The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-26
Interesting Letter.

Interesting Letter.
The following communication appeared
in the Newbcrry Herald last week, over
the signature of "B., = and we take pleas
uro in transferring the same to our col
umns. We recognize the writer as
gentleman of intelligence and solid char
acter:
MEssRs. EDITORS: For the first time in
many days, / recently took ride on the
Grccnvile and Columbia Railroad, travel
ing up as far as Anderson G. H., where T.
passed a few days most agreeably with
my kindred, and old friends, some of
whom had not seen for many years. and
made the acquaintance of others, whose
kindness wish long to remember.
Nineteen years have elapsed since I first
visited Anderson. At that time, l was a
participant in the ceremonies used in the
dedication and opening of Hiram Lodge
of A. F. NJ. 1t was in the month of June
on day which L well remember was
most beautiful The town was filled with
citizens of its own and Of the surround
ing districts. There were men, young
and old, and .maidens and matrons in
great numbers. There was large and
grand procession of-and fine address
delivered to, the masons on that occasion.
After which, they sat down to a magnifi-
cent dinner, that had been prepared for
them at Benson's Hotel, place proven
bal in those days for it's canvas back
ducks, and delicious mince pies. Oh ! the
recollection Of the good things enjoyed
then; 1.-THE peace and plenty seen every
where The remembrance Of the joy and
happiness seen bcaming from the eyes of
all who assembled on the evening OF that
gala day, to close it with mirth, dancing
and music, fills me with sadness, while
contrasting it with the present. Alas |!
how many of both old and young, who
participated in the festivities Of that day,
have passed away and literally returned
to dust. How many who lived in the en-
ioyment Of homes, of comforts, and in
atfluence, then and since, have been hurl-
cd by fate and foul wrong, into the lowest
depths of sorrow, misery and poverty.
And yet, we are told to kiss the hands
that placed us there. May God forgive
them. and save US from the; humiliation.
Anderson, of course, kept pace with the.
most fourishing towns of the State, and
is greatly enlarged and improved, COM
pared with what it was at the time Of my
first visit. The people there, as every
where throughout the Southern country,
are Observation-Disclosures paralyzed. A
sn;rt of gloom and uncertainty hangs
heavily upon many, if not all, and so it
will remain, until God in his goodness
lifts the burdens that Cypress us. Which
| pray He may do, ere the feather is
added that may crush us forever.
In looking over my letter, lind that
have left out a matter which alone prompt
cd me to write-liz: new feature, fash
ion or wrinkle, adopted by those who
travel on railroads in these days. Ifound
nothing new or unusual on the part of
the conductors of the G.. & c. trains, who
have always been, and ever will be KIND
and courteous gentlemen, but it was OF
the curious conduct of majority of the
passeng gers found in the car as | walked
ia to take my seat, on arrival OF the train
at Bolton.
don't think there were moro than six
or eight passengers in the car when L en-
tered but each one had reversed the back
Of a scat, so that they could occupy tour,
sitting upon one-i. C. two-with their
feet resting upon the two opposite. This
lid NOT startlc me much, for had seen
the same thing done before, but imagine
nv surprise. when, after walking from
me W Of the cars to the other found
,nndlc. package or band-box, stick, vallsc
,r umbrella upon nearly, if not quite, ev-
,rv one of the seats not otherwise occu-
,ied. | at once concluded the train had
full load, and that most of the passen-
rers had gone over to the breakfast house
3o watched rather impatiently Tor tnelr ,
,cturn. Now, how many 40 you thlah
.amc from that house and CANNED selt
We'll. lust two; two and no more. You
.on imagine with what "phealings,D as
author wrote, ] removed the
,bstacle, in the shape Of q bundle, and
col, u seat. Soon after, the train moved
N, and [ looked over to my opposite
,eiehbor, who occupied four seats with
,is person as aforesaid, with his valise on
he scat Immediately behind him, and bis
,vercoat on the one in front, thus taxing
ID eight seats. Now, at the next station,
saw this individual deliberately ) direct
IN old gentleman-who had en- entered af tboso tno
,,r md was about to take one Oh tnese
:; ,;' ,,l,t $50 so,ts-to a seat some distance OH,
lat .g had adm upon it a package belonging to 6
,motbrr ,,n,,t M individual occupying tour seats,
tnoI!oi lie turn asks the old man to seek
,nn " ~ elsewhere. 1 felt very much pro
,okcd 20, and quite indignant and felt just
hen that if tho conductor had been pres
mt L would have asked him aloud if the
by new rules, provided car
or each passenger. But the conductor
vas not in just then, and permitted my
Indignation to cool down, after looking
lrain ut the hugo operations of my ncigh-