Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-05
CHARMING OLD CHARLESTON.

CHARMlNG OLD CdARLES1 YIN.
| Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
CHARI rsToN, S. c., Jan. 25.-The
South rs It wes, AID tie South IS it is !
The comparison as draw here is ire ely
and .-equently commented upon in f'l
s ,ctions of the county, and it u the
Universal opinion abroad that we ore
now in the era of the NEW South, :"
leaving behind rs the forms and GUS
toms Of ante bellum days, but this i'm
preston is evidently not in evidence ju
this beautiful "Old City by the Sea"
1t would not be necessary for one to
close his eyes to imagine the Charles.
ton of to-day the same old town that
history and tradition pictured in such
glowing terms some thirty years ago.
The fist thing that attracts the tour
is's' attention in alightlng from the rail
read traiu is the one-horse "bob-tail
r"that is N waiting to conduct HIN
nIs destination. This is surprise not
TO say mock 10 the average traveller, ss
he is ussi TO rapid tiansit, but while
ne capuet tide as rapidly through the
streets he might wish if ne should
happen 10 be in hurry, ne
gets his moneys worth in accom-
mediation IS the driver would very WIZ
iugly stop for him to 20 in and purchase
cigar or other needed refreshments.
The question of improved street rail
ways has been raised several times but
noihiDg practical has ever resulted. A
prominent Charlestonian expressed the
opinion that the streets were too mar
row to permit of rapid transit aud
.lrther added that ''it would never do,
uly way, as the street cars would be too
fast for verything else in the town"
Anoted hosiery is the Charleston Ho-
tel, which is fitted up in s dsgree Of
mfort ana elegance that reflects
credit upon its managers and stands as
living monument to their progressive
ness and enterprise. The building is
one of the most imposing in the city,
being supported by immense marble
pillars that add to the beauty of the
structure and appeal to the artistic
taste of all visitors. The hotel has for
years been one of the best known in the
South, but not until recently and under
its present management has it reached
that state of perfection that places it
now on q par with the handsomest
houses in America. This hotel is the
temporary home of many tourists, as
| Charleston is coming in for a large share
of the patronage that formally visited
Florida.
Itwould be hard to imagine lovelier
spoS for the northern invalid or pleas
ure seeker to come in the search of
health and diversion than here,
situated only about five miles
.iom the broad Atlantic with the
,oper river and Forts Sumter ard
Mouitrie on the east, the Ashley river
and beautiful lake on the south and
west, and filed with old southern
homes, many of them still having the
signs of the elegance and refinement
Of the old regime; with large yards
containing stately live oaks, magnolias,
cedars, palmettoes and other trees and
a variety of choice flowers. This can in
deed be likened to lovely haven of
rest for the tired and weary. The
stvle of architecture is quaint and
unique and in may instances old
fashioned, but all of this adds to the
general attractiveness of the surround
Jugs and givo7 to them picturesque
appearance nowhere else seen.
A model of elegance and taste is
handsome white marble residence own
ed by Mr.. Andrew Simonds on South
Battery. This houee, like q great
many others in Charleston, se;s back
in beautiful yard sad, after the man
ner of other hanteoTe residences here,
is pl ovided with irnr nerable balconies.
From an al abite ctural ard artistic
pc Mt, this nansion, irs location and
surroundings, will probably compare
favorably with sny hoile in America.
Locking out upon the fash'oDable pa
rade. known .ar and wide as the "Bat-
terry" and commanding view of
water front uusm passed for its clear
ness a. d .oauty, this modern palace,
with just enough antiquity about
it to make it southern attracts
the admiration of all lovers of the
beautii1l, and creates the spirit of
envy in the bosom of many passers-by.
There is perhaps no social organiyl-
tiol in America that is so old or so ex.
clusivef7 the 'St. Cecilia" The So
ciety We founded in 1852 by some of
tie or;ginal blue bloods ofSouth Csro-
lima, md hes been sustained by their
descen6c15 ever since. The st. Ce-
ella is 1nsidered the stepping stone to
the social heaven, and there ;s an un-
written law in the city TO the
effect that if one does not live
on the Batiely or Legare street,
does not attend st, Michael's church
and does not belong to the s..
| Cecil q society he is beyond lltura
reward II the world to come. The
ss. Cola IS run entirely upon ped
see b; rs wl0hout regard to wealth or
| worldly goods, the only essential be; ag
| that each and every memher must in
every sense De gentleman and not
have his hands soiled by having been
| in "trade." The talls. while charac
| terized by dignity, are yet informal
and very delightful, for everybody
knows everybody else. The proceed
ines, however, are never sven for pub
lication, and if the energetic newspa-
per man gets in at all it must be as a
wolf 10 sleeps clothing; IN other words
if he IS fortunate enough to receive an
invitation he must put on his claw
| hammer coat and trust to mental