The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1875-09-10
For tue Cnion Zine
7
Idle Moments in an Old Library.


'old john, was native of County Antrim,
Ireland. lie emigrated TO South Carolina about
1884. with his brothers, Matthew and James
They began life ped ling Dir. goods, fret with a
pack, ther with horse and then with wagon.
They wero ycr. successful, and were soon able 10
open store IN Union and omass fortune. In
those lays it was an ear , matter, comparatively,
to make money AMI rs Gold AMI Silver was the
only currency, il was m2Rcy, and free from the
fluctuations of an irrcdoemablc currency
Saiesday nnd Tuesday Of Court were the carni
val days. Everybody ;u'ncd out ana tie streets
were full. The women seemed 10 consider their
presence in is2ensabc to- the administration oil
justice. There was n great rage for dress, and
at that tinca Juror t,r red cassiucrc half cioaks
prevailed amoug the omcu. j was not Npcom-
mon to see The gyuu:tG covered with red cIo"ks,
from the top OF the Courthouse hill to old Molly
Tosh's house, while stationed along the lines Of
Of old john Gage, James Gage Matthew Gage,
Dan McMahan and James Mciurc, exposing
their goods for sale.
John Gage was an expert salcsman. An an
ecdote illustrative Of hs tact i tyld oc hum: y
yankee haI ound his way to Union and hal cH'
poscl his wares for sale. Mr.. Gage discovered
that there was somc new attraction which drew
the people around the yankees stand. Nearly
all the purchases of the merchants at that time
were made IN Philadelphia. Mr Gage, leaving
some one in charge of his goods, shipped into
the crowd around the yankee, stand, and soon
found out that the chnrIu was in tie yankee =
goods being from, New York "a new place.
He went back and soon afterwards called out,
''now ladies and gentlemen, let Tac show y2u
something worth locking at: Here's a case Of
goods fresh from Nuld ireland iist walk mp and
take sufi of the salt wather. will YEP 1t is
unnecessary to say the Irish calicors had ran
after that.
Mr.. Gage was, in his youth yery handsome
fellow. Of prepcssessing manners, gcnia d;spo.
sition, full of anecdotes, quick at rcpartee, Il
graceful dancer. glorious singer, and always
ready for a convivial entertainment of any kind
Nearly half century has passed and we still
retain fresh in our memory til, rich tones Of his
voice "a the old Scotch Ballads We have never
heard auythirg more touching than his render
ing Of
'Poor Tom Bowling. The darling of our crew,
or more mirth provoking than his
Bonnie Maggie Lauder"
1t was the custom in those days for gentlemen
to meet at each others houses AFTER supper. and
spend few hours in telling stories, anecdotes,
discussing public matters, and singing old Oai-
| lads. Uncle John" was always n trump on
such occasions and led the choir or he solo.
The party nearly always broke mp with "Auld
Lang Syne," or Wife, children and Friends,
! all joining hands, and will. their whole soul Gu
tcring into the spirit of the song,
, Many anecdotes are told illustrative of his
ready wit. lie once sold woman sc; Of cups
ard .""~ovA ,n'r', ii... ",s. I" .,.-.- 10. ",
what then? "FaitA, roy dear nadam, jist hrsng
{ them back and I'll gie yc the worth O. them
sure enougn, they broke, aud he womas
brought 'hem back. Well Mr. Gage, here's the
cups aud saucsrs--you know what YOU told
me. Faith, madapn, and what was ,har:'
"Thnt you would give lac the worth of hem -
"And what are they WORTH" %
Nothing at all, sir
And was Mt that jis, what was going to
give ye."
| On aaother occasion he met woman riding
" 'N ~'''-''J' ""S-1 WIG ioiioNihg SoI!oluy oc-
! curred
"Good morning, Mr.. Gagc!'
''Good morning, madam
"Well. now, / IN not sure whether this is you
or your brothcr?''
''t faith, madam, and it's my brother"
'Wel, beg your pardon I thought !, was
you
Many anecdotes are told Of him in conn ection
with his overseer, Ony Onealo, which are rich
in hamor
Mr.. Gage married first in Ireland. His Sec
ond wife was from the city of .'brotherly love-
| "A very beautiful woman, who did not live long
| after coming South-diod of consumption. His
| third wife was daughter of Hcssian johnson
! of Union County He left u large family, who
are scattered over the South west. He accumu-
lated large fortune--owncd that portion of the
| square now owned by Mr.. Grant, half tie SQUARE
East of it, and large body of land North of the
| village.
lie was kind, inlUigcnt ,ather. a good neigh.
Dor and an honest man His Library compan-
ions indicate very plainly his tastes
Shakespeare Cavallo on Magnetism; Rsu-
says Revolution; Tom Jones Siernes Works
Life Of Catherine Ind of Russia Lord Chester
fields Works; Washington's Letters The Tat
Ter; Life of Washington, sc.
Fer the Times
Air Castles on the Farm