Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-05-15
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

q and he has thought tnat MS impress
sions of that famous place may prove
of interest to the readers of this paper.
Charleston has an individuality OF
its own. 1t is quite likely there is no
other place just like it in this country
or any other country, for that mat
ter. When its first settlers, a colony
of Enghshmen, selected it for site
for a town in 1879 they displayed
wisdom in the choice they made. 1t
is on an alluvial plain between the
Ashley and the Cooper rivers, which
here unite, and so in front of the city
is the iliInitable sea. The harbor is
a splendid one, the water front ex-
tending for nine miles, and the chan
mel leading to it is SO feet deep. Time
was when Charleston had great ship
ping interests, but other ports have
offered inducements and the railroads
have so manipulated traffic that this
business has seriously declined. The
Charlestonians look melancholy when
they point out the decaying wharves
and the deserted warehouses that were
once so lively and the scene Of so
prosperous an activity. The people
are not without hope, however, that
the tide will turn some Of these days.
The most curious thing about
Charleston is the way in which the
people shut themselvesin. The houses
are not set closely together, but each
has its flower garden in front or at
the side, so that from the wide piazzas
that every dwelling must have the
fresh air may be freely obtained. But
the air is the only thing that may in
wade the premises unobstructed. A
high brick wall, stout iron fence or
some sort of barricade protects every
dwelling from its friendsas well as It's
enemies. Literally every man house
is his castle. The walls may not be
easily scaled, and the gates, as gen.
eral thing, are kept locked. Up Vir-
ginia way when you want to call on
a friend or visit neighbor you just
walk in. In Charleston you 90 to the
gate, ring the bell or push the button,
and wait until some one comes and
inspects you and let's you inf you
pass muster. Some magnificent houses
in the lovelest of gardens are so sur
rounded by high brick walls that only
a glimpse of the inside may be OBJ
tanned. Once within, however, there
is no lack Of friendly hospitality or
kind consideration. No one seems
able to give a reason for this peculiar
custom of building walls and fences
around the dwellings, though the
probability is it was imported from
the mother country whence came the
early settlers. The Charlestonians
do not feel called upon to give any
reason for the usage. Their fathers
and their fathers fathers before them
did so, and that is sufficient. If other
places DO differently, that is their
lookout. AS to changing any estab-
hshed custom, you might as well talk
of changing the course of the stars.
Charleston changes in nothing. We
have 1t from authority that persons
Of progressive ideas who have from
time to time hopefully set out to
change this or that condition have re-
tired discounted and undone, and up
to this time no apparent impression
has been made upon the venerable
institutions that are so entirely salts
factory to the descendants Of the orig
inators. 1t is indeed sanguine per-
son who will attempt reforms here.
Though you would not think it to
stroll about the town, Charleston is
the second wealthlest city in the Uni
ted States, in proportion to its popu-
lation. 1t has twenty banks, and
they have tremendous deposits. Those
who have not their wealth invested
in this way condemn the practice Of
soaking away money in bank at 4
per cent, and say that the wealthy
ought to use their means in the estab-
lishment of industrial enterprises,
There is very little manufacturing
in Charleston. 1t was not so done by
the fathers, and factory for manu-
featuring bagging, rice mill or two.
and a few minor industries are about
the extent. The people get along,
however, and everybody seems to
have money to spend.
The population OF the city is about
10000 and 10000 of these are COL
ored people. You may see the genu-
Inc negro here-the real thing. He
and his fairly swarm about the streets
like ants, but they are not all impu-
dent or offensive and give little or no
trouble to the whites, even though
they are in such a majority. Hun
dreds of them hawk vegetables and
fruits about the streets, and their Pc
culiar calls as they cry their wares
are very funny.
One ofthe quaint features of Charles
ton is the number of ancient churches
that it carefully cherishes. ST. Mich
ael's, founded in 1854, is the most IA
nous of them all, and of course has, ,
pew in which Washington once sat.
IfOne should Judge by its appearance of
antiquity, we should be almost ready
to believe that Columbus himself had
been there. 1t has the old-fashioned
box seats and is a Landmark as re-
nowned as it is ancient. The earth
quake of 1886 came near demolishing
it, bur it was restored after folks got
over their scare. 1t has tower $50
feet high. Other very old churches
are the Huguenots' Church and St.