The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-07-23
Picnic at Willow Swamp.
Willow SWAMP, S. c..

sssE sUILLOW DWAMP, >. VI,
July 18th, 1880.
Editor Orangcbu,y Democrat:
AS it appears to be customary for
your correspondents to hand in ac-
counts of their picnics and merry
makings, i will ask corner in your
esteemed paper to give your many
readers short sketch of our recently
inaugurated club by the name of the
"Strnight Oaa Democratic Club of
this township, to which an Invitation
was extended 10 all; and to give in
creased interest to The occasion
number oflegal and literary gentle
men of your village were requested
to be present and address the assem-
blage.
Preparations had been made by the
writer for u speakers stand twenty
feet in lengtlr, beautifully decorated
with ao%csa, an arch over Tic centre
giving il fine appearance, and alto
! gether representing the exquisite taste
Of five Of the fairest Of the fair Sex,
assisted BY an equal number of young
men.
On the day appointed at an early
hour The people began TO come from
far and near, and by twelve of o'clock
two hundred and fifty were present,
and had itnoL been for an interesting
protractcd meeting which was then
going on at Bethel Baptist Church
the attendance would in all proba.
bility have greatly exceeded this num-
Der. Alas for our hopes, the eloquent
speakers from whom wc had expected
SO much On this occasion, were lock-
ed for, in vain rs the hours rolled by;
and SO far as know only one has
offered any excuse whatever for this
neglect. Had we been party of
RAIDS, bent ON the destruction of our
State aid county, we could not have
met with greater contempt at the
hands of those who ought to be fore
most in lending helping hand to us
in organizing for the coming conflict
with the Common enemy. Hut we are
not entirely without native talent in
our section, and after waiting for the
greater lights until it became appar-
ent that we should have to depend on
our own resources, Mr.. w. G. Mitch
ell, in a few well chosen words, intro
duced MIR. Wilkes Sawyer, who de-
livered avery appropriate and inter-
esting address, notwithstanding that
he began by saying that he was n
plowman and not q speaker. N1r.
Joseph Robinson was then called
upon, but declined 10 speak, saying
that lie was satisfied it was The inten.
tlon OF the people Of this county to
make clerk Of him next November.
Loud calls were then made for W. G..
Mltchell, who came forward and
SAID he was not a speaker but mover,
anu he thcrcupon moved that the bas-
kels be brought to the front, which
motion found n second and it was not
long before the table was filed with
stores o. ediblcs, and under the dircc-
tion of the competent table committee
soon presented under its load of iced
cakes, ETC., more the appearance of q
wedding feast than an ordinary pic
mic dinner.
Alter all had eaten and drunk
| Gccd lemonade, not tangle foot) and
the many baskets Of fragments had
been removed, the lively music of
violin, organ and accordion soon put
the young people i'll mind for dancing,
and large plank floor was quickly
laid and the merry youths and maid
ems were soon tripping the light fan.
tastic toe to the tune Of 1--WE won't
go home till morning"
The day passed off with no other
disappointment than that of the alb.
sence of the speakers above mention
ed, and old and young felt on depart
ing for their homes that this had been
day Of pure enjoyment.
We have not suffered for want Of
rain in this part Of the county and
crops look fine with those who are
sun-burned, but fair-skinncd ones
have General Grum with them.
WATCII.