Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-05-24
CoNTRIBUTORIAL.
rb. F,r.men,s Tournament.

Thursday of last week. =
Prizes had been offered, and were contended
for by six fre-companies. They came from
Charleston, Augusta, and Atlanta. The contest
was to throw stream of water the greatest dis
tance. The Independent of Columbia beat the
party. The steam engine from Augusta, how
ever, was ahead but that contended on sepa-
rate scale, not competing with the others. We'd
nesday was the day Of the general contest. The
crowd was immense-peaceful, but noisy, rough,
and very drunk. We never saw Columbia hall
80 much intoxicated before-never on any occa.
sion. This was doubtless owing to the fact tina:
the mass of folks was not Columbian were the
visitors.
A vast enthusiasm prevailed, pervadipg all
ranks from the officials down to the dirty little
nigger we saw waving ragged piece Of news.
paper over his wooley head, in vociferous sym
pathy with his favorite engine when it squirt
ed we'll.
p Red flannel was the wear.
The music Of the day was martial and miscel-
laneous. Towards evening, when the crowd had
up pretty high, we were struck with
the change in the, music. The poor Bob Tail
Horse was trotted out in style unparalleled -
There seemed to US a dozen Bob Tails beat out
by the same band-every pipe going in its. OWL
time. But great deal of the music was fair
and there '0as an immense deal Of it, in all.
1t went on all day.
There was vast deal of perspiration shed
and an immense quantity Of water split
The market.steeple was covered, on all acces
sible points, with gayly dressed folks. Crinoline
and Spring goods were efloreseent. The tai
steeple looked like vast May pole all twined
It was good time for the vendefs of cheap
cigars and the Exchange did a capital business
:, At night-they had lively time, no doubt
but we cannot say knowing, for we were moi
''taere at the time"
The next day-Thursday- was some
more of the same sort. In the afternoon there
was barbecue, whereat was bountiful supply
Of comfort for the inner man, both solid and
liquid The latter produced the most observable
effect.
We were not at the barbecue.
In the evening, torch-light procession Of
ircmen moved through our principal streets, with
engines, music, and rapid succession of rockets
md pyrotechnic establishments generally. The
effect was mposng-really fine. Not only were
the children and negroes in ecstacy, but graver
folks thought the show capital. 1t wqs. The
procession went to Sidney Park, where the Fire
Works regular were to come off. The crowd was
arge, seated on the grassy slope of the amphi-
theatrical Park.
Romantic, very.
Here the pyrotechnic show broke down wonder
July. Several rockets Of excellent quality were
let off; few devices, pretty well done; some
shouts frequent music and the thing was done.
That was ALL
The Man about Tocn said he could not see the
point of all the devices there. Some looked like
wheels, and one like an engine with man but
he said, he could not distinguish 8
Wheel of Fortune from cat fight. And to tell
The truth, be said, he thought they all looked
more like cat fight than anything else. But
maybe the Man about Town had partaken of some
Of those liquid comforts at the barbecue.
At last, it all quit and folks left.
The rest of the night was wild, loud, out
loors. y, and drunk. At least it sounded so to
hose abed.
Next morning all WAS changed. The crowd Of
strongly Unmarked faces was gone. Flannel had
We saw one solitary red shirt
vending its way about breakfast time,-(aftel
III the cars had left)--along Main Street. 1t had
evidently been obliviating in the fair arms Of
Morpheus too long. It was left. 1t looked alone
The wearer Of it seemed little undecided til
he Town clock revealed to him that he was toe
ate for the cars. Gall right" he soliloquized
and turned into Hogau's Exchange for some Of
the liquid comfort mentioned above.
on Common Schools.
The daily papers have advised our readers thu
Mr. Memminger delivered an address before thu
,itizens of Columbia, Tuesday evening of last
week. The subject was his favorite one-Com'
non Schools. It has been through his influence
Ind honor worthy zeal that two Schools on the
Prussian method have been established in the
,ity of Charleston. 1t was to explain that meth
ID, to insist upon its superiority to all others,
md to urge the Columbians to adopt it, that Mr.
spoke among US.
We cordially assent to Mr.. Memminger's s
7iews.
He maintains that the system proposed is su-
,erior to the usual system (or, rather, absence
# system) in these points:
lit is more efficient.
2--It is cheaper.
Sit neutralizes societal distinctions.
These are considerations of the first import
nee.
The plan is suited only to cities and large
owns.
1t requires, in the first place, special build
ng, that will cost about twenty five thousand
lollars.
1t requires corps Of twenty teachers, mostly
emale; each to occupy separate apartment for
Instruction and each to instruct in q special de.
artment.
1t requires superintendent, educated for the
urpose.
We can illustrate the plan Of classification and
by an example. Suppose school of
light hundred children. The building is three
tory. In the first story are ten rooms, in each
f which are o teacher and class of forty chill
and girls together. That is four
undred scholars. The first class is learning the
lphabet aud nothing else. The second class is
t mouosyllabic spelling. The third step high
r So on I'M IN fen The tenth c1asa 10 as nm