The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-01
THE DAY OF THANKSGIVING
THE WAY IN WHICH TIE NATIONAL HoL-
1pAY WAS OBSERVED IN ABBEVILLE.

The stores Closed and All Business
Suspended So worshippers Attend
Divine Service at the Methodist
Church in the Morning-..The Ab'
seville Rifles Engage In Shooting
Contest at NOOn---Turkey Dinners
--.Prayer Meeting...Plume Drill.
Last Thursday was the National Thanksgiv-
ing day. ,,o s,o,os ond other places OF
business were closed, and the street preStsihe Y
single horse tied to rack. An occilsioli'.. :,
Ionier was to be seen here and there, us il III
search of a companion, similarly engaged Ill
pursuit Of something to Interest or uai,use. car
the day. The "cold wave flag. the "local
rains" flag, and the "fair weather nag grt wrrt
ali dying from the lofty pole above the Gou,' oa
the rains ceased, and by the middle of the Of
ternoon We had fair weather, anu all TIC nag
predictions were verified. ,.
At the appointed hour the Methodist church
bell was rung, and devout worShippers rom m
all quarters Of the town. and OF every shaue oi
rpiiSioss faith and belief were soon 10 oe seen
making their way to the place for divine "or-
ship. tS hold a union meeting Of Christians,
where all, with one heart. ana Win one so'Ee'
might join In the universal chorus OF thanksc
giving Which was going up from All paris vi
this fair land of ours, 10 the SOURCE vi e'eiS
The A bbeviIle Rifles marched to the church
in a body, and occupied the seats wnlcn hau
been assigned them: Here GtiZen so'oIeLS i;oui "
OF the Cross in most humble and hearty
thanks to the Supreme Ruler OF the U univetse, ne
and to the Captain OF our Sdvation, lot tne
many benefits and blessings when nave
been conferred upon as and our people auri-g
At noon the members Of the Abbeville Ri-
aes, engaged In a shooting contest. Aithougn N
tt,.r Siroty 81
interested citizens assembled to wltness the
shooting, which has been pronounced excel
lent . ,,ro.or.
WAS "Jncle Robert" lie took an active in=
teres, in every shot, and watched the sue
cceding contestants with increasing interest
When all had finished, his pulse was quick
ened, bis blood was warmer, ana, Ior tne
moment, he felt young again. Under the in,
spiration of his enthusiasm he renemoeTeu
his steady nerve and his unerrins aim MheM
lie was II much younger man IMAM ne ~, Is
to-day. He said that he had not fired a gun IN
twenty years but felt certain he could pclt
Ms Benet alta shot The challenge was &C.
cspted, and "Dnce Robert" like hostS on
others who have competed with Mr. behct ~
any nf the various fields of art, literature. and
science, was vanQuished. Mr.. Benets Sh0t
went straight to the mark. while "Uncle NoD-
crts" is supposed 10 have hit tree III ano'h-
er township. uro,or ot
the Methodist church conducted union pray
ermpeiins at the Presbyterian church.
At eight o'clock the AbbeVllle Rifles hao q
Yaumo Drill in the Court House which was al
tended hy q large assenb'a%e OF our cil|enS'
The drilling was superb, anu Inc young sen'
tlemen-officcrs and men-acQuitted tncn-
selves quite handsomely.
After the drill had been finished prizes were
awarded and delivered to Lieutenant a. w.
Smith. Sergeant ]. a. Harris, Private Mason
DuPre, Private w. c. Calvert, Corporal Jeh
ner Link.
And thus ended the exercises of Thanks
giving Day In Abbevillc.