The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-05-08
c"MMUHICATED
The May Party at Messy Dale

Mr. Editor:
Il" these days Of trouble. adversely and
financial "ppression it is truly n sweet re-
lief to tho mind to bc permit cd O eniny
anything like fun and pleasantly. ITO
have the winter of Our disconicnt nnde
glorious summer"-.b mingling in the
happy throng Of gay and innocent youth.
Fer hard must be the heart. and irscnsi
bic 70 the finest feelings of human .furc
that cannot enjoy aud appreciate the limo.
c'nt pastime aud revclry Of you,h-nnd
right glad are VIC, 10 be nhle to state the
fact, that ''Therc is life in tho old land
yet, us was proven most conclusively nj
tho May Parry, given at Mr.. and Mrs
Simmons School. located son.e ten miles
from Winnsboro, which we had the pleas
nre Of aues,ing aud participating in tho
festivities thereof.
The first Of Mny was ushcred in as nil May
"ys should be---most mildly and screnely-
and MS we logged along with wagon load
Of little one, Ger hill and dale, through
shaded woods, &c, Gay crowds and laugh.
ter echoed in the mir" On cur arrival at
the residence of Mr. Thos Smith. where
the celebration was take place, we found
n considerable crowd already in attendance.
comfortably seated in the front Of the plat
form upon which the Queens Throne was
erected. We were forcihly struck with the
good taste displayed in the selection of the
site, at the head of beautiful ravine, ne ,r
cool spring, whose waters sparklpd in
the morning light" On the platform in
rear of the Royal Floral Chair. was placed
a piano. over which The accomplished and
graceful Mrs. Simmons pi eslcd surrounded
on either side by an amateur band conn posed
Of Mr.. Simmons, several gentleman from
Winrsboro and others from the neighbor-
hood, ever nnd anon discoursing the sweet
est music. The procession was formed ut
the house, Consisting of he schoars) and
marshallrd by Mr.. John Cnuthren, proceed.
ed 10 The place get apart for tho exercises
of the d"y. Arriving at the tho stand the
command open order was given, md the
lovely Queen, under an arch Of flowers,
was carried hy her maids Of honor, march.
cd down the aisle, willis, two angelic little
creatures strewed her pathway with flow.
ers. The band then struck up. ".lnd the
soft music echoed through those grand old
woods, and the fragrance of n thousand
flowers filled the aiy." We regret We did
not procure programme, in order TO give
the full de:ais. Suffice il 10 say, the
Queen--who. by the way, was Miss Fannie
Shnford, daughter of that most excellent
divine, Rev j. L. Shufnrtl was crowned
amidst applause, and delivered her address
handsomely and forciby. The others re-
cited their pieces most c,editably, and
whilst MI performed their vrrious parts 70
we'll, it wnulI be invdious TO make ennv
distinctions We must not omit to men.
ti'n dialogue or n piece termod The
Sehoolmns'er's Trials. (Which was enact.
ed.) in which the actors sustained their
parts elegantly. it was really mirlA pro.
voking After which, tol. Bnylis Elkin was
Justify called upon Tor n speech. very un.
expectedly, md af'er some li,tle reluctance,
he responded, and We must, in nil candor
say, acquitted himself In tino style. The
Colonel Is a rea'.y and fluent speaker. we'll
posted on all suhjec's, and his speech was,
we think, weli.'i'ned md very appropos.-
Next In order came the dinner, and in our
estimation, though Inst not least. A boun.
t'fnl supply Of good things were furnished,
- which ample Justice was done. There
was great profusion ns we'll rs
variety. The crowd then returned to the
stand. and after enjoying some select mu.
s'o' the Rev. Thos. A. Griffith, the fresh
E"g'shman, whom / am sorry to say has
been several times in our company, mis-.
taken for o "down>easter," Has called for