Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-03-28
FIVE DAYS IN CHARLESTON.
A Beautiful and Historic City-Some
Characteristic Features-PIaces Of
1nterest-Wonders at the Exposition
Observations and Incidents

tended tour of some weeks along tn
Atlantic SeabOard. from Charleston
). G., to the sOuthernmost point along
the east coast of Florida. A trip from
ice and snow to the sunny tropics
Q embracing the most interesting an(
historic section of this wonderful
South land. | shall therefore eudeay
or, in series of letters, to give ou1
readers the benefit of such Observable
and personal incident as have most
Impressed me. These letters will an
pear in the SPECTATOR from time t(
time IS space and opportunity permit
First In the public eye and OF most
general interest now, is the city of
Charleston and its national exposition.
From Staunton or any point in the
Valley, the trip is made in but few
hours with train service that affords
the ease and luxury of a first class
b oIel. and whirls the tourist through
the great cotton belt and cotton man
ufacturing sections of the Carolinas,
But aside from the exposition the city
of Charleston and it's historic environ
ments are well worth the trip south.
1t is here the first gun of the civil
war was fired from famous Fort Sum.
ter, Fort Moultree, Sullivan Island.
Castle Pinckney, all within the harbor
and in full view from Battery Park,
the most remarkable park overlook.
| ing most beautiful sheet of water.
Charleston is a quaint, conservative
| community, preserving the customs
aad habits of generations past, pos
| sesslng colonial-day charm that EN-.
! braces the early English, French and
Spanish features, as delig htful as it is
| refreshing in this day of ostentatious
wealth. 1t is city of modern
business methods and activity, but it's
| home life is Its charm, it's wealth is for
private enjoyment and not for public
display, 1T is for the comfort and en-
Joyment of the family and not for pub
lie show. Here the home is the abode
or culture and modest refinement the
grounds around the mansion, however
beautiful, are surrounded by a high |
iron fence OF stone wall and a locked |
gate. The door bell'' is there and one |
must ring for admission on the street,
just as elsewhere they do at the front |
door. In other words the home and I
It's grounds are private, and many a
rusty or shabby exterior. is within
the hnely appointed, elegantly fur
nlshed abode OF wealth. The general
style of architecture is Spanish-Colo
NAL, with high white pilIared veran
das, reaching from basement to roof.
9ariy all the lawns are side Yards,
with double decker side porticos, hung
with shutters, built three and some
times four stories high, and all pOrticos ,
IRE Quilt facing south, from whence
comes the cooling sea breezes. Where t
aver a side yard residence is built flush ,
With the street, entrance is always bad S
through the end of the long veranda $
winch Is planked in and closed with a i
ocked door.
The city is replete with memories /
ird customs of an historic past, a |
atmosphere and scenes SO i
traDge that the visitor almosts
maglnes himself in foreign
country. The vegetable and fish ven. I
ers are for the most part negro wo
men. who peddle their wares through
he streets, and carry their stock in
rade balanced on the head, in large =
askets. Another scene both UNIQUE y
Id amusing, is witnessed at the city y
market, where flock of mesticated %
uzzard scavengers are at their daily =
Iork keeping the market clean, and y !.
light we'll do they perform their duty. a a
hey know when Sunday comes and "
he market closed and are off to the ~
ountry Saturday evening till Monday y y
forming. They are fam1liarly known ~
3 "Charleston's Scavengers. No =
ty in America, not excepting ",
ew Orleans, and st. Angus D
ne, have SO preserved antiquity. D
o say that it is all charm -
lg and delightful is no part of exag .,
grafton. When We arrived IN the city ,ae
ar first glimpse of the place from the ~ ~
lllroad station to our boarding house, ";
as enough to arouse keen interest, -
as soon as a few moments rest had 81
zen secured We sailed for, b to ''dO VI
e town." The .quaintness of the ~ ~
gifts carried us on and our rising en- -.
uslasm killed the feeling of weari- &c &c
Il tho ,1oon,o,.ts. IL VIZ GiUa ais
,nrobas ry;th . So; -, Ioe tI fri
me, till East Battery Park burst up
our view. My companions remarks
to this time had been series of
his A.! and Abs !. now we admired in !
ence: The sun was sinking as ball To- To-
fire beneath the waters of Ashley 10 %.
yer, casting lengthenlng shadows III r.,
rough the grove of live oaks, and nc
'Ahao, OOhCTGA WulCI WGIC Willie
! two Sides on ayenne of handsn LII
sidancas ond ON A. 49, fnt CT
no 500 will mo,nted h., civ, 49, err
,p ord o,or+o. bot4o.i ~ LII Ian Be
enc OF beauty and to the Charleston
ople a joy forever. This is the trist-
later wand their wav St Miebo.I;s Ia
,isconal chnrch is sean Gailu bH % AL
yer ceasino stream of visitors and fai
a nIaoa of 0roat intaros+ Ire ob;n,os is
lofty pulpit and spiral stairs, it's
yh square pews, it's earthquake marks,
!, are pointed out by polite guides,
10 bye and bye take you around to
pew and sit you down
lere sat the illustrious George more
an hundred years ago. Sullivan's
and whereon is Fit. Moultrie and
its portals the grave of Osceola
, famous Indian Chief. Over long
ldge and one is on the Isle of Palms,
me the most charming spot about
arlestOn. Here day can be profit
~ spent along the white hard sand
sch gathering shells and coral, some
the prettiest specimens being easily
md, while back from the ocean
reads out an endless forest of palm
es and live oaks, wherein are the
'ttiest walks and rustic bridges
ining small streams. A large hotel
e is always open and furnishes ev-
: refreshment and needful rest.
gnolia cemetery in the city suburbs
always Il charming spot with its 900,
RS cd trees, monuments, ID kes, etc.,
{ as much has often been written Of
1t l Will pass on to
THE EXPOSITION.
Iere was truly surprised iii spite OF
b anricipations, for it is really a
at show, and greater than any pen
SO far depicted. The ingenuity,
I'd taste and cOstliness of the exhi-
) is remarkable W.l.o i..e archi
ture ana appearance If tit Big Vii.
ldings and the be autlful s.unnds
tut them is all that could Ue dcsl..d.
e nightly illuminations, Of which