Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-02
COLUMBIA CONTRIBUTORIAL
BY JAS. WOOD DAVIDSON.
COLUMBIA. SOUTH CAROLINA, soTHDECEMBER, 1887
1867.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, sOTH DECEMBER, 1857
1867.
The king is dead-Long live the king 1867
has been poor show for us and we shake hands
with him and bid him goodbye, without blubber.
We are glad the "show" is over.
1868.
To ala Happy New Yearl
The Cannon.
A few weeks ago the garrison here commenced
firing gun at sunrise and then at sunset. The
firing continued only few days when it ceased. 1t
has, since Christmas, been renewed and now we
have these bi-diurnal guns regularly, which serve
to keep the clocks regulated. 49,.
Southern Book.
We see that f. j. Hale & Son, l6 Murray
Street, New York, are about to publish THE Old
Capitol and its Inmates, by lady who enjoyed the
hospitalities of the government for season. Many
of our Confederate prisoners figure in the book ;
and Mrs Surrat is also introduced as fellow-pris-
oner, and new light is thrown upon that trial in
which she afterwards figured The book is sold at
$3.50 copy ; and may be had by mail, postpaid,
Dy appHcaClOH tO tue puuIsHefS'
Recent English Books.
Among noteworthy books, recently published in
England, are Recollcctions of Lord Byron, by the
Marquisc de Boissy Countess Guiecioli) Men'o1rs
of Sir William Hamilton, with selections from his
correspondence, by Professor Veitch, Of Edinburgh;
and Clips from, German Workshop under which
odd title, appear the miscellaneous writings Of
Prof Max Mullcrs, full of learning and research.
The first of these will interest the poetical reader;
the second will be eargerly read by the metapbssi-
caly inclined; and the third will be appreciated by
the classical student.
Christmas.
We are not able to record the fact that this once
a-year occasion was very decided success.
The heaviest affair on hand, Christmas day, was
the Tournament This was in the usual style; RI
ding full-tilt and trying to poke sharp stick
through some rings. There were twenty-three
knights. They did $3.50. There was some fair
riding; but there was good deal that was not fair.
Had the thing been designed as a burlesque, it
would have been quite as perfect success as it
was. The crowd was huge; andthe spectators, ap-
parenty, enjoyed the won't riding and the greatest
failures with the greatest glee.
| The negroes were there.
Numerous soldiers were there
| The weather was good.
Towards the last, everybody looked bored. We
tUcre.
After the Tournament, and its riding, and its
winnings and its crownngs, and its borings, there
were some entertainments given upon the same
grounds the University-by the troops of the
garrison.
! First, there were foot-races, against time, in
which some eight or ten took part. Of course,
somebody won but we don't know who.
| Second, there were wheelbarrow races. -Four
soldiers, blindfolded, ran-or wheeled-with wheel.
barrows across the plain, aiming at the flagstaff
with pcnnon, about eighty yards distant. It was
intensely funny. Four started and cut all kinds Of
capers, running into each other, and running away
fifty yards off from the proper place, and never
getting near it at all and all that sort of thing.
Nobody seemed to win. Everybody laughed.
And it was all very funny.
During the day, too, some chicken difficulties
were settled at Minort's cockpit We suppose
the victorious roosters invariably whipped; but we
were not there to see.
All the groggeries were closed. The day was
quiet.
The negroes were silent, sullen-looking, gather
ing in groups about the corners; not gay, lively,
bantering, and shutting about with characteristic
hilarity, as used to be seen.
"Poor TOMS acold-poor TonIs a-cod."
At night the town was quiet. All the stores and
lighted houses were closed very early. Before
nine o'clock all was dark and undistingushable. A
negro-ba at Frazee's and negro-far at Janney's
Hall (below sta kept up little vitality later in.
to the night. We did not attend either of these.
The Day after Christmas.
This day was somewhat like the day before.
There was o freedmens gander-pulling in which
the gander is said to have got the worst of it.
There was some drunkenness abouttown. Whis-
key got into some blue clothes and into black
skins There was some street-corner sparring be-
tween blue-coats and black-skins; but no blood
came oft.
As we came home from friends after an even
ing spent out we walked around some PROSTATE
persons who seemed to have been overcome in q
John Barleycornian contest.