Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-08
MOST EXCLUSIVE CITY.
s. c., Like No Other Town
on the Globe.


on the Globe.
Charleston Is without doubt the most
exclusive city In America. 1t gives
nothing out to the stranger beyond
its physical beauty and tempered ell
mate. One keen observer said Of 1t:
1T has only one equal-a German
principality, where almost every one
is noble and all intermarried. Other
places and social codes exist, Of course
New York, Chicago, Denver-but for
Charleston"
A small child Of that city was asked
where Charleston was placed. Proud
ly she said: 1T is between the Cooper
and the Ashley rivers which join and
form the ocean,"
When the Bostonian speaks grandly
of the Mayfower, the Huguenot of
Charleston smiles. He Is remembering
that Jean Ribaut landed a Huguenot
emigrant In Port Royal fifty eight
years before the Puritans landed In
Massachusetts, bay.
Charleston was settled by aristo-
Gratis from France, and later from Eng
land-men who came from the court
and wore the garments and spoke the
language Of the worlds highest circle.
Like New Orleans, 1t sprang into life
as a cultured community.
When the Philadelphian speaks Sc
renely Of the Liberty Bell, the Charles
tonian smiles and remembers that in
1855 South Carolina took the first step
for the continental union, and that In
Charleston was formulated the first in
dependent constitution In any of the
colonies: also that she furnished three
signers Of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence-Arthur Middleton. Thomas Hay
ward and Thomas Lynch. Jr.
The Charleston negro who belongs to
"the quality" shares and echoes his
masters pride Of birth and social ira
dition. A certain northern woman
who was kindly received in Charleston
gave a large ball. She asked this col
ored man to carry the invitations for
her. In looking over the list he made
several suggestions concerning people
who should be crossed out and those
who should be put on.
The northern woman asked II he was
quite sure he knew where all these
people lived. His answer was delight
full:
Madam" he said, If there is any
person In Charleston who lives where
1 don't know. that person shouldn't be
invited to your ball."
The first evidence of social quaint
ness in the town Is the way the first
families live. Here comes the strain
of French blood. The venerable houses
are placed among dense foliage; the
side, never the front, Of the house fac
ing the street. In this side are the
parlor and upper bedroom windows,
which are never open to the public
streets. but covered with wooden shut
ters.
Instead Of front door bell to ring
there is a small gate with bell. This
you tinkle and a servant let's you in.
There is a long piazza running the
full side length Of the house, which is
often used as a sitting room. The
piazza Is usually protected by jalousie
blinds. II the formal caller finds It de-
serted he Is shown into the reception
room, with closed shutters, but In the
warm days all informal entertaining Is
done on the piazza
Charleston's manners, society and
behavior In drawing room, ball room
and street are those of an older and
more elegant world. Why should we
change? The girls In all other parts
Of the south may go unchaperoned to
balls, but she does not allow her girls
to do 1t. Neither does the exclusive
Philadelphia or the Knickerbocker Of
New York.
Other clubs use their windows as
lounging places for the curious, where
idle men may sit and stare at the pa
rade Of women who pass on the street
Charleston considers this vulgar.
Promoters can talk all they wish.
but charm they never so wisely they
can't persuade the Charlestonian to well
come with delight a horde Of uniden-
titled tourists. Cottages are rented
here and there for writer's and artists
and quiet people, but Charleston
shakes her head when approached on
the subject of huge hotels which will
accommodate the man with millions
from the swarming centres of Ameri-
ca-Anne Rittenhouse, in Ainslee's
Magazine.