The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-09
TIE -ABBEYILLE EL;IR.
Winding UP the MISUNDERSTANDING
ting tho Prizcs-Rfding nnd Driving
Fcnts.
IrROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

U.
Abbcvillc forever, say I. She Is and must
continue TO be the Banner District of the State.
must again regret my not seeing Il reporter here
direct from THE NEWS, for can't do the subject
half justice.
Two days did not suflcc for our County Fair,
for ON yesterday the people came pouring in again
by tic hundreds to see whatever the Executive
Committee had TO show them. The regular hour
OF ten o'clock called forth the music, and present
y came into the hollow square tho beautiful
stock. Tho groomcd mares and their gambolling
sucklngs, worthy OF n stock country's exhibition,
and then the mules, followed by the braying
asses. Each III turn, rs he deserved II, received
the blue ribbon ana passed on.
Music again, and n few moments OF idle time
for the hundreds to discuss the justice OF the COM
mtce's decision, and then followed grand and
beautiful display OF all the premium stock, driven
and led through the public square.
Just at this time was quietly perambulating
the crowd, and was much amused Mt the volun-
tnry remarks OF the wags here and there. One
fellow shouted, Talk about old Abbevillc being
dead. I tell you, men, she's Just been born"
Ono colorcd man said to another, al tell you, Jim,
no chance for nigger here; too much white folks
about" "IIurrah for South Carolina, old Abbe.
vile is going to be her captal,n cried third.
columbia had better look out, the next State
&c. And all these remarks were made In the best
good humor; not rlOtous or drunken man in
that immense throng.
About this time the president announced on the
street the premiums would now be awarded In
the Courthouse, where the ladies' were requested
TO repair, as seats would he secured for them.
Tile Courthouse seats about five hundred persons,
but 1t did not seat near all the ladies' present.
thought to myself just then, "look here Jim, this
is no place for white men, nor ngger cither.n The
house being called to ORDER the premiums were
awarded by some selected member OF the EXecu-
tive Committee reading out the awards to the sue
| ccssful competitors, an1 some other member re-
ceivlng from the secretary and handing out the
premium Some one In the audience demanded
display OF the premiums, and Immediately the
president opened few, and asserted TO the aT-
tience that every article distributed purportng
to be silver was the pure article, and was so war
rantcd by that honest and cnterprismE firm OF
Mcssrs. W. G. Whildcn & Co., Charleston, OF whom
they were bought-a compliment well pu: and
clearly deserved. "
Some competitors, OF course, wrrN chagrIncd nj
tue decision OF the several committees. But this
Is what was eXpectcd; though, I Think in the
main, all hands were satisfied.
At the close OF these exercises, which consumed
a couple OF hours, the president announced that
the exhibition would close with one more scene,
and that, perhaps, the most Interesting or all.
And so 1t proved TO be. The young men In ut
tendance upon the Fair had, By voluntary contri-
button, made up n purse OF thirty dollars to be
awarded by committee OF select gentlemen for
the best horscmanship. The committee had the
square cleared, and seven gallant contestants en-
tered the .ring." Such riding has seldom been
seen In this State. The committee required the
young men to walk, trot, lope, go at half speed,
dismoInt, mount, &c, and, finally, to perfprm
"thc figure eight" commit oil sorts OF gyratfcns
among the trees on tile square, and to ride just as
no other men In the world, 1t seemed to me, could
be made to ride. Finally the contestants were
reduced by the decision OF the committee to four,
and, as no one OF these could be selected as sue
cessful competitor, the judges awarded to each q
premium from the treasury Of the Abbevillc Agri-
cultural Society, and returned to the gallant
riders the "pool' for which they had SO manfully
strlven.
Following this contest was another for the best
driving, and after an exercise sufficiently long
to wear out both driver and horse, the prize IN
1ne hatI was awarded to young citizen of the
district, who with great Skill, drove Ills pet ani-
nal, one OF his own rearing, just where and as
the committee desired him.
Thus ended, Mr.. Editor, the first Fair In South
Carolina since the war-a success beyond the nm
ticlpaions OF its best friends. And what q COM
mcnt upon the croaker's idea, that 1t was too
soon to begin this mighty work OF inducing the
owners OF dear old South Carolina To regenerate
recupcratc, discnthral and resurrect their native
land The good work has begun in old Abbe.
willie. May the Lord extend His influence from
the mountains to the seaboard &. H.