences OF
material prosperity exhibited oy the
little city on every side That lude-
Unable sir of well-being. which is the
attribute of hourishing towns as well
as of fourishing men, was every mere
felt as Istrolied up and down the
broad streets, or drove out INTO tne
surrounding country over carefully
graded roads. Here and there came
across a really manorial residence, the
winter home of some wealthy North
erner; and all the houses. IN town a2d
out. bore cheering signs osthat whlcn,
alas, is not too frequently seen IN the
South--fresh paint and plenty OF IT.
A peculiar interest attached 10 LnlS s
visit for me. Itwas the return OF 'le
prodieal, so to speak, to the nome o.
his fathers: for it was in the old ho!ei,
(the property fmy srandfathero on the
maternal side, that was burned last
sprinc thst-more years ago than !
care TO remember made my hrSt
how or yowl. to an Indifferent world.
was but child when spirited North
ward, but the place Of my birth has al
ways occupied :. tender spot IN my
memory, as it would be strange indeed
had it not.
Not being prodigy have only dim
recollections CT that Aiken OF long
ago, but I am quite sure that South OF
the old Fleming place-where / spent
many happy hours-shere was vast
pine forest where now there are wide
streets and handsome new residences.
The shabby little railroad station OF
my childhood days has given place to
commodious building, brilliant with
electric lights Main street is lined
with attractive shops where OF yore
but two or three general stores in
vited trade; and the elegant Highland
Park Hotel, the comfortable H1sch
House, and other well-ordered hostel
ries welcome the weary traveller where
once the old caravansary-noW q heap
OF bricks and charred timbers-was
the place of public entertainment for
man and beast.
Whatever may have been the Aiken
of the past, the Aiken Of the present IS
live, up-to-date little city wit.l a
wealth of natural attractions that
draws TO it season after season an ever
increasing throng OF visitors. 1t has
long been known as a health resort
whose wonderful fall and winter eli
mate stands unequalled by that of any
other place in the United State, and by
that Of few localities throu yhout the
world. But this beautiful spot is fast
becoming known as pleasure resort
also, and each succeeding winter sees
men and women of means and culture
fastening towards Aiken where all the
favorite outdoor pastimes-riding,
driving, hunting, polo, golf. and ten
nis-may be pursued from December
to April with but rare interference
from the weather.
In fact, those who are in search Of
health and pleasure combined, Aiken
offers attractions that are almost ideal.
It is nearly six hundred feet above the
level Of Lis sea, and thus secures an
atmosphere that while bracing is not
productive OF the discomfort so often
experienced at greater elevations.
Then. for a radius of twenty miles the
town is surrounded by pine forest
which protects it to great extent from
bleak winds, and gives sweet aroma.
The long leaf yellow pine seems to be
the characteristic growth of this re.
gioa, and it is to the exhalations Of
this tree that the climate of Aiken
/@00btiess owes much OF its well-de-
served reputation. -
The temperature in winter IS mild,
and the observations of the thermome-
ter in the open air show the average
daily mean for the cold season, from
December Is to March Is, to be about
49 degrees. OF course ice is formed
occasionally, and perhaps once or
twice during January and February
little snow may fall, but sunshine
is the distinguishing feature Of this
locality. and when the rest OF the
world is shuddering beneath leaden
skies. Aiken is bathed in cheering
brightness.
think the nature OF the soil contri-
butes almost as much as the climate
to the saluority of the place. Being
composed of loose sand mixed largely
with gravel to a great depth, lying
upon a stratum of red clay or kaolin,
the rains soak in at once, and are car
ried off to the creeks and distant rivers,
so that almost Immediately after a
heavy shower little water remains on
the surface, and persons can walk out
with impunity. But Columbia is not
behind Aiken in this favorable regard
and, indeed, | imagine the soil OF the
two places is very similar, If not
identical.
l believe Aiken claims the purest
water supply in the United States, and
cites figures and analyses to support
it; but as this is not statistical paper
it is only series Of amplifed notes
taken on the spot-and as, moreover,
I have not the figures at hand, | will
only say that the city's water is OBJ
tanned from an artesian well eight
inches in diameter and 760 feet deep,
the last 100 feet running into solid
granite, from which the flow is OBJ
tanned. This pure water which IS
said to effect cures Of dyspepsia and
rheumatism-is distributed through
the town by an excellent system of
water-mains, and in use in all the no
tells and most of the private houses.
Of course the large sums of monsJ
spent by wealthy Northerners who
make Aiken their winter home form
the basis of the prosperity of the city;
but to the spirit of local pride, which
has only of late years been thorough
~ aroused, much of the towns recent
progress is due.
Captain W. W. Williams, de-
scendant of the family that first set
tied Aiken, tells US there was time,
NOT 50 very lonr 400. when the winter