The Republican journal., 1917-01-25

| a former Belfast man. Mr. Gray's SER
mon that Sunday morning gave very
good reasons why one should be Uni
tartan. At the close of the service he
came directly down TO the pew where we
had been given seats and greeted US
| most cordially. Mrs. GRAY, who is very
charming woman Joined US, and | think
We met nearly every one of the congre-
| CATION, just because We We're from their
pastors home town. Mr.. Gray has been
In Charleston fifteen years, and every
one we heard speak of MIN spoke in the
| highest terms.
| The Woman's Exchange, about which
| some of the most delightful scenes in
Owen Wister's great novel, "Lady Bal
tlmore, Is laid, was one of the interest
Ing places that claimed my attention.
The famous Lady Baltimore cake is on
sale here. .or can be ordered There are
also pieces of embroidery, baskets, and
the usual articles found in SUCH places,
When | asked about the cake. it was
suggested that We see Miss Florence
Ottoinqui, the woman who makes it.
50 we went TO her house 90 Wentworth
street. one of the very oldest IN the city.
A high, board fence encl ,sed it, and in
answer to our ring colored maid show
ed US IN, and although Miss Ottuiinqui
was dressed to go out, she insisted upon
our coming in. We had an interesting
conversation about the very old house in
which she lived, The origin OF tn Lady
Baltimore cake ana its fame, for she has
sent II neariy all over the world, even to
Australia.
She said that Oven Wister lived in
Charleston much of the time while writ
ing his BOOK, Lady Baltimore" and
while some of the people did not mind
beng written about, others dld. | could
Imagine these were they VINO lived in
the fascinating old house that are found
only In Charleston.
One OF our greatest pleasures was be-
ing shown through the Ravenal house,
which dates back to 1871. This house
had been bought and restored. every de-
one hundred years ago.
The house is white with green blinds.
AS one enters through the Colonial street
door, with its old fashioned brass knock
err, onto the broad piazza built in true
southern style, one is conscious of a dis
tlnct atmosphere which increases on 90
ing through the house.
The piazza overlooks garden with its
II
flowers of our grandmothers' time. A
wrought iron fence, with gate whose
latch clicks when visitor comes, en-
closes the grounds.
A soft, green gray was the color
scheme used for the walls and rugs in
the drawing room. with white woodwork.
Engravings framed in old silver, and
small, oval mirrors hung between the
windows, which had curtains of old bro
cade to match the rug in color.
There was a handicapped console
| with tall candesticks, spindle legged
table and harp with dainty gilt chair.
At one side of the room, hanging from
the ceiling, was dark green silk bell
cord, ending with heavy silk tassel,
but hidden in the Fringe is an electric
button, the modern way of calling the
parlor maid.
In the dining room round table stood
in the center, giving it look of cordial
hospitality. Many distinguished men
have been entertained here, and this
handsome mahogany table, at which
Lafayette dined while guest of the
Ravenals who owned this property for
over century, is one of the treasures
of Charleston. Against the walls Chip
pendale chairs stood in order, and at one
side crystal-knobbed mahogany side
board holding glass candlestieks.
Leading from the hail, the dark polish
ed stairway had at its broad landing a
high window. A tall clock held digni-
| fled place in the corner. Beneath the
window stood light stand with silver
| tray and shutters and tall silver candle
sticks holding candles.
1t was easy to imagine the ladies in
their crinolines and dainty, ruffled mus
lin dresses on their way to their bed
rooms stop for candle to light them on
their way, and wave goodnight" to
the gentlemen in the hail below 1t was
easy, too, to imagine the men in their
white stocks and lowered swaistcoats as
they wished the ladies good night" and
pleasant dreams"
You may be interested to look into the
bedrooms with their four posters, so
high were they that three steps were
| needed at the side. Across the foot of
each bed was slipper sofa. The cur
tains at the windows, also the bed cur
tains and valance, were of wonderful
chintz. or copper plate.
There are fireplaces in every room,
and the mantles, especially in the draw