The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-06-07
Snif1es likes a Change.

place. no matter how beautiful or at
tractive becomes mOnotonous, do not
like it. Last Thursday afternoon I
took the G.. & C. train for Columbia,
or rather it took me, and after pleas
ant ioltin@ l reached the city on hill,
and found the affable and pleasant
Chief Clerk, a. c. j., at the depot
reaching out to shake me by the hand,
and with carriage waiting TO take me
to the comfortable home presided over
BY Col. Tructlin a%d lis accomplished
wife. Again the lines fell TO me de-
lightfully. HOmcis indeed found there,
the beds are luxurious. the fare deli
cious. the attention kind and free, and
the ladies captivating. 1t is good
place, verify. \ visit next morning 10
the Pcnitentiary was in order, at least
it was so ordered By Col. Lipscomb,
that l should appear before his au-
gust presence and take the grand
round' OF that >plrndilly managed in
stituti0n. With his accustomed cOar-
tcsy. he spared the walk by 4 ride in
his buggy, and Oh arriving turned me
over to DR.. Strother Pope. who took
me first to view the large commissary
building in course OF erection, this
building will be when completed 105
feet long. by so wide. two stories high,
with a cOmmOdious cellar. From it |
had a fire view of the raging canawl,'
on which l60 convicts were laboring.
1t was a picturesque sight, and a
herculean labor, and will eventually
make Columbia 4 city Of first im-
portance. From that Interesting point
TO the Stocking Factory. There are
fifty convicts, and as many COM
plicated machines engaged in turning
out these necessary articles OF human
wear, thousands Of pairs III all stages
Of formation lying piled in every di-
rection. Next l was taken through
Dibert's Shoe Factory. One hundred
hands are employed there, every part
of a shoe being fashioned by different
hands, and the number Of completed
shoes made daily is wonderful to an
up-countryman. These shoes are made
OF first class material, every pair War-
ranted from the finest ladies' or gentle
mans shoe or boot, down to the plain
brogan. The manufacture OF shoes
for the dude even is done there. This
busy hive is watched over by young
Ben Lane of Newbcrry. \ visit to
the Carpenters shop followed, there
every kind OF wood work is done, and
well done. The Doctor then afforded
me a treat by walking through and
looking at Capt, Sligh's magnificent
garden, one of the best for its size in
the State. Vegetation there does its
prettieSt and best, large white Head
cabbage, immense onions, great toma-
toes Just turning, made ne think that
it was a good thing to be a convict. for
these luXuries are grown for them.
The Doctor spoke in high praise Of
Capt. Sigh, and he is worthy of it.
Out of the garden l was met by Super
inteudent LipScomb, who relieved Pope
and took me in tow. 1t was the wash
ing hour, Just before dinner, and the
convicts in companies filed in, washed
and filed ont again. The washing ap-
paratus is neat, novel and convenient,
consisting OF q pipe about Is feet long,
through which stream OF pure, clean
water flows ietting half inch streams
at distance of twelve inches each,
thus affording every washer separate
place. 1t is az admirable arrangement.
1t was q pleasure to see the convicts ut
their dinner meal, which consisted of
a well filled pllte OF vegetables, fresh
beef ami bread, each having sutti-
cient quantity Of well cooked food, Col.
L. believing in feeding his unfortunate
boarders boul tifully and well; half
an onion is also set beside each plate,
morning and noon, as q sanitary pre-
caution. The hospital was next seen.
About twenty were on the sick list, all
sitting up and waiting for dinner, a
sure sign that they were not seriously
indisposcd. The sick are we'll taken
care of, and get broth, and sweet
things. when their condition requires
it. The bathing room, another impor-
tant feature, is most worthy OF notice.
In this room there are forty tubs, each
being filled with water, every Sunday
morning the conyicts are made to wash
thoroughly and dress in clean clothes.
Time did not admit of a more extend
ed view of the various other points of
interest in this well conducted institll-
ton. the whole OF which comes daily
under the personal supervision of its
efficient and accomplished superinten-
dent, Col. Thos. LipScomb, than whom
no one could have been found better
qualified in head and heart for this re-
sponsible trust. The parting was
kind, and regret was expressed by
the gallant Col. that his official power
did not extend over the genial Sniffies.
The total number of convicts inside
the walls is All, of these II are on the
State Farm, 25 on Seeger's Farm. 100
in the Shoe Factory, 45 in Stocking
Factory, 1G0 on the Canal, and others
in various minor departments. Out
side 341 are engaged Oh Railroad and
Phosphate Works.
Icannot close this heavy experience
without noticing very valuable and
interesting scrap book, the work of that
versatile gentleman, Mr.. c. F. jack
son. 1t contains scraps of the late
war history collected from the papers
of that unpleasant period, and also OF
the times following, the times which
tried mems souls, in which Scott, Mo-
ses and Chamberlain figured, including
the changes which followed. Scatter
ed through its broad pages are divers
press notices, complimentary to this
gentleman, among which are several
from the Newberry HERALD. 1t is
valuable collection of excerpts, and
will pay a man to examine it.
While in his store l noticed a coz
siderable agitation among the lady
clerks, it looked as / were the cause,
something was on their mind, and they
hesitated expressing it. Stepping to
their relief, as always do when ladies
are in difficulty, said, ''for goodness,
gracious sake, ladies, what is the mat
ter, why are your gentle bosoms so
rent with emotion, please unload"
They unloaded. One of them asked,
''if I was the gentleman who spoke OF
them so kindly in the HERALD few
weeks ago." Iowned up. Well, said
she, ''alIow Inc to place token of our
regard in the form of flora. over the
region of your noble heart bowed
and received the decoration, but not