The Washington herald., 1909-01-02
By FREDERIC ]. HASKTN.

By FkEDEhi
Savannah. Ca. Jan Ito him who
fees from the rigors Of a Northern win
ger. seeking spring sunlight and bursting
buds in January. Savannah IS one Of the
first cities of refuge No 50 far South
but that It has a winter season, it knows
no snow. and its flowers bloom through
all the year. But Savannah has attrac-
tons beyond its climate which draw and
hold the interest Of the visitor
The youngest OF the cities which wece
prominent in colonial history. it seems
now 10 be one Of the Oldest No other
city. not even Boston or Philadelphia or
Charleston. has been more tenacious Of
its ancient historical glory; and no other
city can surpass It in the manifestation
Of a proper civic pride.
a few weeks ago a great international
automobile race was run AZ Savannah II
was the first time that such a race had
been run in the United States under con-
ditions which guaranteed the safety Of
all spectators. for II was the first time
an American motor race course had been
properly pOliced- The race was managed
so well that the great motorists from all
tie countries OF the world were unani-
nous in their praise and congratulations,
declaring IL 10 be the most successful
race ever held on this side Of the At
lantic-
Some people who don't know about the
Savannah o. to-day may express surprise
that such a sleepy old southern town
STEPPED in traditions OF the psst-should
be able to do such extremely modern
things in such a very up-to-date style
If one would have the explanation. let
hssl so TO Savannah Let him arrive
about S o'clock Monday evening. As he
drives from the railroad station 10 his
hotel he VIII see the streets full Of sol
dlers. ne VIII hear the tramp. tramp Of
the awkward squad, he viii hear the
staccato commands Of the officers Mon
day night IS drill night
Dril night for the Georgia Hussars,
for the Chatham Artillery. for the Repub-
lean Blues. for the Savannah Volunteer
Guards for tie Irish Jasper Greens. for
the German Volunteers. and for all the
other companies OF that famous Savannah
regiment The Georgia Hussars were
organized in 1-25 by Gen Ogiethorps 10
protect the infant colony OF Georgia
which is 20 say the infant city Of Savan-
nah. from the Indians The Georgia Hus-
-s~s fought against the Indians IN the
early DAYS. against the FlOridan Spanish
5u- q century. against the French il
l--6 against me English in 1776 and 1872
against tie 1IeNiCaus in the '4Js. against
The United States IN 1875, and against
spain in 1885 The Georgia Hussars have
been doing their duty and doing it vel
FOR long Ions time
Thus IL was that when the time came
that the Georgia Hussars were ordered
with the other Savannah military com
pauies to guard the course over which
the great automobile race was 10 be run.
the race course was guarded. As military
things 80 in Savannah the Chatham Ar
uiIIeTy is comparatively q young organi-
zati9n. having been founded 123 years
sgc III 17S6 During the days when the
race course was devoted 10 trial practice
The guard was as strict as when the race
was being run. The captain Of the Chat
ham Artillery commanded 4 great king
Of the motor car world 20 slow I'd. The
monarch, confident Of his privilege,
smiled. shouted his name and indicated
that he didn't intend 10 slow up But he
do Re stopped quick when Che captain
of the Chatham Artillery, wh5 is also q
member Of the board OF aldermen and
vice mayor Of the city, shot some bullet
holes right through the tires OF that
nany-JhOusand dollar car
The Seventh Volunteer Guards IS a very
young organization, il Is true. only I17
years old, but they have been IN the
business Of obeying orders and having
their orders Obeyed quite long enough
10 prove effective. And il IS SO With the
Republican Blues. founded in 1907, and the
Irish Jasper Greens. founded in lSss. and
the German Volunteers. founded in 1876.
and OF the plain companies OF the regi-
ment founded somewhere about the time
Of the war with Spain
When these young men who formed
these companies Rad done with their po-
lice work they went 10 their armories,
divested themselves Of military trappings,
vent home 70 dress for dinner, and then
came down 70 the club 20 talk Il over.
What clubo Why the Georgia Hussars
10 the Georgia Hussars' Club and the
Savannah Volunteer Guards 20 the
Guards Club. and the ike OF that. al
though rot al OF the companies have
club houses.
And II the young gentlemen who com
uanded the Georgia Hussars IN IT'S work
Of policing the motor car race course
should show his visiting friend the por-
trait Of his greats -gTeat-great-gr
father who commanded the Georgia Hus-
sars during the Revolution, does z nee
essarily mean that Savannah IS sleepy.
OF buried in tradition2 Old fOgy7 ASK
the people who saw that great race.
When Gen James OgIethorps founded
the city OF Savannah and the colony OF
Georgia In I133 he had soma misgivIngs
about the Indians He hastened 20 make
q treaty with Chief Tomochichi OF the
Ysmac-aw tribe Of the Creek Nation,
who vas the Indian authority in that
section. Tomochichi went 20 England
and became a fast friend q the whites
and was buried IN one OF the public
squares Of Savannah, where to-day there
may % seen a great granite bOwlder
which is his monument But nOtwith-
standing this treaty, Col William Bull.
II Charleston. who came down 70 help
OgIethOrpe lay olt his town, made pro-
vision for the public defense by leaving
an open square IN the center Of the new
settlement This square was 70 be stock
AIDED and In case OF an Indian uprising
ali the people were 10 find refuge there.
The new town grew quite rapidly. as
things went in that DAY and within =
decade It was necessary 20 extend Col.
Bulls plan OF the city. It was done faith
fully. the square and all. so that Savan-
nah n 1744 had four public squares. That
was the beginning Of the perfect park
system. which to-day makes L one Of
the most beautiful cities Of the Western
continent The boulevards were added
afterward, but even they are a century
old.