The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-03-25
Jordan's q Hard Road to Travel


SO it has been said and sung. But
we venture the assertion that two cn-
terprising individuals of Chester, who
lately worked their way into tho
league are prepared to say that the
route they took is by long odds har-
der one thap the traditionary Jordan.
1t was ono Of tho winter-the rain
poured in torrcnts-the organization,
(which may be as good as a church" +"
was in session-when our two friends
were escorted to q position near the
old building where the council was as
semblcd. aud placed there under
guard preparatory to being called and
stripped of.their manhood and decen-
cy. They were informed that they
would have to want only a few min
utes, when the body would be pre-
pared to receive them in due form
and hear from their own lips tho sto-
ry OF their repentance. But to their
amazement the time rolled on, min
utes grew into hours, they were
drenched to the skin, they were fro
zen to tho bone, and the call for them
to enter did not come. Fain would
they have retraccd their steps and re-
gained the comfort Of their tircsidcs :;
but the sable friends by their side
stopped the way, and gently said un-
to them, thus far have you gone, and
you shall go farther. So there they
stood bidding "the relting of as pitt
less storm" Gas Ger poor devil was
abroad in,' until some thrco hours
"aont the twa," when the Grand Con-
ductor of the Pahjandrum camo to
their relief and told them that tho
gracious privilege Of entering, which
is accorded to the most unworthy.
had been granted them. With chat
tcring teeth, shivering limbs and
hanging heads they passed within the
portals. They had earned their rc-
ward.
The reason for such treatment may
very properly be asked by our read
ers. Some might like to know wheth-
or this ordeal has to be passed through
by all desiring to leave their race and
20 over body and soul to the Hamites.
Such we think is not tho case. The
delay and punishment inflicted upon
the two enterprising individuals
whose exploits we are narrating arose
in this way. They had sounded
around among somo of the council,
and had been assured that there
would no objection to their admission.
and were advised to be ON hand the
night in question for initiation. But,
as has been said by Cunningham,
|. '"The best laid plans Of mice and men
-. Gang aft agley."
. No sooner were the names Of our
two unfortunates proposed by their
friends than at once there rose within
that old building clamor and an up
"As If all the hends from heaven that fell"
were that night gathered there. One
heavy AfricanB"black, grim and
large,"-who has for many day
cracked his whip over the said council
in much the same manner that Sum-
ner has cracked his over the United
States Senate, and who doubtless has
in days past received many a we'll
merited chastisement just as Sumner
did, took the floor, and roaring like a
bull of Bashan, said thai there he
took his stand and there he intended
to stand to keep one of the unfortun.
ates from ever coming iu among them.
He was backed up by others. The
foxes who had not long before had
their tsiis cut cff meekly begged that
the foxes waiting for admission might
have leave to como in and get their
tails cut off too. But the opposition
was too strong. Hour after hour was
spent in all manner of jargon-crimi-
nation and recrimination was the oc-
cupation of the 'hour-until finally,
about 3 O'clock, as before said, the tai
ent and persistency Of the white man
prevailed. over the ignorance and
weakness of the negro, and the vote
was taken that relieved the suffering
outsiders from their uncomfortable
position. They at once came in and
had their tails cut of.-Chester Rp,o1r-
'ter..2} HnA ,a@IadnAlilH - .aIai 7aR4
&"'|''' I-!---- liz u :"
Fl! iH4< ~ sI.1ssiJ. .,,.E .r,,. II =
A RAP AT THE GIRLs.-An Omaha
lecturer thus discussed the question