The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-25


mountains like nebula clouds skirting
The horizon in :he west reminded us
that we were approaching tile noun
tain city,
A few minutes more found us, with
valise in hand, making our way III
the wake of Col. A. III. Speights of
the Commercial Hotel, through the
dense crowd to the street car, where
once seated, we surveyed the crowd
composed Of the entire population of
Greenviiie, who had met the train to
honor and welcome. the Sumter
Guards. After marching and counter
marching and various other unneces-
sary maneuverings both Of soldiers
and citizens, we all arrived at our
respective hotels. A first clasa cup.
per and long conversation with
brother Speights and other gentlemen
of the city brought Us to our sleeping
hour, and bidding "good-night," re-
tired. -,
Tuesday morning we arose with
the lark and prepared for saunter
about the city to see its sights and to
enjoy the mountain breeze. Green
Vile is city of 1000 inhabitants,
situated almost ut the basc Of the
mountains and surrounded by rich
farming country. The scenery about
the city is picturesque and often ap-
proaches the gcand-enough so to
render it attractive and awe-lnspiring
to one accustomed to the dead level
Of Orangeburg. The people are hos
pitable, kind and intelligent, posses
sing enough Of local and personal
plide to make them boast somewhat
Of themselves and much of their city.
Business is growing, stores are large
and filed with goods, and the spirit
Of enterprise is on the increase, mani
Testing itself in old successful facto-
ries and the building of new ones. We
returned in time for the train, and,
leaving this really delightful place,
came in three hours to Hodges,
where, after greeting the dear ones,
we rested until Saturday.
Orangeturg is creditably represent.
ed both at Hodges and Cokesbury,
two miles east. In the latter DR..
Brantley Hart and Prof. Berg are do
ing well, one as merchant, the other
as teacher Of music, also Mr.. Gamma.
'dy, formerly Of Jamison's; in the
former, Mr.. Lewis Dantzler and DR..
j. L. Sheridan, successful as planter
and druggist, are carving their names
deep on the hearts of their neighbors.
Old associations again became famil-
iar' and the companionships and
friends of our school days were re-
peWed in the persons of Stirling Ora
don, Ludlow. and Fletcher Hodges,
DR.. Frank Gary and DR.. w. C. Nor
wood, Of veratrnm vivide notoriety.
Amid such scenes and enjoyments we
fingered until Saturday morning ton
O'Clock, when We said "good-bye," !"
and once more turned our face to-
ward Orangeburg.
Along the entire line of road from
Columbia to Greenvile the drought
has been more or less disastrous to
the crops. Flom Columbia to Alston
corn is small, parched and much of
it fruitless, while cotton promises,
perhaps, half crop; from Alston to
Ninety-Six the seasons have been
more favorable, and both Gotten and
corn, with timely rains, may meet
the necessary demands Of the people !;
and from Ninety.Six Lo Greenville
the prospect 10 indeed diaeouraging-
fields of corn are burnt up beyond the
possibility of recovery, and cotton.
thongA. in good condition. is small
and may yield, possibly, the fourth
of crop. Oak trees, in great mum.
bers, killed by the drought, may be
seen everywhere in the forest, streams
and springs are dry, the soil is thirs-
ty, vegetation dropping and scorched,
and the entire face of the countrv
presents an aridness that is painful
in the extreme. 4 similar condition
Iof things picvails in many portions
of Georgia and North Carolina and
perhaps more or less throughout the
cotton region.
In view Of these things let Orange
burg farmers take courage and 90 on