The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-08-10
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FIOm INC Il GOcr|Hc SdnEer.
The Old Block House and tie "Old Reeds Road"
Aln. EDlroR: While engaged ON those pngcs
OF my History Of Upper Carolina, which relate
to the ancient Keowee Trail and tho old Reeds
Road OF this District, there were two manuscript
pages, of SONIC interest. belonging to the history
OF the latteI IN my possession, which had stored
So carefully away, that when The moment came
to consult and nse them. they could not be found
For all the benefit they afforded me, except so
Far as l was enabled to exercise my memory
with toierahle accuracy, in regard to their con-
tents, they might MS we'll have lain under the
ashes of Herculuneum or been stuffed away in
Ieaky Granny of some gray old conven, of I'll, e
fahera j ;zf.,y
The papers have since however, ccme unex
pectedy to light, both to vindicate my careful
ness Of the least important, even. of the precious
records Of our past history, and to uff;rd me the
opportunity OF complying with promise made
you, that when found and properly digested,
they should occupy portion of your space
Yet thre is little, :hIr. Editor. TO encourage me
in this workS beyond a;ppre. Platonic love of it.
Manknd generally, have long since ceased to
think of, nlucI&less toayenerute, the past. They
wi!fully ignore the glorious history OF their faith
ers, not only because its study would too much
interrupt their busy schemes of gam and self.
aggrandisemeat, but because the very least OF
its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Its entire spirit, is an
everlasting rebuke to their narrowness and GU.
p,dity. d,
They remind me OF Sydney Smiths old fam
lily horse, which he himself 30 fumorously de.
scrbes as ugging in the shafts of the Immortal,
AN old-fAshoued but most venerable vehicle
while. Che chief motive of all his energy was a
bnsket of corn, ingeniousy tied just in front, but
out of reach, of his nose.
The Immortal we'll represents the past, and
the basket Of corn the present. But il is i'm
possible that the present, or any generation, car
wholly shake off the genius of their history
they must drug il along with them; yet like
Sydney's horse, they may turn their backs upon
| the latter, and their noses to the corn, What
has become Of Punchf
Nevertheless, Mr.. Editor, you. as we'll as my.
self, hsvo good seasons for knowing. that all
have not yet bowed the knee in this idulatry
There are many noble exceptions iu our midst,
whose devotion 10 literature is only limited by
their means. Your own village may justly lay
claim to large share of that admirable spirit,
which, while it ueglets not the present, loves to
cherish all that is venerable and beautiful in
the past. r ' -,
set out, however, to prepare you briefspa.
per from the contents Of couple Of old docu-
mentf-whch, though meager. may not prove
altogether uninteresting and here am myself
iguoring hi.tory, and running into an essay or
I the dull present.
The scene, associated at an early period with
the events and msp to whom / would particu.
iarly refer, will parhaps, in some respects, BE-
more interesting to the native residents Of Abbe
vile village and vicinity than. the events and
actors Themselves $500 a..ty =,
Then picture to yourself space, though IN,
broken forest'of oaks and hickory; with dense
underground of waving can ., son tic spot where
now stand the Marshall House, The new Cour
House, the imposing range Of brick stores; ant
the entire village ofAhbeviile. Down. in th,
deep aosss under the eastern side of4hs hi,l
cnrbed and fretted by no hewed stone Or tr5ss
Esisd walls, 5ald old spring of ofeessStissi bub
bling mp fhtSt lb pebbled bed; spd Nc hug.
B9s>S shsSs inssfiockedb branches completely siu
6enst ttsis l.ys Of th9 sesf giving shsl,s ani
tEisros siinbsfos sslbg hsrds. efsths pis,lset
and sSEShg Them, oocasfcnally II, an adssntarou
Edesh daring 70 seek yatsr aud The siadS % 3
hseo is times u Old, VAT aptnbers Il faIsi
Lttad y. ss & y 3 Asuss "
3 81 - .sy<