The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-10-31
.OHARLEST0N''S !.
CHARM Is told
Masde Waddel !; Portrays
Interesting Side Of
City's Life
BY MAUDE WADDELL.
An M &c -

If the raiment of Elijah might
fall upon Elisha, one newspaper
| feature writer would be hand.
somely provided for at SIS East
BATTERY, Charleston. Charleston
charm is generally recognized and
/ can tell this story without "fear
Eof contradiction" as the political
candidates say, and with no mo.
tive other than the ,exhaltation OF
| the lovely old city by the sea
where my health is better, sum.
mer and winter, than anywhere
| else on earth. And here's the
story. Ny room at SIS East Bat
tery has a secret panel: was the
room in which. Ludwig Lewisohn
wrote his first book; and has a
view of Charleston 'harbor to the
south jetties. What more? Tn
less, as one ambitious visitor de-
manded, a fireplace and a ghost.
II believe, too, that this demand
was met, but that's another story
which recalls still another about
the first Ravenel who comes down
the stairway at, Wantoot planta-
ton every Christmas, but these
must wait. - .
In the first place 55 East Bat
terry is an old, old house owned by
the present owner since the Civil
war or shortly after and many is
the musical artistic and literary
celebrity who has sojourned here.
Professor George Coffin Taylor
of the University of North Caro-
lima, .deep-rooted in South Caro-
lima soil, lore and tradition,
comes to SIS East Battery and he
has wittily suggested that a scroll
be hung from the romantic
wrought-iron balcony saying that
herein did Ludwig write. But the
brilliant German Jew was not
alone in this for besides him were
Professor Sonnekolb, musician;
Professor Armstrong, violinist;
Peter Blum, artist; Professor
Josephus, of New York and Con-
writer, who sought the
seclusion of the attic, and the
rare and exclusive instance of the
lady who was a member of the
governors staff, the lovely Mrs.
Eliza Barnwell Means Rhett OF
Beaufort. p,
What more could one ask for a
room or rooms than to have har-
bored from time to, time this
group? But in excess as 1t were OF
anticipation is that thing of the
secret panel. Secret indeed it is,
SO very secret in fact that one
could with the greatest surety
hide Jewels and money and dis
patches, which of course at. once
brings tears to any newswriter's
eyes, they knowing that no news,
writer ever had any money and
about the only dispatches rejec.
ton slips, But the panel is right
there and it is one, of the most TO-
mantle contraptiens / ever saw.
It is of mahogany and is the hand
some old handicapped bureau:
It is concealed at the bottom OF
the bureau and to all intents i
simply the mahogany base upon
which the bureau rests. But Just
slip your fingers under the edge.
Of the fine old piece of furniture
and pull gently and, presto, the
wonder is worked, the panel
slides and the secret hiding place
stands revealed. *.
And then The view of the beau
tiful Charleston harbor with its
orange disk that comes up out of
he waters like Minerva from the
foam at sunrise, and the long
slanting rays of the setting sun
which light the islands like magic
RAYS. Forever before one at 55
East Battery is a panorama of
gorgeous beauty. One miracle of
nature recently seen was a storm
loud, drifting on the low horizon
down the Cooper river, emitting
lightning, whose tip, over Fort
Sumter, was lighted with the rays.
Of the western sun into roseate
nebulus of glowing pink. With
this atmosphere of natural beauty
and with all the charm and ro-.
nance of the past lowering about
one, one is reminded that even
the passage of the years is futile
and that.
"You may break and shatter the
vase if you will,
But the scene of the roses will
hang round it still"