Letter from the South.
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For The Tribune.


Letter from the South.


No III. CHARLESTON, February Is, 1874.


Southern Hospitality has long been the theme
of eulogy, and Justly. 1t is in the highest degree
generous and elegant. A letter does not merely
procure you ceremonious call, with possibly a
reluctant invitation to an equally tremendously
dinner, but those to whom it is addressed seem to
regard the bearer as especially committed to
their kind offices, and most fully ana kindly do
they discharge the trust They devote themselves
to you-takc you about the city, show you the
| lions, are ready to go any where with you, send
their friends to call on you to help occupy your
time agrecably, and take you to their houses
where they make you really welcome and at
home.


There is here no business cnd-nor fashionable
end of the town. There is no long parade OF
expensive houses facing beautiful parks, and
kning broad and fashionable avenues There are
no parks, and one avenue seems as fashionable
as another for residences Indeed the city pre-
sents the most singular conglomeration of dwell
lngs, stores, and all other description of tene-
ments mixed together without the least congrulty.
The dwelling houses generally present a gable to
the street-they are separate from other buildings,
and have on the sunny side two story piazza,
which is a pleasant promenade, and also shades
the interior from the heat of the sun. They are
generally surrounded by garden, and the inside
IS furnished in the most simple manner, as if the
occupants regarded comfort and not show. In
deed the plainness of the furniture is remarkable.
But if the people here are not such efficient
patrons of the mechanic arts for the ornament Of
their houses as are ours, fear that in taste and
knowledge Of the Fine Arts they are altogether
our superiors Good pictures are frequently met
with in houses which can boast neither Brussels
carpet nor mahogany chair. And instead OF
hanging their walls with huge pier and mantle
glasses costing hundreds of dollars, which to be
sure will reflect the owners fair form, and this
vanity also, they deem their money benehclally
appropriated for works of a higher art which
reflect the conceptions of exalted genius.


Apropos of pictures, l had expected to find
MANY of Allson's here, and anticipated much
delight in seeing them, but was disappointed.
There arc but few Of his productions here, one
of them, however, was painting OF which
had often heard and was anxious to see
Spolato, of the Vision of the Bloody Hand. 1t is
of cabinet size, the figures In miniature and full
length The story is taken from Mrs. Radcliffe
think, but may be mistaken. 1t is that OF a
Jesuit Priest of powerful intellect and uncon-
ouerable will, who determines the death OF an
other as he supposed it would be productive OF
benefit to the cause to which he was devoted.
He is proceeding with the assassin to the execu-
ton of the deed, when the latter shrlnks back IN
terror at the vision of a bloody hand. The
Priest nothing daunted seizes his wrist to hurry
him on, and raises the light above his head that
he may gaze, unterrihed, at the dread apparltlon.
The conception, like that of every work OF Al
ston, is in the highest degree poetical-and the
composition and grouping Of the figures is truly
admirable. But the great merit OF the picture is
the action Herein it Is as nearly perfect as one
can be. The passion of each Is carried through
bis whole figure, it peryades every limb, muscle
and Joint The shrinking fear OF the one and
the fixed indomitable resolution of the other are
as truly indicated by the lower limbs, to the very
toes, as in their countenances. 1t was the op.
portunity for representing opposite passions, and
it is strongly yet chasely illustrated. In color
the flesh is fine in tone and truthful and the
heads are made out with great care, out the ara
peries are sketchy and feeoly INDICATED, showing
an unhappy intimacy with the English n school.


Every thing is exceedingly dear In Charleston
They have not yet learned that low prices ano
active business are productive OF the greales'
profit. They charge fifty cents ior oatn, aho
consequently the baths are scarce supported ano
that entirely by strangers. The proprietor tolc
me that the citizens never bathed, and | could moi
help admiring the cleanliness Of people who due
not need bathing.


All strangers stop at the Charleston Hotel. 1
is huge structure, fronted by a long colonade
of some particular order, l doubt not but o
what l did not care TO look. Itwas suficien
for me shat with other travellers was compelled
to contribute my quota to Its erecuon-and
would much rather have had my money 60 10
some comfortable beds, to take the place of tn
present miserable moss mattresses than to pay fo