The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-21
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SAVANNAH 100 YEARS AGO.
Famous People Who Made Society.
Romantic story.

Cuyler Smith, in Atlanta Journal
Social life in Georgia from 1888, the date
of the settlement to 1888 the c.ose of the
revolution, was confined to the larger
towns, Savannah and Augusta. To under
stand the social relations Of the people we
must first know to what race they belong
Savannah, from 1888 to SO, was peopled al
most entirely by Englishmen, hence the
decidedly Anglo-SaXon trend of all their
pleasures, which in that period seemed
to have mainly consisted of hunting, fenc-
ing, riding and throwing quoits and the
other field sports of the day. That quoits
found devotees is evinced by the forma ton
of the first masculine social organization
in Georgia, the al Saints Quot Club" at
Savannah. The members were mostly
young men who met ia the rear of Peter
Tondee's tavern, which was the largest in
the town, situated on the corner of
Broughton and Whitaker streets. There
these sporty young men met and, laying
aside their embroidered coats and waist
coats, tossing sword and belt on conVen-
lent tables, engaged in the Homeric game,
to their great satisfaction and incidental
~ the profit Of old Peter Tondee, who kept
a flowing bowl near at hand. These young
men were especially fond Of OLD Madeira,
and gave to one choice old importation the
name of their club.
Tondee's tavern and Mrs. Patton's cof-
fee house on the bay were the clubs"
for gentlemen. Here the newly arrived
sea captains, who had weathered the flu
rious gales of Hatteras, or stolen quietly
past the ever watchful Spaniards at ST.
Augustine, gave the latest news from
New York, Philadelphia, Massachusetts,
bay or England, via Basseterre. in the
island of St. Christopher. James Johnson.
editor Of the only paper IN Georgia, The
Royal Georgia Gazette; Peter Tondee the
most; lebanon Cuyler, ship owner of
New York: John Mullrynne, land
holder; Old Lachlan McGillervary, the
richest man in the province; Sir Patrick
Houston, an aristocTatic baronet; David
Montague. secretary of the ugly Club"
and other organizations; John Mlledge
Jonathan Bryan, Charles Garmany, Nor
decai Sheftall Rory" Mcintosh of Nal
low, who always came followed by his
piper, who played Justify the Scottish ma
tional airs to the great satisfaction OF
Rory and pleasure Of dozens of small
boys. Noble Wlmberly Jones, command
er of the troop who saved the infant col
ony from Mary Bosomworth, Empress
of Georgia" and her Indians, and score
of boon companions, could be found al
Tondee's every night, drinking, but not
too deep. singing, testing and most merri-
~ passing the time.
News was scarce in those days and peo-
pie always made public all items CLEANED
from personal letters. Mrs Patton's cof-
fee house on the bay was the rendezvous
of all who desired more quiet surround
ings in which they might discuss the af-
fairs Of those troubled times, for Tondee's
tavern sometimes resounded with the
clash of sovereign steel as bare blades
were crossed to settle disputes Mrs
Patton was a peachy-cheeked English
woman and retailed to the ladies of the
town such gossip as she CLEANED from the
conversation of her guests, as she served
them with good coffee and the sweet dam
ties of her oven.