The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-26

narrow streets, my most definite i'm
preston was, that the first improve
ment this old city needs, is a good,
thorough fire, and how has it es-
capped so long?
But, before the end of our week s
stay in Charleston, we had yielded to
that spirit which is ever towering
over this old, time-worn city, ever
peeping at you from its shaded piaz-
zas and hiding behind the walls of
its old yards, and lying in wait for
you at every crook and turn of its
quaint, old-fashioned streets, ever
breathing in your ear romantic tales
Of an unforgotten past. 1t takes alb
solute and undisputed possession OF
your imagination and the past be-
comes more a reality than the pres
ent, while the hope for the future
is that the past, with dts fine ideals,
may live forever.
We were charmingly entertained by
Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard, and thru the
kindness of Mr. and Mrs. T. ]. Nc
Carly, we saw much of the city.
Many Of the boys and girls of
Owosso will remember "Tim McCar-
ty" He is coming right along. In
fact, has already arrived" as he
is alderman of his ward-elected
way ahead of his ticket, has pretty
home on Meeting street and charm
ing southern wife. They took us to
drive in such fine style that | was
almost sorry | could not be on the
sidewalk to see myself go by. We
had a fine, Cld-time colored driver
who pointed out with pride places
of interest, as where the "Revolu-
the beautiful South and East Bat
teries, with their palatial residences
facing the harbor and the forts
Sumpter and Moultre, thru Meeting
street.-the great residence street,
and King street, the principal shop
ping street, so narrow and dingy that
I remarked, not yet having acquired
the proper spirit. it looks like the
slums. We went to Magnolia ceme-
terry, as beautiful as a park, with its
glossy evergreen foliage already
frightened with azalias, and upon
whose monuments are written many
names famous in the country's his
tory. Here we saw a great live oak,
the largest in this part of the coun7
try with the grey moss hanging from
its great, far-reaching boughs, which
twisted and dropped until some are
buried in the ground at its base.
Taking Owen Wister as guide, we
for lunch and had great slice of
Lady Baltimore cake-it is grand.
Wandered among the UNCOVERED
graves of it's old church yards and
almost claimed acquaintance with
some of the black CARRIED ladies we
met upon the street. With Mrs.
Leonard, visited old st. Michael's
church. A downfall OF rain met us
as we left the carriage. The rector,
DR.. Kershaw, whom we afterward
found to be from Camden and a
cousin of both Mr.. and Mrs. Man
ming, invited us into his study. and
showed us thru the church, telling
us the many interesting things Of its
past history. We saw the pew in
which Gen. Washington sat, square
and high, the great marble font
brought from England, the tablet
with names of confederate soldiers
of the parish who had died for the
Lost Cause. Our attention was call
ed to the vestibule of the church,
which had been dropped two steps
lower than the body of the church
in the great earthquake. A little
maid told me of a grave in an over
grown corner of st. Michael's church
yard. She said it was the head
board of the bed in which the woman
had died. And it looked very much
like it. The name. date and age
were roughly carved by knife and
the wood was green with moss.
Every southern town has its pc
culiar type Of architecture, and
Charleston is especially distinctive.
| think | should know Charleston
home anywhere-eyen if | should
meet it in Corunna. 1t has high
brick or stone wall, UNCOVERED, en-
closing a yard and all but the gable
end of the house, which close to the
side walk, Is all that it presents to
the street. A heavy door with brass
knocker admits you to the lower OF
the double decked piazzas which
and running the length
Of the home, look out upon the en-
closure, filed usually with beautiful
flowers. shrubs and trees. These
piazzas protected from the sum by the
vines and trees and
from the gaze of the curious by the
high wall. cooled by the sea breeze,
Is the home center of the house by
day and by night. The last day Of
our stay we went to Sulivan's Island
and the Isle Of Palms, with its beau
tiful ocean beach and owned by the
electric road, saw Fort Moultre and
the grave of Oseola and had an in.
visit with young officer,
who put us on to "A soldiers life in
Charleston Harbor.
Leaving Charleston we went to
a nearby winter resort,
where we were entertained right roy
ally by Mr.. and Mrs. TON" Van
lcken, with a wild turkey supper and |
4 grand drive through the romantic |
grounds of the Pine Forest Inn and