City Life in the South
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
Summary
“Ye thus hospitably live,
And strangers with good cheer receive.”
Prior.“Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound Reverbs no hollowness.”
Shakspeare.The disasters of our railroad journey to Charleston have been described elsewhere. We were to have arrived at the city about six p.m. of the 10th of March, when every object would have looked bright in the sunshine of a spring evening. As it was, we reached the railroad station at ten minutes past four the next morning. There was much delay in obtaining our luggage, and getting away from the station. We could not think of disturbing the slumbers of the friends whose hospitality we were about to enjoy; and we therefore proceeded in the omnibus which was in waiting, to the Planters' Hotel. We were all hungry, having scarcely tasted food since noon the day before; and very weary, having travelled the whole of two nights, and enjoyed no sufficient rest since we left Richmond, nine days before. Every little event became a great one to persons so exhausted. The omnibus jolted and stopped, and we were told that an accident had happened. The gentlemen got out, but the darkness was total. A light was brought from a private house, and it appeared that a wheel had touched the kirbstone! It seemed as if horses were never backed in Charleston, so long were we in proceeding.
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- Information
- Retrospect of Western Travel , pp. 63 - 96Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010