The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-14
For tile anderson IatelziqeaceY.


Mr.. EDITOR The farmers of Lower Beaver
dam, having labored through the bleak winds
of March in the preparation of their lands,
planted amidst the spring showers, and cultiva-
ted their crops under the scorching summer
sun, and having "laid by" with somewhat fat
tering prospects Of plentiful harvest, COM
memorated the occasion on the 31st ult by CIV
ing themselves pic mic dinner. By 10 o'clock
large concourse of farmers, with their wives,
sons and daughters exclusively, were gathered
in one of the most pleasant and beautiful pop
lar groves in the country, in the midst of
which came bubbling up the cool waters of
Harris Spring, the proprietor of which, by the
way, had neatly prepared the grove for the oc-
casion.
At IL! o'clock the object of the meeting was
explained by ]. NJ. Hamlen, Esq, as being al
together a social gathering, wherein farmers
were expected to discuss such subjects as were
interesting to themselves. He spoke briefly
and appropriately of the national importance
of farming, its embarrassments, prospects, and
the necessity of reformation, &c.
Rev. g. M. Rogers was then introduced, and
spoke of the favorable results of cooperative
enterprises, of the commendable upright de-
pertinent of farmers generally, which claimed
for them higher advantages and more remuner-
ative results than they were destined to receive
from the present system of agriculture.
Mr.. M. E. Mitchell closed this part of the
programme by urging the proposed Chicago
and Augusta Railroad, showing the great bene-
fit to be derived from this road by farmers. He
said when this road was built, farmers could
then afford to raise cotton and buy corn, and
closed with an appropriate address to the young
men.
Then last, but not least, was spread by the
ladies, under the supervision of Capt. Broome,
DR.. Knight and E. M. Snipes, table we'll
laden with the substantials and luxuries of life,
around which all seemed to rejoice in being
farmers, and the best order prevailed through
out. Dinner being over, mutual sympathy or
similarity in age, sex or vocation sought its
own gravitation, and thus groups of young gen.
tlemen and ladies, of old ladies, and of farmers
promiscuously, gradually became Isolated, and
freely entered into the discussion of topics
peculiarly interesting to themselves. "While
the boys and girls gamboled around"
The speeches unpretending, the dinner such
as farmer is proud to offer to his neighbor,
the place sublimely rustic, and especially the
plain hospitality, the genuine friendship, and
the commendable department that character
lied the occasion, made US almost wish that
"laying by time" came oftener, or rather that
such occasions were more common among
farmers. Thus, Mr.. Editor, passed away day
which we wish farmers would make more COM
mon throughout the country, for we believe it
would be beneficial to themselves and families.
Farmers, meet and consult your interest. Man
is gifted with reason; the lower animals with
instinct. The swallow builds the same nest
to-day that it did FIVE thousand years ago, be-
meath the rafters ofNoah's Ark but man, be-
ing endowed with reason, is progressive. The
scythe and sickle have given place to the now
er and reaper. How widely the contrast from
twenty or forty years ago! Let us, then, as
rational tllers of the SOIL continue in the spirit
of progressive improvement, thus adorning our
profession with that noble gift of reason, the
principal element that characterizes man from
the animal or brute creation. E. NJ. S.