MEMORABILIA And Anecdotal Reminiscences of Columbia, S. C., and Inci­ dents Connected Therewith. BY JULIAN A. SELBY. Columbia, S. C. Tht R. L. Bryan Company. 1905. PROLOGUE-A FEW WORDS OF EXPLANATION. How the Idea of Publication Originated. Being blessed with a retentive memory, and disposed to inquire into matters and things generally; often called upon to give in­ formation on different subjects to parties in various parts of the State-£rom the establi.shment of a library chartered by the Gen­ eral Assembly in 1805; the occupants of the premises northeast corner of Richardson ( or Main) and Taylor streets in 1820; any particulars as to Count von Hassel, whom the party thought might be a relative; and the killing of an individual in 1872-these are merely samples, taken at randon1. To the first I could not give a definite answer; but suggested, that it was known that a charter had been granted for a library, and one woula reasonably suppose the organizers had carried out their ideas. The second I happened to know from reading an adv~rtisement in The Ti1nes and Gazette of about that date, that the "Indian Queen Tavern" was located on that spot, and the name of the proprietor ( who proved to be the individual about whom the information was wanted). As to the third, the party was infarmed that Count von Hassel took an over­ dose of laudanum, died and was buried in Trinity Church-yard; that his widow soon after gave up a flourishing seminary, located in a large building which stood opposite to where her husband ,vas laid to rest, went away and ·:lied at the North soon after; that there ,vas no property to be disposed of ( the Count's estates having been confiscated, it was understood) ; and as these events had occurred nearly sixty years ago, I couldn't see any reason for further inquiry. The last I satisfied the inquirer was a similarity of names -the one having died in 1858, naturally. I have from earliest childhood been fond of listening to conver­ sations between and aneC'dotes told by elderly people, and storing these statements away on memory's shelves, and it is wonderful ho,v fresh they keep-turning them over occasionally and airing s01ne that have been quietly reposing for numberless years. l\Iany evenings I have spent with my old friend, Mrs. l\Iary Hillegas­ reading to her news and advertisements fron1 files of old papers, and listening to her interesting comments. Her memory ,vas ,vonderful, and I have been enabled to corroborate some of her information in such a satisfactory manner, that I take the balance 4 l1 El\I ORA Bl LIA-PROLOGUE. as literally true. We would seat ourselves-the old lady taking a pinch of snuff, wiping. her nose with a red silk handkerchief, hold­ ing her head aside, and then deftly using a handsome linen one conspicuously. The reading would then begin and the replies to queries be brought out, besides voluntary information. There are several other elderly acquaintances from whom I have obtained intelligence at different times, and I have reason to conclude they were communicating what they believed was the truth. So that I can safely venture considerably beyond my own times. Quite a number of individuals, aware of. this fad of mine, and also the memory, have suggested that I get these reminiscences or bits of information together, put then1 in readable shape, and lay them before the world. This I have endeavored to do in this volume. Have not pretended to give them chronologically, but just as they happened to be brought to n1ind, without actual connection, but in anecdotal salmagun-di shape. A great many circumstances I am aware of that would be read with zest and curiosity by some, but cause pain and an opening up of old wounds to others, so I have oi:nitted reference to them. As a good priest once said to a dying man, who desired to make a statement of painful circumstances of which he was aware: "My son, if you can do no good in your fast-ebbing life, do no harm ; I prefer not to hear your communication." And he was right. I don't mean to intimate that this applies to 11iy case, for I have just passed two or three years over the three-score-and-ten mark, and hope to see the four-score; but if the powers above order differently, I have an abiding faith in the idea that my shortcomings may be counterbalanced by so1ne good points, and that I will be able-as with my grammar lessons at school-to pass, through the kindness of my Master. And with this apology, I put forth what I 1nay term this MEMORABILIA. That in this conglomeration ( Plain talk and versification), I've hurt no man's reputation, True-needs no verification. If it meets your approbation · (S'pose might say, appreciation)­ Testify glorification By subscribing-demonstration. COLUMBIA, S. C., Septe1nber, 1905. JULIAN A. SELBY. MEMORABILIA. EXCELLENT MEMORY-DOUBTERS CONVINCED. Three to Four Years of Age. l\1y recollection is unusually good-at least, many people so think. On son1e occasions, after relating circun1stances that occurred when I ,vas but three and four years of age, I have had insinuations n1ade as to 1ny data. ()ne instance in particular in proof of my assertions I recall: The good Father Birn1ingham ( afterwards Vicar General of the Catholic Church in South Caro­ lina) was in charge of St. Peter's Church in this town in 18a 7, and for several years before and after that. The old gentlen1an must have been a lover of children and unusually pleasant-children are excellent readers of di-spositions, and generally govern the1nselves accordingly. I distinctly ·remen1ber his looks-square black cap on head, and black go,vn, walking slo,vly around the church-yard, n1issal in hand, and conversing freely ,vith n1e. The fence enclosing the church premises in front ,vas unusually lo,v, and I would almost daily clamber over to pay a visit to Rev. l\Ir. B. I ,vas then three years of age; the record says I was born February G, 1833. To corroborate 1ny staten1ent as to age: during the early seventies, the Holy Father paid ,vhat, I believe, he knew woulj be his last visit to his old parishioners here and elsewhere. I should have stated that he ,vould occasionally 111inister to his religious brethren in different sections-Can1den, N e,vberry, Edgefield, etc.-where there ,vere no regular houses of ,vorship. I even ren1e1nber the appear­ ance of the reverend gentlen1an on his ra,:v-boned horse-an unusually large anin1al. ,vhile the Father ,vas a rather sn1all-sized man-with his o1d-fashioned saddle-bags, on his labor-of-love jour­ neys, as I ,vould occasionally see hin1 ~lepart. During the 111orning service on the occasion referred to. the Rev. ]\Tr. B. spoke fro111 the altar very pleasantly about my 111other and 1nyself, and told of 111y visits and pera111bulations around the church-yard ,:vith hitn, ,vhile I was in 1ny third year. That settled the "Doubting Thon1ases ''­ even though at a very late date. Father Binningha1n n1ade his rounds a111ong his old parishioners. and returned to his hon1e in 6 ~IE:MORABILIA AND Charleston, where he soon afterwards died, at an extren1e old age­ not, however, before the completion of the pretty little chapel on Sullivan's Island, "Star of the Sea," which he ·was so much inter­ ested in. I paid several flying visits to him, and shaking his cane at me, he would often threaten to knock some of 111v.. old l\1ethodist- ical ideas out of me. To Charleston by Stage and Railroad. On the fourth anniversary of my birth-February, 1837-n1y mother and a party paid a visit to Charleston during the famous "Race Week." Some went by steamboat from Granby down the Congaree to the Santee, then through the Santee Canal to Cooper River, and so to the "City by the Sea." The others took the land route-stage coach to Branchville, then by steam cars-passenger coaches, short seats running across ( something like our summer e1ectric cars) and a foot board on the outside for the accommodation of the conductor. There were some freight cars attached-short, light affairs, with wooden frames and cloth sides. The rain -poured during nearly the entire trip. Hogabook Swamp, a few miles below Columbia, was almost impassable, I heard said. On reaching our quarters in the city, we were asked whether we came by land or water, when "Smart Ike" I promptly replied "Water." "No, my son," my mother put in; "we came by land." I responded, in an unsatisfied way,. "Well, it rained all the time." During our peregrinations around the city, I receive1 several presents from lady clerks in the stores, among them a "false-face." I merely speak of this to show that my memory is all right. In my hurry to "scare" the inmates of our boarding house with the mask, I tripped, fell and thoroughly demolished the nose, and gave my own some­ thing of a bat. An elderly gentleman in the house took quite a fancy to me, and trotted me over the city almost daily-visiting the shipping ( and the masts of the vessels looked thick as dead trees in a swamp) and other objects of interest-invariably winding up our morning excursion with a visit to the ol1 "French Coffee House," on the north side of the Bay, near Broad street, where I was regaled with a wee glass of "Perfect Love" cordial and a slight lunch.