The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-11-17
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE ABBEvILLE BANNER.
CFlESTERFILLE, OCT. 20, 1917.

CE1ESTERVILLE, OCT. 20, 1917.
Mr.. Editor A word or two more il
you please about "old Chester" In regard
| to education, the people of this district will
not be loser by comparison with most OF
the upper districts of our State There arc
several high schools where allthe rudiments
of an ordinary, practical education may be
acquired. Schools are to be found in most
of the settlements and villages of the ordi-
nary class: suppose, however, you would
turn up your nose at me ifI were to say, we
have as many smart men, and we'll cduca-
ted ladies here, all things considered, as
you have in old Abbevilc" whose vanity
is so great that size claims to be the Athens
Of South Carolina" If it would not be re-
garded as Il piece Of down right ilnpu-
dcncc, [ might intimate to you, that. "your
trumpctcr is dead,' &c, on the subject of
Temperance, our people arc wide awake in
many sections. Large meetings are being
held; and many arc uniting with the cold
water army. The first Juvenile Tempe
rance S5cicty formed in our State, was Or
gapMcd last summer by our friend Major
+ B. McCULLY, who by the way, is u host
in himself, ana | hesitate not to say, YOU
have no man, in your district who can cx-
eel him in attachment TO, and efforts for, the
good cause Of temperance, we are going
ahead, and intend to keep in the front ranks
OF the army. saw not long ago Il commu-
nication in the South Carolin Temperance
Advocate eulogizing most extrava agantly
" o d Abbevillc'' and her :: Literary lns!itu-
tions,' but, not Que word was said about the
Temperance cause, which used to flourish
in "your digglns" SO abundan,ly. This
same "man Of tho quill" alluded to " old
Chester in rather a jocular strain, and
spoke of her 6 Barbacucs," Pick Ncks,"
sc. Now, beg leave TO say, that: you
must not infer from this remark, that, on all
these occasions drinking whis key and get
ting gloriously drunk were the order of the
day; by, no means Many Of those acca-
sions were marked by the absence of" fire
watcr'' and drinking men, and lots" of the
fair ladies of the country were out to grace
by their presence and smilesthc proceedings.
The people ofthis district are quite sociablc
and friendly, and sometimes \" barbacue"
or "pick nick, " E' is gotten up" with 10 spc-
cific object in view; and, am disposed to
regard this as all indication of the presence,
and enjoyment of those high, refined social
feelings, of which, man, under the plastic
influence of civilization, education and rcli-
gion is so highly capable. The people are
not all on an equality, for we have our
Aristocracy too" made upin part of wealth,
education, and few little veins of blood
which, tradition says runs back to an
I" illustrious revolutionary ancestry" Now
my opinion about aristocracy is this it
does not consist in negroes, houses or lands;
it does not consist in honorable relationships
or military titles, nor yet simply Ill educa-
ton it is embraced in these very emphat.
ic words Of Pope:
Honor and shame from no condition rise
Act aeeA your part, there all the honor lies"
The italicising is my own. Here is the
secret Of true aristocratic excellence. He
who acts well his part, in every respect, IN
the great drama Of life, is the noblest of
aristocrats, will you not most heartily sub
scribe to this doctrine. Religion has not
aourished much within the last few years,
though there are churches plenty, and
preachers of the right stamp to occupy.
The leading denominations are Presbyterian
Cecedar, Methodist, and Baptist. There is
one Minister of the P. E. Church and a
few communacants also, but, the forms and
services Of this church, do not seem to take
we'll with the people in the upper country