The Golden age. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1906-1915, July 05, 1906, Page 2, Image 2

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2 slight variation from the days when journeys were made in the family stage coach and with the retinue of family servants. The Children and the Parks. The city is built upon the same general plan laid out by Gen. Oglethorpe, for there are, at short in tervals, picturesque parks almost miniature in size but lacking nothing in artistic beauty. These parks are surrounded by the handsomest residences in the town and are rendered still further attractive by the lovely southern children who can be said to al most live within the heavy shades of these delight ful “bteathing places.” To a northern visitor these children in the small parks are a most attrac tive feature, and it is a striking evidence of the balmy climate that there is scarcely a single day throughout the year when it is too inclement for some of the little ones to play out in the parks. Here can be seen tiny doll furniture carried from adjacent homes, while the typical old “Mammy” keeps watch and ward over the small housekeepers as well as over the dainty infants in the spotless lace-covered perambulators which are everywhere in evidence. One of the chief characteristics of the city is the number of its typical southern homes. One of the most prominent and most representative of these is The Hermitage the former home of the McAlpin family, which is one of the “show places” of the town. Situated about three miles from the city it is reached either by a beautiful country road or by the river which flows past its broad front entrance. The approach to The Hermitage from the road reminds one of the entrance to the home of Andrew Jackson although the house itself is not similar. The pathway from road to residence is marked by hundreds of huge oak trees from whose out-stretched branches hang heavy draperies of the grey Spanish moss so famous in all descriptions of southern scenes. As the resi dence was*in the early days, more often approach ed from the river, it fronts in that direction while the “quarters” border the moss shaded avenue. These small cabins of crumbling brick were once the scenes of the busiest life and activity, but now each stands as silent and deserted as the great house itself, for the era which created the need for “slave huts” is past, and to-day the desecrating hand of commerce is laid even here, for many of these broad acres are now used for farming purposes, while the farmer occupies a modern home near at hand. It is always amusing to watch a party of northern visitors “looking over” the Hermitage and the slave quarters. One lady was heard to question the driver of her equipage on one occasion—“ Tell me,” she said “which one of those places was the whip ping post,” pointing to some large stakes driven in to the ground. The scorn in the old darkey’s eyes was almost regal as he answered “I neber heerd of any whipping post and I’se lived here nigh onto sixty years! ’ ’ It is hoped by many that the old Hermitage may be partially preserved for it is truly one of the best examples of the “Old South” in all its splendor of lavish hospitality and cordial good fellowship. Savannah, and the War. Perhaps there is no one city in the country to day that suffered more cruelly during the war be tween the states than did Savannah, yet there is but small trace to-day of any past hardships for the commercial standing of the city is among the very best. Her merchants, her professional men, her artists and literatuers have profited by the past to the advancement of the present and future. For a city of its size there are few if any that equal or excel Savannah in culture, refinement and advanced civilization. Public Buildings. Handsome public buildings are constantly added to her streets; one of the most ornate Govern ment buildings in the country is her new Post Of fice; her Cotton Exchange, Custom House, County Court House, Churches and Public School buildings are all modern and artistic structures. Some few years ago a Carnegie gift to the city enabled the opening of a fine free library which was she (Golden Age for July 5, 1966. the more easily consummated as the Georgia His torical Society already had a thoroughly equipped library in a building donated for the purpose by Mrs. Magaret Telfair Hodgson as a memorial to her husband William B. Hodgson. Another member of this family, a sister of Mrs. llod’son, a Miss Mary Telfair donated to the city the magnificent home- of the Telfaiis which is used as an Academy of Art and within its walls are gath ered some of the rarest paintings, and pieces of Sculpture as well as some of the most exquisite curios and brie a brae that the South can claim. Bonaventure Cemetery. One of the most famous old cemeteries in the country is to be seen in Savannah. Bonaventure has often been described in song and story, and strange to say it has a somewhat romantic history. Like Hermitage this was also a famous family seat being the home of the Tatnall family into whose possession it came in 17G1 by the marriage of Josiah Tatnall of Charleston and a Miss Mulryn. It is claimed that the circuitous paths of the present cemetery which lie between the old oaks and are shaded by the old grey moss were originally laid out to form the letters M. and T. to typify the union of the two families! The Monuments. Savannah has been said to be the “city of monu ments,” for no other city has more famous names to commemorate or more famous citizens of whom to be proud. Jasper, Pulaski, Greene of the past— brave warriors and true men, faithful in the allegi ance to their city and their country—Old Tatnall, with his historic utterance and his life of service for his country—brave soldiers of war and citizens of peace, the fair southern city does well to honor them! But space forbids more of Savannah in the pres ent, and of her future we cannot speak, further than to predict and to desire that it may in every phase of its development and in the fullest sense of the word “copy fair” the brilliant record of a splendid past. To Sister Mary. For your unfaltering faith in me I can but glad and grateful be, Rejoicing that in your true sight My motives seem but just and right; That while I fail, you still believe 1 shall my high ideals achieve. Though more than all I would be true, Some doubt my truth, but never you; And though some love me less when sad (I think none can be always glad), You suffer when my lips make known A sorrow, till it seems your own. Pear Sister, if I yet achieve Things beautiful as you believe, You will have helped me thereunto By faith uplifting and so true, That oft I think of it with tears, And God I thank in heart-felt prayers. And if I fail (as fail some must, Though striving truly and with trust) —■ I know to whom my steps will tend—■ To what unfailing, faithful friend; And you will turn me not away When for your sympathy I pray. Margaret A. Richard. Tn 1871 Presbyterians were warned not to rent property for saloon purposes, to sign petitions, to go on bonds, or in other ways to sanction the liquor traffic; and in 1892 the Assembly declared that “no political party had a right to expect or ought to re ceive the vote of Christian people so long as it stands committed to the license principle, or refuses to put itself on record against the liquor traffic.” With never a backward step in all these years, the deliverance has been re-affirmed and strengthened, until today the Presbyterian church leads all denom inations in its work for the temperance reform. News of General Interest. Governor John M. Pattison of Ohio died recently at Millford, Ohio. The London police estimate that the street beg gars of that city collect every year $1,560,000. It is estimated that half a million natives are in attendance at the school opened in the Philippines recently. The Empress Eugenie at one time owned a ward robe valued at $1,000,000. To-day she spends as little as possible on herself and dresses invariably in black. Prof. Archibald Coolidge of the history depart ment of Harvard has been selected to represent the university as the Sorbonne lecturer in Paris for next year. Again is the dilghtful exercise of bicycling be coming popular in England. As evidence of this during last year more than half a million machines were sold there and almost fifty thousand were ex ported. The latest theory about appendicitis is that ad vanced by Dr. Alexander Schmidt of Altoona, who believes it may be caused by the minute metallic particles that get into tinned food when the elm opener is applied. A curious aspect of the recent Zulu troubles in South Africa is the terror produced by the army search-lights. The natives are horror struck when the brilliant light is flashed on distant trails and this fear gives to the searchlight almost the power of a weapon of war. To test a new system for the defense of coasts and commerce 235 British war ships have been engaged in great Naval Maneuvers off the coasts of Great Britain. The fleets carry 63,000 men and form one of the greatest aggregation of fighting ships ever assembled for similar purposes. The season for turtle eggs has arrived in St. Augustine, and already several large nests have been gathered from near-by beaches. During the moonlight nights of May and June each year scores of nests are found on the north and south beach, and the practice has already begun this year. The latest prodigy is an infant painter. Two of the most striking pictures of this year’s salon are by an artist who has not yet passed his fifteenth year. His name is Tade Styke, *and he is the son of a Polish painter. The boy has been an accepted ex hibitor at the salon ever since 1903, when he had a portrait of Tolstoi accepted. Americans are never backward about extracting useful information from any source possible. Re cently a number of United States Army Officers were detailed to accompany a gigantic circus on its trav els in order to study the habits of the wild animals as well as the methods of feeding them. The sys tem of the great circus management is said to have greatly .impressed these men who are themselves part of one of the most perfect systems in the world. Recently a class of young women in Chicago re ceived diplomas which will really fit them for a somewhat strenuous life. That is, the diplomas state that the recipient is capable of keeping house successfully on ten dollars a week! The graduating “essays” consisted of exhibits of meals which were arranged at minimum costs—that is a breakfast for four prepared at four cents; a dinner for the same number consisting of palatable and varied viands for forty cents, etc. It is needless to add that each member of this class was engaged to be married before she left the training school,